Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-03
Democrat Candidate for Gov
ernor of Ohio Heard.
"A RALLY AT HAMILTON.
Hon. John II. Mclean Thinks the Res
publican Party is Taking the Coun-
try to ssDemnition Bow-wows''
Free silver lmportant.

ciated Press.)-Tbe democratic state
campaign was opened here today with
great demonstrations, and speeches by
Hon. John R. Mclean, candidate for
governor, and others on the state tick
ct. Barbecue dinners We're held early, |
followed by parade OF military clubs
and speaking from several stands in
the court house square this afternoon
Mclean was the principal speaker.
He said in part:
"The questions now most prominent
ly before the people of the country are
the war in the Philippines, trusts, the
money question and political dictators.
For our state, taxation, government OF
communities and local dictatorship.
On all these questions the democratic
party has the right to congratulate it
self. Its course has been an honora-
bic one-one that commends it to ali
lovers of liberty, men who hold coun-
try and principles above place, men
who have not allowed their patriotism
to be warped either by profferea deco
rations or the love and thirst for
wealth.
''Since the war with Spain, what has
been the history of the Philippines?
Our war was against Spain, for the re-
dress of grievances, and not against
the Philippine Islanders. for conquest.
When Spain was vanquished we hauled
down her flag, and ours then foated
in friendship. On Manila Bay and its
shores it should have been thencefor-
ward the symbol of liberation in the
land we had invaded in hostility to
Spain alone. The natives We're our
friends. Their recognized leader had
returned to the islands by invitation
OF The United States, and had been as
sisted 10 organize a military force, and
established a camp at Cavite. He. had
summoned his people to the support of
the United States military occupation
in proclamation, assuring them that
the American flag meant liberty and
Independence for them. He organized
a civil government. Not only We're
these proceedings not objected to, but
he was addressed by General Ander-
son, our chief commanding officer. as
the commander of the military forces
of the Philippine Islands, and asked
+ to furnish a map of the adjacent ,coun-
try for the use of General Merritt soon
to arrive. He cheerfully complied.
The amicable relations continued until
General Merritt, fresh from the White
House at Washington, took command,
and made an order establishing a mil
itary line which was TO separate our
troops and the Filipinos into two hos
tiles camps. and forbidding the en-
trance into our lines Of any of Aguin-
aldo's command. This order was the
commencement Of hostiiities.
"Why The status was thus suddenly
changed. With the full approval of the
president, and that. too, while con
gress was in session, has never been
explained. The constitution and the
treaty both lodge in congress the sole
power to determine what shall be the
policy al our government toward the
Philippines. The presidents war upon
them is in derogation of their rightful
power. That body has not yet decid-
ed whether the United States should.
assume sovereignty over Them or leave
the people there free to govern them
selves. Until such decision military
occupation and military rule are un-
doubtedly within the power and duties
of the president. They did not, how
ever, justify. him in refusing to call
congress together in extra session that
it might decide this paramount ques-
tion, nor did it justify him in follow
ing up such refusal with the usurpa-
ton of legislative power by assuming
United States sovereignty in the is
lands as an accomplished fact. He has
been bent on exercising such acts OF
have committed our government to an
imperial policy, and thus render it DIFF
ticult for congress to exercise its power
in contrary direction.
''We are in favor of legitimate ex-
pansion, but opposed to an imperial
istic policy. We object to the meth
DDS that have prevailed, the character
of the settlement chosen to make the
Philippines part OF our country. We
believe that rational friendly course
could have made the Filipinos our
friends, and even at this time fairness
and justice would bring peace.
1T was the boast of the republicans
of Lincoln's day that or soldiers in
the Civil War died TO make men free,
1t is the shame of the republicans to-
day that Lincoln's present successor
would have our soldiers in the Phil
ippines die to make men slaves. They
tell us that we own the Filipinos 10 do
with them as we please, because we
bought the legal right TO them from
Spain. The day thai one man can own
another man or set of men a great
body of men, whatever their color, con-
dition or situation has passed-man.
I kind the world over must be free.
Another menace to the people of
3 the United States is what is known as
: the trusts. They autagonize the law
I of supply and demand, substituting in
their place limited outputs of products
at prices enhanced TO the limit. Under
the plausible claim for "a fair return
ON the investment their work is done
So friendly has the republican admin,
istration been to its creators that the
trusts formed within the last two year.
exceed in capitalization all thar hat
been organized before. Individual ef
fort is rapidly being crushed by them
and our Young men just coming on Tho
stage of action look in vain for field
e