The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-13
FIRST U. s. WAR AGAINST
 MEXICO DECLARED 6S YEARS AGO

G1XTY-EIGHTs YEARS ago today, May 15 RO 1S46, the United States formally de- clared war against Mexico, and Congress all- fhorized President James Knox Polk to raise 50O00 men and $1OsOOO,O0O to carry on the con- fIict It was only after a bitter and acrimon- ious debate, during which the war policy ofsthe President was violently denounced that Con gress took this action. A boundary dispute be- tween Mexico and Texas was the cause of this appeal to force, although the Immediate casus belli was the invasion of Texas by Me xican army and the capture of small body of Amer iean troops. The news of this ambush reach ed Washington on the eleventh of May. when President Polk told Congre ss that Mexico has passed the boundaries of the United States" and tshed blood upon American soil. 7 The Presi- dent added, War exists and exists by the act of Mexico herself 7 As matter of fact the Mexicans had Invaded only the disputed terri- tory, which was claimed by both countries Five days before Congress determined to slp- port the Presidents policy, and issued a formal declaration. the conflict had actually commence ed with the battle Of PaIo Alto, in which the American army of Gen. Zachary Taylor was completely victorious Before the thirteenth the Mexicans had been driven out of the dis puted territory and across the Rio Grande, al though, in the absence of telegraph, Congress had no knowledge of that fact.
 R<Inex xcllsable aggression' was the opinion of the Mexican war expressed by President Woodrow Wilson in his book, "A History of the American People. President Wilson, by in Terence, criticised President Polk because ssHe had not consulted Congress before he ordered Gen Taylor forward to the Rio Grande and brought this nome nteus matter to a head though it had been in session when the order was issued. The historian Wilson added ssI4e had taken full responsibility for that upon himself War indeed, existed but by whose act Congress was no longer at liberty to in quire'
 The American army of inva asion the Pres i1eht wrofe,. fought men as brave as them selves, subtle. spirited race. tenacious to the last of all that it could hold.' In his history the President referred to the boundary. dis pufes of the United States with Great Britain, but he adds sThe Texas boundaries were ar- other matter. Here the government dealt with rival and neighbor with whom no campro- mise was necessary. He relates how the Unit ed States seized not merely the disputed ter ritory which Texas claimed, but also the whole country of the Pacific slope beyond from Ore eon to the Gila River, to which the tinted States could have no cenceivable right except that of conquest.
 For the 100000 square miles of Mexican territory seized by the United States, the Wash Ington government agreed to pay Mexico $f5- 100000. or little over twenty cents perzsduare mile. But that sum did not epresent the en- fire cost of the acquired territory Over s1oo.- 100000 was expended to carry on the conflict. and other incidental expenses of the war cost about a third more. The loss of American lives was about d5O0O, of whom 8 third were killed in battle and the remainder sueeumbed to dis ease. The death roll of the Mexicans. al though not exactly known, probably numbered about 10000.
 President Polk who settled the oreeen boundary dispute with England by scomprornisa sa and the Texas boundary controversy by war. was succeeded as President by Gen. zachary Taylor, whose victories over the Mekicans had made him popular.hero.
 EDITORIAL NOTES