So it was the American Army which added New Mexico to the United States; and its retention was due to the will of the politicians who had set that army in motion.

In neither case was there any previous settlement of moment by the conquerors in the conquered territory.

In neither case was there much direct pressure by the people of the conquering races upon the soil which was won for them by their soldiers and statesmen.

The acquisition of the territory must be set down to the credit of these soldiers and statesmen, representing the nation in its collective capacity; though in the case of New Mexico there would of course ultimately have been a direct pressure of rifle-bearing settlers upon the people of the ranches and the mud-walled towns.
Diplomatic Victories.
In such cases it is the government itself, rather than any individual or aggregate of individuals, which wins the new land for the race.

When it is won without appeal to arms, the credit, which would otherwise be divided between soldiers and statesmen, of course accrues solely to the latter.