Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-07-02

:
Tayl0r's reply was characteristic In
brevity and tone: Il decline to accede
to your request"
For the whole of one day the battle
ragged fiercely. Though outnumbered.
the Americans had the advantage Of
position and of artillery, and their bat
teries swept the attacking lines from
the field repeatedly. During the night
the Mexicans retreated. Their casual.
ties had numbered 1000, while the
Americans lost 700 in killed and
wounded. Buena Vista went long
way toward making Taylor president
of the United States.
In March, 1S47, Scott landed near
Vera Cruz with 12,C00 men. In few
days he had captured the castle and
the town and soon started on the
march to the capital over the roads
which Cortez had taken 1928 years be.
fore. He occupied Jalapa, Perote and
Puebla in turn and on September II
entered the city Of Mexico.
Peace Terms Accepted.
President Polk had tried repeatedly
to bring about peace. BY the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico gave up
the vast territory Of New Mexico and
California. The cession to the United
States added about 100000 square
miles of land, with 5000 miles of
sea coast and three great harbors.
The United States paid $15,000,00O
to Mexico and assumed the claims
of American citizens against the south.
ern republic. Polk considered the
terms of the treaty too lenient, but
when he submitted the document to
the senate it was ratified.
In every battle Of the war the Amer.
leans were successful. The United
States forces employed in the invasion
aggregated about 100000 men, this
number including 1920 regulars and
1926 volunteers. One hundred and
twenty officers and 1,40O men fell in
battle or died from wounds; 100 off,
GERS and 10000 men died of disease.
Approximately 133,200 Mexicans took
part in the war and their loss in
killed and wounded was about $500
Three men who fought against Mex
ico-Taylor, Pierce and Grant-be
came presidents of the United States
Pierce had answered the call for vol
unteers; Grant was a young lieutenant |
in the regular army, only few years
out of West Point. Many Of the great
leaders in the Civil war owed their
pre-eminence in skill and strategy to
tho training received just after their
baptism of fire in Mexico. Jefferson
Davis, who became president Of the
Confederacy, was colonel at the head
of regiment Of Mississippi infantry
at Buena vista, and Sherman, Thomas
Bragg. and Reynolds were In charge
Of batteries '"'s
~ Curious Political Result.
The contest with Mexico had curl.
GUS political result. For the first and
only time in American history an ad.
ministration conducting q war which
was victorious at every step steadily
lost ground with the people Of the
country. The house of representa-
tfves which declared war in May 1876,
was Democratic by large majority.
The house elected in the following No.
vember, amid the shouts of Taylor'a
victory at Monterey, had Z decided
Wing majority.
This political reverse has been as
cribed to three cause.-the enact.
ment Of the tariff Of 1916 (there may
be q tariff issue again this year,
which offended some Of the manufac.
turing interests; the receding of the
administration from the ground orig
inally taken on the Oregon boundary
question, and the widespread appre-
hension that the war had been under.
taken for the purpose Of extending
and perpetuating slavery.
It was the hero Of the war who was
elected president in 1S48. Polk was
not even renominated by the Demo-
Gratis. Like many men since his time
he had pursued an unwise course
toward the Democratic organization
In New York and split the party.
Lewis Cass was nominated in his
stead, only to be beaten by Taylor in
November. Singing:
Clear the track If your toes are tender,
For Honest Zach can never surrender,
tho Vyhioo M roho - 1,;o<ov~, ".-..