The Washington herald., 1914-07-26
king OF MEXICO?
NOPE, Said SCOTT
Rulership, with Fat Salary
and 100000 Bonus,
Declined by Winfield.
TWAS WAY BACK In Al
Leaders Who Made Offer Hoped for
Annexation General Revealed
in Dinner Speech.
TWAS WAY BACK In Al

Chicago, July S-That Gen. Winfield
Scott could have been dictator or a
crowned king in Mexico is not generally
known to this generation. for 1t was
more than sixty-fve years ago the dra-
matte incident occurred.
When the-Stars and Stripes were hung
over the halls OF the Montezumas in
1s47. Gen. Scott, commander-in-chief OF
the American army, was offered the die
tatorship Of that country. At public
dinner in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1852, Gen.
Scott made his only reference TO the mat
ter in terms about as follows:
Il have nowhere seen II correctly stat
ed that an offer was made to me TO re-
main in that country CMexico) and govern
1t. The impression which generally pre-
walls that the proposition emanated from
Congress is an erroneous one
The overture was made to me pri-
vately by men in and out of Office, of
great influence-fve OF whom. of enor-
nous wealth. offered to place the bonus
OF 100000 mentioned below to my credit
in any bank I might name, either in
New York or London.
Security First Time.
"On taking possession OF the City of
police was established. which. as the
inhabitants themselves confessed. gave
security-for the first time perfect and
absolute security-to person and property.
About two-ffths OF all the branches
Of government, including nearly a ma
jority of the members OF Congress and
the executive, were quite desirous of hav-
ing that country annexed TO ours They
knew that upon the ratification of the
treaty OF peace nineteen out OF twenty
of the persons belonging to the American
army would stand disbanded and would
be absolutely free from all obligations
to remain in the army another moment
1T was entirely true of all the new
regiments called regulars Of all the
volunteers and eight of ten of the rank
and file Of the old regiments.
"Thirty:three and a third per cent was
added to the pay of the American officers |
and men retained as the nucleus Of the |
Mexican army. |
The Mexicans knew that the men IN |
my army would be entitled to their dis |
They supposed IL they could OBJ |
tain my services would retain these |
T. 900 or Il, 900 men and that could easily |
obtain 10000 men from home. The hope |
was that it would Immediately cause |
They offered me 81, 100000 as a bonus, |
with a salary of $25O.oOO a year. and five |
individuals to become Sc
curity.
Expected AnreIntion.N
They expected that annexation would |
be brought about IN a few years, or, IL
not. that I would organize the finances |
and straighten the complex affairs OF that
government.
TT was understood that nearly a ma
lortty OF Congress was in favor Of an
nexation and that 1t was only necessary
10 publish pronunciamento to attain
The object.
I'VE possessed all the fortresses, all
he arms OF the country, their cannon
'oundries and powder manufactures, and
had possession Of their ports of entry,
md might easily have held them in our
possession If this Arrangement had gone
nto effect.
"A published pronunciamento would
rave brought Congress right over to US,
md with these 1900 Americans holding
he fortresses Of the country, all Mexico
;ould not have disturbed U.S. We might
AVE been there to this day II II had been
necessary.
Il love my distant home. was not in
avor OF the annexation Of Meyico to my
'wn country. Mexico has about 5000, 900
and out of these 5000, 900 there
re not more than 100o.o 900 who are of pure
European blood. The Indians and mixed
aces constitute about 1000, 900. They are
inferior to our own. As a
over Of my country I was opposed to
mixing up that race with our own. This
Tas the first objection on my part to this
II