Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-07-02
WHEN THE UNITED STATES ARMY
! INVADED MEXICO BACK IN 1916
History That Is Not Likely to Repeat Itself Pursuit Of Villa Ex'
tends to Active intervention Conditions Then and Now Are
Vi Far From Being |denticatTexas Source Of Constant
&C. Trouble Previous to the War With Mexico

He had been out of harmony with
the president and his fellow cabinet
members. In particular he had stood
alone in opposing the policy Of Texan
annexation, which by this time had
become an important issue. How
ever" says George Lockhart Rives.
he and President Tyler parted with
mutual and evidently sincere express
sions of confidence and good WILL
One can imagine the number of God
bless yous."
Two international questions de-
manded much attention in the cam
paign of 1874, in which James X.
Polk and Henry Clay disputed the
presidency. Mexico was showing q
determination to contest the boundary
claim Of Texas and meanwhile there
was a threat of war with Great
Britain.
The limits Of the socalled Oregon
country, like those Of Texas. had
never been definitely fixed. England
claimed territory as far south as the
Columbia river, while the United
States set the parallel of 81 degrees
40 minutes, passing north Of Queen
Charlotte island, as the boundary.
Folks party, the Democratic, coupled
the reoccupation of Oregon with
"the remuneration of Texas" and
"Fifty.four-Forty or Fight" became
the campaign cry.
Badly Muddled Problem.
So Polk, like Wilson, not only fell
heir to badly muddled Mexican prob
lem but was to be threatened with
war with a nation across the Atlantic.
Notes we're exchanged with Great
Britain, mutual concessions we're made
and in 1886 a treaty was drawn def
nitely fixing the Oregon boundary. BY
a suggestive coincidence the practical
abandonment of the claim for the
$40 line was contemporaneous with
the start of the Mexican war. The
resolution of notice to London was
passed by both houses Of congress
April %, 1916, and on the next day
the first blood was shed in the contest
with the southern republic '.@. g
The United States had formally an:
nexed Texas March 3, 1S45. the last
day of 'Tyler's administration. Mex
leo had given warning that she would
regard such move as an act Of war
and diplomatic relations with Wash.
ington were severed at once.
William s. Parrot, an American
dentist living in Mexico, abandoned
the practice Of his profession long
enough to suggest peace terms, but
Mexico repulsed his advances. Par
rott was secret agent Of the United
States government. In the same
year John NJ. Slidell, . congressman
from Louisiana, was sent to Mexico
city % minister. He found violent
factional contest raging, with no one
in authority willing to receive him.
80 he returned to Washington.
It was this same Slidell who years
later while going as confidential
commissioner from the Confederate
government to France was seized
aboard the British merchant ship
Trent. In a short time the United
States surrendered him and James M.
Mason, commissioner to England. be.
cause the neutral rights Of England
had been transgressed.
During the preceding winter and
spring an American force commanded
by Gen. Zachary Taylor had been NOV.
ing westward along the Rio Grande,
and late in March it halted opposite
Matamoros and erected field works.
The Mexican commander, General Am.
pudia, notified General Taylor on April
IL that he must break up camp within
twenty.four hours and retire beyond
the Nueces river; otherwise arms
and arms alone must decide the ques'
ton" According to Mexico's per-
sistent representations, the Nueces
was the western boundary of Texas
and the territory between that river
and the Rio Grande was a part of the
Mexican domain. Taylor consequently
was regarded as an invader.
Taylor Acts Promptly.
The American general did not reply
to the ultimatum. On April "a the
Mexican leader advised him that he
considered hostilities commenced and
should prosecute them" Almost i'm.
mediately Taylor sent force up the
Rio Grande to ascertain II Mexicans
had crossed the river. This force was
engaged and forced to surrender.
Then the American congress author
ICED the president to raise a force Of
$4,000 men-"war existed by the act Of
Mexico" the preamble to the bill set
forth-and on May Is the two repub-
lies we're declared to be at war.
Taylor, advancing southwark, won
victory after victory, the most notable
resulting In the capture of Monterey,
September "a, 1916. That autumn part
of his army was taken from him to re-
enforce Gen. Winfield Scott, and Santa
Anna, commanding the Mexican army,
seeing his weakened condition, deter.
mined to annihilate him. He pushed
northward, and Taylor, with only 5000
men, fell back to the pass of Argos
tura, Q narrow defile in the mountains
directly in front of Buena Vista.
On the morning of Washington's
birthday, 1s47, Santa Anna, then
within two miles OF the United States