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

itself this year, whether there Is IN
tervention or not, for conditions are
far from being identical. Even II war
is declared there will scarcely be
basis for comparison between the
coming conflict and that of nearly
three quarters of a century back.
Rightly or wrongly. the war OF the
'40s has been called one of conquest.
BY the terms Of settlement the United
States increased its area one'third.
There is no disputed territory over
which to fight now, no Texas question.
no thought Of annexing any land.
But students Of history, forever
searching for analogous situations,
need not despair. Mexico for many
years before the war was as troublous
and upset, as uncongenial neighbor
Is she has been In recent years. She
witnessed the meteoric rise OF a dc
tator, the sudden collapse OF his power
and finally his exile. She saw up
risings and embryonic revolutions
without number, each leaving her
weaker than before.
Unofficial diplomatists were sent to
Mexico long before the days Of John
Lind and William Bayard Hale. Nor
Is a watchful waiting policy on the
part of the United States a new thing.
As early as 1877, when the propriety
Of recognizing the independence Of the
former Spanish colony in Mexico was
being discussed, Richard Rush, then
President Monroe's secretary of state.
said in state paper:
Maintained Strict Neutrality.
1T seems to be incumbent on the
United States to watch the movement
(for freedom in Mexico) in its subse-
quent steps with particular attention.
with view to pursue such course as
Z just regard for all those constdera-
tons which they are bound to respect
may dictate" -... ..@ g..
In message after message Monroe
reiterated his determination to main.
tain strict neutrality and to recognize
the independence Of the Spanish
colonies when, but only when. the fact
Of independence was convincingly
established Not until 1922 did the
United States send minister to the
capital Of the new government.
For twenty years before the war
Texas had been . source Of almost
constant trouble. This vast domain
had been included in the Louisiana
purchase, but the United States yield
ed it's claim in a treaty with Spain In
order to obtain, the whole Of Florida.
Texas had been settled largely by
southerners and it was inevitable that
the slavery question should come to
the FORE
AZ q province Texas was subjected
10 the hazards of an Ill defined and
tributary Jurisdiction by military ON.
GERS, to rule by government which
was utterly out Of touch with the
wants and necessities Of her people.
Finally the residents formed a new
constitution and in 1886 the great
Southwestern territory seeded from
Mexico.
The attitude Of the United States
toward Mexico with relation to Texas
vas for q long time exactly what 1t
had been toward Spain with regard
to the Mexican states. Jackson was
known to sympathize with the Texas
insurgents, but a historian records
that he was restrained from taking
drastic action by an honorable sense
Of what the international obligations
Of the United States demanded.
Despite his we'll earned reputation
ss a belligerent some Of Jackson's
messages read az If they had been
written in 1915 or even so recently
Is early in the present year. In one
In which he called attention to claims
long held against Mexico by this gov
eminent for property seized and bod
NY injuries inflicted he said:
Acted With Forbearance.
II trust, however, by tempering
armness with courtesy and acting
with great forbearance upon every
Incident that has occurred or that
may happen, to do and to obtain JUS
kice, and thus avoid the necessity
Of again bringing this subject to the
view Of congress-"
Two months later February 8.
1870 he wrote:
The length Of time since some OF
the injuries have been committed, the
repeated and unavailing applications
Tor redress, the wanton character Of
ZONE Of the outrages upon the prop
srty and persons of our citizens, upon
the officers and flag Of the United
States, independent of recent insults
10 this government and people by the
hte extraordinary Mexican minister,
would Justify, in the eyes Of Ill ns-
lions, immediate war"
THAT remedy, however" General
Jackson sddsd, should not be used
By Just and generous nations. con-
ading In their strength. for injuries
committed, II Il can be honorably
avoided"
Thero were few important develop
osnts IN the decentralization Of Van
bueoa q h Harrison's one month
4 IL peeG3dential. chair, but 1s43
eeqancod . incident q . nature With
0hAeh sendsafs a recsot American
49, ~ fnm1lior. DoniGo Wobotae,