Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-05
PEOPLES PULPIT.
John VI. Lewis ON the Issues.

Editor Courier: / want to call at
tention to the language you use edi-
torially toward those who are opposed
u the administration's Philippine pol
Referring to recent meeting of an
tiimperialists, you call them ''Ameri-
can MalaayR epd then say: "The
word traitor Written on the forehead
If each One Of these fellows would not,
l1ok. pretty, but would stand for
hesp Of trim
Referring to Lloyd Garrison, son of
tina Old MberatoY who spoke the 9TH
er day on this sThject, you have to say
Ok him, '..Ehasmuch as most people
Now Garrison and know that his
Whole family is addicted to radical
cfsuhstn, his remarks will have little
Further on and Of them generally,
yS4 lnfdtM Us: They prefer, rather,
to be traitors safely and comfortably
ut Aome, ana wish to Continue TO read
J6eH hafnes in the papeefs by the lights
Of thpiT Own fresides."
Ysq treat the platform of Iowa dem
ocrats thus: $50 the Iowa democrats
want to pull down the flag in the Phil
tppines. Well, the democrats wanted
to pull down the stars and stripes in
1864, and abandon the war for the
preservation of the Union. In fact,
they have been always wanting to pull
down the flag. But it stayed up in
'64 and 1t will stay up in &c."
Does the editor of the Courier think
that such language is calculated either
to justify the presidents course or to
win voters to the republican party?
The war which we are now CARRYING
on against the Filipino, is largely the
individual enterprise of the president
and his advisers. Congress has not de-
dent, by {irtue Of his Office snl has s as
asnmed TO Wage a war of subiugation
at an enormous sacrifice of life and
treasure. Aside from these present
sacrifices there are many weighty, not
to say grave, objections to be urged
against the course of territorial acqui-,
sition and conquest on which the adj
ministration has started. saying moth
ing of the moral wrong involved in
the act of crushing people engaged
In struggle for independence.
= is enough to say that here are.
questions about which our ablest and
most patriotic citizens differ, and that,
thus far, neither the people nor con-
gress have passed judgment upon these
questions.
In despotic Russia the car settles
all issues of war or peace and the eiti-
zen who criticises or objects is ban
ished to Siberia. But we have always
understood that in free America the
people are sovereign, the source of
power.
The fuller the discussion, the freer
and holder the criticism INDUCED on
these questions, the better will they
be understood and, hence, more surely
settled Alright. Whether they be right
or wrong on the main question, are not
the anti-imperialists engaged in; a
proper and praiseworthy business?
Many of our ablest public men, repub-
leans as well as democrats, have open
ly allied Themselves with this oppose
ton. BY what right do you brand as
traitors such men as Hoar, EdmonIs,.
Sherman, Mason. Cleveland BRYAN and
Bishops Vincent and Spalding? The
republican party is yet 10 be heard
from and if appeals to mere party 10y
atty were disregarded, there can be
little doubt as to its verdict.
Has it come TO- this: that, without
consulting the people or congress, the
president may reverse our policy of a
century, commit us to a program
against whicha all our ablest and wis
est men have warned us and stife OPP
position, nay, even discussion, by
shouting ''treason?'
If so, then the hope of freedom has
already persisted from our land.
John w. Lewis.