Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-28

government which would have none
other than the tribal responsibility on
which it would rest! Where would
government end and anarchy begin?
How long would it be before tribal
strife and selfish faction would burst
into the fierce fury of maddened riot
and lay violent hands upon the foun-
dation of civilization and progress
which has been firmly planted on the
Islands, and which, under the guiding
hand of American direction, will lead
their people into the broad path of
peace and prosperity?
Our mission. after putting down the
pending revolution, is to educate, and
then, when their people are fitted for
the establishment of a government of
their own. to protect them in it's main
tenance until they can protect them
selves. But until then let us pursue
the even tenor of our way, working
out, as best we can, the problem of
destiny, putting the rest of the world
on notice, as it watches with eager
eyes for an opportunity to profit by
our possible misstep, that the perform
ance of duty which providence has
placed in our hands will not be shirk-
ed.
W0tcnSVOf0 SNU udS OH.S1
"Let our watchword be Hands OFF,
to the hungry monarchs of Europe,
and Hands Off ourselves only when
we shall have established government
which will be a tribute to the glory of
our institutions and triumph of the.
honesty and sincerity of our purpose"
Next Mr.. Howell spoke at length of
The commercial aspect of the Philip
pine question from the view point of
southerner. From the land where cot
ton is needed he traced movement
which would rebound to the prosperity
of the former and the civilization and
progress of the latter. As an inevita-
BILE ,corollary TO insure the success of
this movement he laid stress upon the
Importance OF the speedy construction
of the isthmian canal.
"Commit the government" he eN-
claimed. ito the mingling of the waters.
of the two great oceans by channel
across the isthmus. opening our ports
to direct connection with those of the
Pacific and of the Orient, and the infu-
sion of new life through the arteries
of southern commerce will put the
whole nation on its Way rejoicing
Talks of "Imperialism.''
Mr.. Howell concluded with the fol-
lowing message to those who consider
expansion and imperialism as synony-
nous:
Much is being said of the dangers
of Imperialism. If that term implies
the creation of vast standing army
which shall be interposed between the
people and their rights as guaranteed
by the constitution, | would say that
we want none of it here. If it means a
centralized government with one-man
power, with the states shorn of their
guaranteed authority in the control of
their domestic affairs, and with a con-
gress secondary to a central power
clothed with autocratic authority, /
would say that the day has come when
the people may well feel alarm for
their security: if it means that we are
to exchange an ideal system of govern
ment built upon the citizen as the unit
and the hearthstone as its most bless
ed sanctuary for an experiment in the
turbulent and oppressive methods of
other countries whose people are
grooming under the merciless wheels
of the tax juggernaut, i would pray
that God might divert the impending
calamity. Well might we beware of
such a condition.
Has Faith in His Country.
But ! have faith in my country.
Its green fields and fertile valleys sing
the same sweet song of liberty that fell
upon the ears of the continental pa
triots and inspired their response TO
the quickstep of their country's call.
The rainbow of hope which God hung
over their heads and anchored in the
heavens that it may be a perpetual in
spiration, shines as brightly for us as i
did for them. The compact of the
states, made by them has been guar
anteed by succeeding generations, and
generations yet unborn will take it
to their hearts and defend it with their
lives.