Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-12

SESSION OF The republican county con
vention at Knoxville. Wednesday, Gov
erilor Sha,s was introduced and deliver
ed Il speech on the issues OF the day.
There was :, big crowd 70 hear him.,
and mis- address was heayd with mark
ed approval. He said la part:
.'T:a. democrats OF iowa endorsed
mos; Heartily the war against. Spain.
but cc.:o'!nccd most viidictivelY the
war 20. ne suppression of an insurrsct
ton On ugis:d States territory acquired
uude:. the treaty which codes It TO the
United States Oh ihe same terms mat
Porto Rico is cctied: and they say that
they deDouncc the one fer the same
lesson that they approve the other.
They Hse this language: The attempt.
unauthorized by congress, to conquer
the natives of the Philippine Islands
is in Reputation of the American doc,
trine of consent framed in The Declara-
lion of independence, and in conflict
with the !, principles which George
Washington and his fellow patriots
OF the Revolution made sacrifices to
establish am surprised that the
platform did not contain the declar-
t;on that Thomas Jetferson was the
author of the Declaration OF Indepnd-
ence. As one reads this platform and
remembers the language Of The declar-
alton so frequently quoted. he might
suppose that this was the first instance
when the United States has ever ac-
CURED any territory without the CON
sent Of the people occupying it. The
self-stylsd political descendants OF
Thomas jefferson are, however. quite
forgetful people, and it becomes neces-
sary sometimes TO stir up their pure
minds by way of remembrance.
TN December, 1903. Louisiana passed
from the dominion of Spain 10 The do
minion of France, and from the DONNA
ion OF France, twenty days later, to the
dominion of the United States. The in
habitaRts of this vast territory were
very largely French and Spanish
Neither their consent to nor their APP
try was ever asked or obtained. The
fist government which the United
States established within this territory
was by act of congress approved Murch
rs. 1904. This act was signed BY Thomas
Jefferson, then president at the United
States. 1t was in fact passed at his sug-
suppose from all we have heard OF this
lli6erty-loying founder of great po!iti-
cal party that t he government thus ac-
corded These newly purchased aliens
would Heas nearly a pure, democracy as
anything. ifAsight, but. on the contrary
ii was a simon5pure despotism. 1t ar
fords one CT the very few instances
where the congress of the United States
has given to a territory Il govsrGment.
in! which the people of the territory have
had no voice whatever. Tie territory
OF Louisiana was acquired. it must be
remembered, by purchase and treaty
session the same as the Philippines ISL
ands have been acquired; yet the ac;
of congress expressly provides that the
president OF the United States (Thomas
Jetferson) shall appoint governor and
legislative council, both TO hold ofiicc
during the pleasure OF the president,
and residence of one year within the
territory was the only qualification nee
essary. The governor was TO make the
laws with The approval of the council
Mark you, the council was not 10 make
the laws with the approval! OF the gov
eInor. 1t was pure despotis1l. II is
needless to say that the exercise OF SOW
ereignty of the United States over this
territory was not relished bv the pco-
pie They could not speak the English,
Language. They knew nothing of our
forms of law; and they protested vgor-
ously. 1t may be interesting 10 read II
paragraph of their protest filed with