Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-19
Fiue Minutes A Day
With Our Presidents
An InpInrinns Xicfnr
BY JAMES MORGAN.

"a > tNAtAAAAtACEA &NANtA ~
ed more square miles to the map OF
the Union han any other except JEFF
crson's ~pcaceable acquisition of Louis
llama, history and posterity continue to
Hook that gift house in the mouth.
.Nhyf Our deed TO that immense ter
ritory is much the same as our title
10 all the rest of our country. which
was taken from the Indians on the
fundamental principle that land right
liy belongs to those who can and will
use it.
What American today would wish
that u settlers in Texas had been
left at the mercy of Mexico, or wish
that California, Nevada, Utah. Ari-
iona and parts of New Mexico, Color
huge, undeveloped, semibarbarous
wedge of Mexican territory between
US and the Western ocean?
Nevertheless, qualms of conscience
over thai conquest continue to dis
turb us. And this is a wholesome
symptom of aNtional scruples. Even
If the effect seems good. the motive
was bad. For Polk was put into the
Presidency solely because he could be
relied on to push the boundaries of
slavery to the Rio Grande.
The new President really went into
tine White House with two and claims
TO press. Besides Texas there was
Oregon (i%ncluding Washington, which
was then our only foothold on the
Pacific and which we were occupying
Jointly with the British. The Ameri-
Ican claim in that unsurveyed region
took in what is now the coast of Brit
ism Columbia, clear to Alaska, and
the conflicting British claim ran down
as far as Portland and the Columbia
River.
Polk at once offered to compromise,
but was rebuffed by the British Min
lister. Thereupon he withdrew his
offer, and the Americans demanded
everything, the parallel of latitude to
which they claimed being popularity
expressed in the alliterative phrase.
"F1fty-four. forty, or fight" But when
we found our hands full with Mexico,
the Polk Administration and the
British government agreed on the
compromise which the President had
first proposed, and the fo%rty-ninth
parallel became the dividing line.
Although Congress and Tyler had
hurriedly completed our part in the
annexation of Texas. the very day
before Folks Inauguration. and Mexico
really had %renounced the Lone Star
State, the boundary still was open
TO question. The new Administration
insisted that Texas extended to the Rio
Grande and promptly ordered General
Zachary Taylor to march to that river,
with instructions to regard as invaders
any Mexican troops on this side OF it.
After a year of challenging by us, a
Mexican general took up cur challenge
land a skirmiSh occurred. Thereupon,
at Folks request, Congress declared
that war existed ''by the act of Mex
lico.'
1t was not much of a war, as were
go. BUT Few military campaigns have
been richer in booty. General Taylor
had only 5000 and 5000 men In the
most decisive engagements. General
Scott began his advance on the City of
Mexico from Vera Cruz with 1900
troops. But he did not have half that
many electives in his easy victories
over a bankrupt, distracted Nation,
whose feeble governments tumbled
down every time we gave them a tap.
The Mexican War was redeemed
somewhat from its military one-sided-
mess and from its bad political motive
by the daring exploits of American
commanders. While Taylor and Scott
were advancing with their armies, Don
iphan with a brave band was marching
~across New Mexico to Chihauhau City.
and Fremont, with a handful of men,
raised the flag over California and kept
it flying. .
We had hardly less difficulty In con
49, AH6 itAi1 AlSth III IOpGlllS III
ia Mexicon government long enough 10
give us title in a treaty of peace, TO
the spells of the war-522,56S square
miles, for which we made Mexico a
lconsolatory gift of SIS. 600, 900. Add
to that conquest. the great State OF
Texas and the great territory in the
northwest which was confirmed to us
IN the Oregon settlement. and we have
indeed a grand total of territorial gain.
under Folks Administration. Yet Il
lprotited the President himself and his
party nothing, because their policy was
TAINTED with a purpose to widen The
larea of slavery,
A grim, little, care-worn man, Will
lclothes W or three sizes too larg,
for him, Polk did not cut much of
lgure in the Presidency. Although Mrs
Folks straight-laced religion banishe(
dancing. and cards from the Whit
House, her popularity and distinction
OF manner shone in contrast with tn
drabness of her husbands personality
Madam, l have heard but one opin.
lion of YOU" Henry Clay said to her
: All agree in commencing in the high
. lest terms your excellent administrator
!. lot the domestic affairs of the White
: House."
Indeed" Mrs. Polk beamed in reply
| "I am glad to hear that my admins
tration' is popular. And 1 will sa
that if the country should elect
Wing next FAN. l know of no on
t whose elevation would please me NOR
. than that of Henry Clay"
Polk declined the reelection whicI
he could not have obtained. With hi
$ always frail body broken under tn
heavy labors of his term, this luck
I less sutton of fame retired to his HON
in Nashville. There he died in les
than fifteen weeks after leaving tn
White House. and there, within a TEN
4 lple of Tennessee marble, he was burie
D In his own dooryard by the wife VIII
was to survive him forty-six years.
Bees Liked Peacock Pie.