The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-05-01
OUR WAR WITH MEXICO

i The readers of this paper who have
closely followed it's editorial utteranc-
es are aware that upon general and
humane principles, it is opposed to
war if war can be honorably avoided.
It stands firmly upon the declara-
tnon: "Our country if right; but right
Or wrong, our country"
! We take some pride in our war rec
ord.
We have sword in our possession,
handed down from sire to son as a
family heirloom, which was welded
by one of our forbears in the battle
of the Cowpens in our revolutionary
struggle.
Our father was in the Florida In
dian war of 1854. He was one OF
the survivors of the "block-house" on
the Withlacoochee river, and later
was one of the three who volunteered
to carry the fatal tidings of Major
Francis L. Dade's massacre through
an almost trackless country from the
commander at Fort King to the COM
When our government declared
war against Mexico, sixty-seven years
ago. this valiant soldier, although now
having a wife and two children, could
not resist the war spirit. He prompt
ly rendered his services to his govern
ment, which were as promptly ac-
cepted, and he was among the first to
sacrifice his life in that struggle, and
his bones now lie mingled with the
soil of Mexico, at Vera Cruz.
The editor of this paper and his
brother, now living near the Mexican
border, were soldiers in the civil war
on the Confederate side. One of the
editors sons was a soldier in the
Spanish-American war, and if their
services are needed, two sons and
three sons-in-law stand ready to
march in defense of the flag to the
very gates of the city of Mexico.
Saying this, however, our voice,
unlike Sapronius', has not always
been for war!
On the contrary, by voice and pen,
we have done all that lay in our pow
er to avert war and the spirit of war.
We have done what we could to have
our country continue in the tranquil
steps of peace, and to have the white
dove, the symbol of peace, spread her
wings over all lands.
At the Baltimore convention the ed
itor of this paper was the only mem
Der of the platform committee who
voted for Mr.. Bryan's resolution sub
hitting all questions of international
disputes to arbitration.
So it is natural, therefore, for us
to share the feelings of Congressman
Butler, of Pennsylvania, who, when
occupying his place in the congress
of the United States, presented his
views as follows:
The house had under consideration
H. j. Res. PSI, as follows:
Resolved, ETC., That the president
of the United States is justified in the |
employment of the armed forces of |
the United States of America to en-
force demands made upon Victoriano |
Huerta for unequivocal amends to the |
government of the United States for |
affronts and indignities committed |
against this government by Gen. HUI
erta and his representatives.
Mr. Butler-Mr. Speaker, l am one
of a few members of this house hav-
ing an experience such as we are
about to have tonight, standing with !
our faces turned toward war. Permit |
me to say, sir, was in this house and |
voted for declaration of war against
Spain 16 years ago. l believe it could /
have been avoided, as l believe this
threatened war can be avoided. No
man in this house is more embar-
raised than l am in the struggle 60
ing on within me in my desire to
stand by the president, and at the
same time keep faith with what I be-
lieve to be a conscientious perform
ance of a duty. had anticipated that
the president, in his message deliver
ed today, would have given us many
reasons justifying himself and suffi-
cient in number and Importance to
justify us. / have no official knowl-
edge beyond that given us by the
president in his message. have
heard from those not authorized to
speak officially of the murder of our
citizens in Mexico, of the outrage of
women, and the destruction of Amer
lean property. 1t was of these condi-
tons that / expected him to speak.
expected him to ask for authority to
improve them by the use of force, and
it was my purpose to cordially and
IL T.,