Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-09-13
LESSON NO. rs.
SOME NATIONAL TRADITIONS.

poorly trained and equipped and had little
success. Ii redemmed itself. however. ut
the Battle of New Orleans. where Andrew
Jackson led the western militia Ia a we'll
earned victory. The British government
tacitlv recognized the soundnesS of the
principle for which the Americans fought.
TIE MEXICAN WAR.
Americas next war was with Mexico.
The Mexican~ had not been very careful
Of American rights either in Mexico itself
or along the frontier. and the disagreement
n to the ownership of a certain large strip
of land along the Rio Grande easily led 10
hostiliiies. In the war that followed the
armies Of Scott and Tylar won victory
after victory against overwhelming odds
and eventually Mexico sued tor peace. One
result Of the war was 10 establish mere
definitely the rights of an American citizen
abroad Ia q reasonable amount Of protec-
tion and support.
Less than a generation later came the
great Civil War. Never was the fighting
spirit Of the citizen soldier better shown
than in this unhappy and bitter struggle.
when Americans were pitred against Amer
leans. Both sides were fighting for prin-
ciple~ ~ government, the North for the
principle of union. the South for the prin-
ciple of the right of states To ~ecede from
that union. Today with the war 4 half cen
fury behind them. there are probably few
Americans. either North or South. who DO
not rejoice in their hearts that the prin-
ciple of union was upheld and hat we are
able today to meet eur new foe A. n united
nation.
We entered the Spanish war to put an
end To- mi~rule in Cuba. Again our quarrel
was mol with the Spanish people. but with
the government. which was creating condi-
tion~ in Cuba that We could not endure
with self -re>ccpt. Admiral Cervera and hi
men. who had shown themselves brave
foes. were received in this country after
their defeat and capture A. guests rather
than a. prisoners. Their treatment was
striking evidence OF our real feeling to-
ward the Spanish people. We fought for
the principle that on The American CONT
ncnt~ governmental tyranny and cruelty
must not De permitted "a continue: and
that principle was established.
FIGHTING FOR PRINCIPLE.
The Americans are peculiarly a peace
loving people. They nave no taste for
warfare and no lu~t for territory or power.
fifty wears We have entered Xix important
wars. the last and perhaps the greatest ~
which J. the one Just beginning against the
German government. Why has all this
warfare been necessary.
The answer j. Ia be found in the simple
fact that there are certain American rights
and principles that must be upheld ii the
| nitcd States N 60 remain z free and self
respecting nation. These rights nave never
been attacked-and probably never will he
attacked hy other free ana democratic
peoples. But the world L. not vet rid "
governments in the hands OF small crnun9
who bctray their own people and drive them
forward in ruthless assaults on the free
dom and rights III other peoples. n II
Q government Of this type that now men
aces all liberty loving nations throughout
The world and savagely attacks American
rights.
In all our previous wars against foreign
powers the American people have fought
Tor principles, not for wealth or mower.
lust - they are fighting today. They have
fought against governments. not against
peoples. inst ~ they are fighting today.
They have fought tearle>~ly and fairly.
lust a. YOU and the other American sol
dIer< of this war will fiobt