Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-09
LACEY At AGENCY.
Delivered an Able and Inspiring
Address.
INTERRUPTED BY HEARTY APPLAUSE
Regarding Militarism, Says the Amer.
lean Soldier is an American Citizen
With a Gun and Never Fought Any.
thing Which Should Not be Fought.


From Saturdays Daily.1
John F. Lacey, representative from
the Sixth district in congress deliver
ed last evening an able and inspiring
address to the people of Agency and
the surrounding country. The town
hall was filled to its utmost capacity,
and for two hours the people listened
to republican arguments worded in a
way that carried with it no malice.
but yet gave the facts clearly. At
frequent intervals during Mr.. Lacey's
talk, he was interrupted by hearty ap-
plause, and his every remark was lis
tened to with the keenest interest.
Major Lacey's Address.
The meeting was opened by Post
master G. L. Nye, of Agency, who
briefly introduced Mr.. Lacey. The
later said in part:
II want to review briefly with YOU
the events of the past - years. The
tariff was brought up by Cleveland
during his administration. 1t was
then comparatively new issue, altho
it had been before the people a gen
GRAFTON before. In, 1888 Harrison was
elected. The system of protection
was established on a firm basis The
country prospered under that admins
tration, and the prosperity was in
evidence in 1892, but the democrats
thought they could revise the tariff
and improve the condition of the coun-
try if they could elect their candidate.
They elected Cleveland, and the coun-
try entered an era of panic hitherto
almost unknown.
The Wilson Bill.
Bryan, in conjunction with Mr..
Wilson, prepared the Wilson Bill. 1t
was carried and the Mckinley DILL
was repealed. The effect of free
trade legislation was understood by
every one. Four years ago, the dem
ocratic party cast about for another
issue on which to make their fight.
They turned to the crime of '73, which
had been hidden for SO many years.
They dug it up and made it and free
coinage the issue. Where now is
Coins Financial School, where is
the crown of thorns, where the cross
of gold, all of which we heard SO
much four years ago?
They have been laid away along
with the wheat charts and the other
incidentals to the campaign of Bryan
in 1896.
Principles Right. 4
LET me speak of the prophecies
of that campaign, At Grinnell, said
If you elect Mckinley and have a
declaration in favor OF prosperity, the
nation will march on into the TWEEN
tieth century amid unparalleled pros
perity.' Was I not right? Go back
over the ten years l have represented
you in Washington look over my
votes, and see If have not each time
voted rightly. do not say this with
any feeling of vanity. l always voted
with my party, and it always happen
ed that the principles advocated by
my party were right.
Times Are Better.
Bryan made prophecies at that
time also. He prophesied that if Nc
kinley was elected, there would be
unparalleled hard times, restitution
and crime. He said we had only to
note the number of failures in the
country to see the gold standard was
wrong. The prophecies of the demoe-
racy have always proven wrong. The
republican promises have been re-
deemed, their prophecies have been
fulfilled. Has money became scarce?
No. The amount per capita has in
creased from $21 to $26. Has the rate
of interest raised? No. Large amounts
of money are being loaned at the rate
of five per cent, and six per cent is
a very common rate. Has labor been
thrown out of employment? No. 1t
is hard to find an idle man. Yet the
democrats advance the statement that
there are thousands of men out OIL
a strike. This could not have been
an argument four years ago for man
has to be at work before he can
strike, and four years ago, men were
out of employment. All / ask of you
is that you remember.
''My democratic friend, you like the
present state of affairs as well as
do. You are patriotic and want your
nation to enjoy prosperity. In your
heart of hearts you feel as good as do
l. What more do you want?
Imperialism and MiIitarism.
"They raise the issue of imperial
ism this year. With the death of Max.
! imilian in Mexico, the last trace OF
Imperialism was shot away from the
northern part of the western hemis.
phere, and soon after good old Dom
Pedro left Brazil, and Imperialism was
wiped off the whole western hemis
phere.
They also raise the question of mil
itarism. They are afraid of the
tyranny of the American soldier. The
, American soldier dangerous? can
not imagine such a condition. All
American soldier is nothing but ar
, American Citizen with gun. The
American soldier never yet fought
anything which should not be done
, away with.
, "All ask you to do this fall is t
. remember one good turn deserves an
other, and one good term deserves an
nfhar If VOL ho,. 10