Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-28
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Rev. L. p Teter Both a Proiectionist
and an ExpanAionfnt.
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Editor OF the Courier: am read
er of the Independent, through the
courtesies of the editor, gentleman
that highly esteem. Yet in the face
of the non-parSisan history of our war
with Cuba and the Philippine Islands
a history OF which he cannot be, and is
not, ignorant, he persistently charges
the president with imperialism,
when every step taken by the ex-
ecutive from the beginning, has been
marked in a high degree with careful
ness and wisdom and patriotism, strict
ly adhering to his constitutional obli-
cations as the great executive of the
republic, violating neither the laws, nor
the precedents of the past. Every step
the president has taken during the
progress of the war, has been by the
authority and approval of the Ameri-
can people, as expressed by the votes
of large majority of their representa-
tives and senators in congress, without
reference to party politics. The treaty
of peace was ratified by the senate.
Every act necessary to complete all the
conditions, performed by congress.
The islands became ours by treaty and
purchase; the price paid, and the flag
rightfully lifted to wave as the herald
of liberty and freedom in the land of
the Orient. And what does it's pres
ence mean? All the world knows it
means better conditions to the people
over which it floats. Spain was the
rightful owner, and our acquisition of
them is both traditional and constitu-
tional. All territory outside of the
thirteen original colonies has been ac-
quired by war treaty and purchase.
But says my friend, you must not as
sumo to govern people without their
consent. Chief Justice Marshall gives
us the law of nations which stands as
the judgment of the supreme court of
the United States, "That If territory be
coded by treaty the acquisition is con-
firmed, whether the territory was con-
quered or purchased. The ceded terri
toy becomes part of the nation TO
which it is annexed, whither on the
terms stipulated in the cession, or on
such as its new masters shall impose.
The relations of The inhabitants with
their former sovereign is dissolved, and
new relations are created between them
and the government which has acquir-
ed their territory, and the same act
which transfers the country, transfers
the allegiance of those who remain in
it,"
There is no ground for partisan crit
icism in all that is done by congress,
and by the president, to justify the un-
just assaults upon Mckinley. Every
step is sustained and justified by the
history and presidents of the past. Take
the Louisiana purchase; take the ac-
QUESTION of California; take Alaska,
and the legislation in each case con-
forms with the acquisition of the Phil
ippines. They are ours, and the Amer
lean people will see that they remain
ours, and the party that undertakes to
take down the flag. will be by them
taken down. Every true American
should stand Loyalty by Americas
great captain. As nation we shall
have more to say in the worlds affairs
in the twentieth century. God is go
ing TO use us nightly in the expansion
of His kingdom and in the extension
of human liberty. I am not a politi-
clan, but am protectionist and an
expansionist. Protect the home; pro-
hibit whatever is destructive to good
morals; whatever is against public viz.
tue and common decency. Protect the
American laborer; aid in the extension
of civil, religious and political liberty
until the ends of the earth shall be
emancipated from all political and re-
ligious thralldom; until the principles
set forth in the declaration of indie
pendence shall be the political gospel
of all nations. /. p. Teter.