Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-09

full night in Havana harbor, when 200
gallant defenders of their country
were sent to meet their maker. Then
flashed the genius of the master mind.
The nation responded. Men who had
called the chief executive a coward
stayed at home, but from every state
and territory came the youth and
strength of the land. The sons and
grandsons of the brave men who had
fought in the war of 81 to '65, met
and marched shoulder to shoulder,
the descendants of those who had
worn both the blue and the grey. Prep.
arations for war were made. Porto
Rico became American territory, Cuba
was freed, and ten million people were
released from bondage. 1t was the
shortest war on record, one of the
greatest achievements in history, but
there was not one day during the time
that the democrats were not charg-
ing the administration with corrup-
ton.
Satisfied With Porto Rico.
"The war with Spain gave to US
Porto Rico. The impoverished land
came under the protection of this gov
eminent gladly. The administration
adopted policy regarding the island,
which while advantageous to the peo-
pie teaches them the lesson of sustain.
ing self, they must learn self reliance.
The Porto Ricans find no fault with
the arrangement. Even the Bryan
men who have been making such a
fuss about it have abandoned the is
sue.
No Faith in Such Party.
To-day, Imperialism is the para
mount issue, so the democratic plat
form announces. Who gave them au-
thority to pick out the issue before
the American people each campaign?
Eight years ago it was tariff, four
years ago it was the free and unlimit.
ed coinage of silver at the ratio of JIG
other nation in the world. This year
it is imperialism. The tariff question
has been settled by experience.
Thanks to the delegate from Hawaii
to the Kansas City convention, the sill
yer plank is still in the democratic
platform. have no faith in a party
which sheds it's horns every four
years."
The Manila Victory.
Following this, Mr.. Brewster paint
ed rhetorical word picture of the
battle of Manila and the events lead
ing up to it. He said:
up to the time of Dewey's victory
at Manila, no one, not even a Bryan
man, had really questioned the atti.
tude Of the administration, but now
begun bitter warfare. The fleet had
not gone to eastern waters to free the
| Inhabitants of the islands, but to whip
| Spain. The island was recognized as
part of Spanish territory, and it was
the duty of the government to have
the troops stay where they were, in
stead of turning the inhabitants of the
more civilized districts over to the bar.
barity of the hostile tribes. They
stayed, and in the meantime. Sampson
and Schley destroyed the fleet of Ger
cera at Santiago. Spain asked for
peace, and commission of republic
cans and democrats was sent to Paris
a treaty was made, and the Philip
pines were obtained for twenty mil
lions This treaty was ratified by 6
vote of over two.thirds of the senate
and the bill passed the lower house by
a vote of something like 200 to 80.
| II believe that the soldiers should
stay in the Philippines until they are
no longer needed. am not in favor
of vacating American territory. My
resolve Is as strong as that of ex-Goy
ernor Stone. of my own state, who is
now conducting the Bryan campaign
/ in the east, that as he said in st. Joe
/ in 1898, Where an American soldier
falls, there should we plant the flag
never to be hauled down."
Democrats SoIicitous.
1.-THE democrats are very solicitous
/ see, and fearful, lest the people O
the Philippines will be oppressed b!
the rule under our flag, yet they d.
not say word of the thousands RICH
in our own country who are deprived
of the right to vote, in the southern
states. The flag waves over Alabama
North Carolina and Louisiana, but thu
constitution ayails but little to tn
i colored man there. %! Consistency
thou art Jewell but you are hard t.
find in the incongruous ranks of tt,
democracy"
i Mr.. Brewster closed his masterl,
address by one Of the most eloquen
eulogies on Mckinley and Roosevelt
to which the people of Ottumwa prob
ably ever listened. He pictured Nc
Kinley, a school boy, Joining the rank
of the federal army; told of his pre-
motion; his valorous service thruou
. the struggle, and his work since then
Passing to Roosevelt, he told of tn
formation Of the Rough Riders, and O
their daring charge up San Juan hill
of the bravery of their leader, an
closed with the sentence, sThose boy
were the New York millionaires' son
and the cowboys from Texas; tina
leader was Theodore Roosevelt"