The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-11

Taylor did 80 and closed the trade OF the river
with his guns. The inevitable collision between
the armed forces came on April "a 1916. when
the Mexlcans attacked n body Of American cav
alrymen on the northern side og the Rio Grande
Thereupon Polk. on May II. 1916. sent message
90 congress recommending that war be declared
since War exists. and Notwithstanding all our
edorts 10 avoid H."
Among the Aholltionists Of the North Polk was
denounced rs "the mendacious tool OF grnsplng
slAvocraey" and some historians have criticized
severely his Mexican adventure and declared that
the war with Mexico was unJustlaahle He has
been accused of trying 10 foment revolution
among the CalIfornlans as a preliminary 20 It's
annexation and be Is said 20 have been deter
mined to acquire not only California. but New
Mexico and other northern provinces OF the
southern republic by fair means or foul.
But other historians. especially since the pub
ucation Of his diary. have taken a more kindly
view Of his actions. one ot them declares that
Il leaves little question as 10 Polks honest deal
Ing aith England In Oregon or OF equal effort
to deal fairly with Mexico on the southern bor
der Another says Ills own perception of the
objects of the war was never clouded by doubt
or hypocrisy. lie would have been glad TO buy
the northern provinces from Mexico " that had
been possible"
A the war progressed the American forces
despite the hlundcring % their general officers
victory after victory. aud az early end to the
conflict became a certainty. some ~ the greedler
expanslonisis began shouting for the annexation
~ the whole % Mexico. But Polk was content
with the cesslon IN March ssGs. of more than
10000 square miles of territory IN California
and the Southwest for which Mexico was paid
Si50O0uO0 Just as the states which were carved
49,
monument 10 Thomas Jefferson. 50 are the states
% Washington. Oregon Idaho California. Nevada
Utah. Arizona. New Mexico Texas. and parts og
Wyoming. Colorado. Kansas and Oklahoma a
similar memorial 10 James X. Polk. the empire
builder"
ie lef, the White House IN March 1870 = sick
and exhausted man. the nrst victim Of the ter
rife strain which we put upon the men whom we
elect President Says q historian: POLK was
plainly murdered by an Office which the prevailing
notions Of democracy Joined wlth his own IN
ability 10 delegate details had rendered beyond
any mans powers. Tie felt IL his duty 70 be ac-
cessibie 10 everyone. lie was annoyed and lrrl-
tnted beyond belief by a swarm OF office seekers
who kept after him until almost the final day OF
his ierm-all manner of people Of no Importance
rambling into the Presidential presence az viii
TO demand petty offices and giving him a piece
of their minds on being refused; common drunk
ards waylayIng the President on his walks with
pleas for money wanderers from home calling
AZ the white House Tor loans OF s. and $40.
"Polks election to the Presidency was n sen.
tence 10 confinement at hard labor In his diaries
be speaks again and again OF his excessive IA
tigues. nor did they end In March 1919 On his
way home 70 Nashville by way OF Richmond.
Charleston, Mobile and New Orleans he was al.
most as literally assassinated by his friends as
though he had been shot; be was suffering from
a digestive disorder requiring plain food and alb
solute rest, and he was. In plain fact. feted and
banqueted to death He reached Nashville on
April and he died on June 10"
His wife Sarah Chlldress Knox. is described
as "A very handsome woman. whose black hair
and dark eyes and complexion were reminiscent
OF Spanish donna, woman who was sincere
and understanding student OF political affairs in
a day when women were not supposed to know
anything about politics and who had n better
grasp Of public questions than most Of the states
men who thronged the Washington OF her day"
She was devoted to her husband and as long as
she lived she kept his study In their home just
as he left H.
on the grounds Of what is now the statehouse
yard In Nashville she had erected small marble
temple and there his body was placed On three
sides OF monument inside the structure she set
down In orderly array the record Of his life: "The
mortal remains OF James Knox Polk are resting
In the vault beneath. He was born In Mecklen-
burg county, North Carolina. and emigrated with
his father. Samuel Polk. to Tennessee in 1906
The beauty of virtue illustrated In his life
The excellence Of Christianity was exempllfed
In his death. His life devoted to the public
service. He was elevated successfully to the first
places in the state and federal governments. A
member OF the general assembly. member of
congress and chairman of the most important
committees. Speaker OF the house
of representatives; governor Of Tennessee and
President of the United States BY his public
policy he defined. established and extended the
boundaries of his country. He planted the laws
of the American union the shores OF the Pa
cifc. His influence and his counses tended to
organize the national treasury on the principles
Of the Constitution and to apply the rule OF Free
dom to Navigation, Trade and Industry"
Western Newspaper Union.