New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1921-06-04
FIRST WAR WITH MEXICO.

Sevcnty-five years ago or
Nav Is, 1916 the United States,
formally declared war against
Mexico, and congress authorized
President James Knox Polk to
raise $4,000 men and $1O,OOO,-
600 to carry on the conflict. II
, was-only after a bitter and
acrimonious debate, during
which the war policy of the
president was violently de-
nounccd, that congress took this
action. A boundary dispute be-
tween Mexico and Texas was
the cause of this appeal to
force, although the immediate
casus belli was the invasion of
Texas by a Mexican army and
the capture of a small body of
American troops. The news of
the ambush reached Washing
ton OH the eleventh day of May,
when President Polk told con-
gress that Mexico has passed
The boundaries of the United
States" and "shed blood upon
American soil" The president
added. ''War exists and exists
bv the act of Mexico herself"
AS a matter of fact, the Mexi-
cans had invaded only the dis
puted territory, which was
claimed by both countries. Five
days before congress determ-
ined to support the presidents
policy, and issued a formal dec
iaration, the conflict had actual
Nv commence with the battle of
Palo Alto, i'm which the Amer
lean army of Gen. Zachary Tay-
lar was completely victorious.
Before the thirteenth the Mexi.
cans had been driven out of the
disputed territory and across the
Rio Grande, although, in the
absence of telegraphs, congress
had no knowledge Of that fact.
"Inexcusable aggression" was
the opinion of the Mexican was
expressed by ex-President
Woodrow Wilson, in his book,
"A history of the American
People" President Wilson, by
inference, criticized President
Polk because "He had not con-
suited congress before he
ordered General Taylor for
ward to the Rio Grande and
brought this momentous mat
ter to a head, though it had
been in session when the order
was issued" The historian Will
son added: "He had taken full
responsibility for that upon HIM
self. War indeed, existed-but
by whose act congress was no
longer at liberty to inquire"
The American army of inva-
sion the ex-president wrote,
fought men as brave as Them
selves, a subtle, spirited race
tenacious to the last of all that
it could hold" In his history
Mr.. Wilson referred to the
boundary disputes of the United
States with Great Britain, but,
he adds: Here the government
dealt with a rival and neighbour
With whom no compromise was
necessary" He relates how the
United States seized not merely
the disputed territory which
Texas claimed, but also the
whole country of the Pacific
slope beyond, from Oregon to
the ella river, to which the Uni
ted States could have no con-
ceivable right except that of
conquest"
For the 100000 square miles
of Mexican territory seized by |
the United States, the Washing
ton government agreed to payl
Mexico $15,0OO,OOO or a little
over twenty cents per square
mile. But that sum did not
represent the entire cost of the
acquired territory. Over $780,
100000 was expended to carry |
on the conflict, and other, Incl
dental expenses of the war cost
about 10000 of whom a third
were killed n battle and the re-
mainder succumbed to disease.
The death oil of the Mexicans,
although not exactly known,
probably numbered about 4O,-l
W.-Ex.