Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-25

against it. He then touched upon the
suggestion made in the Kansas City
platform that the tariff be taken off
trust articles, and plainly demonstrate
ed how this system would benefit the
sugar trust and kill the beet sugar in
dustry in the United States.
The German Vote.
Judge Smith met the democratic ar
gument that they will get the German
vote because the present administrat-
ton did not take an active part in the
Boer war. He mentioned the fact that
the United States. alone among all
the nations of The world, offered her
services as mediator. and how they
were refused. and showed that the
statement made by the opposition on
this matter as well as on all others is
wrong.
MiIitarism and imperialism.
The question of militarism was men
toned briefy,and as briefly disposed of.
BY bringing home all the soldiers in
the United States army, both regulars
and volunteers. the country would
have about one soldier policemen to
each township. thus the "subversion
of American liberty" which the demo-
cratic party fears SO much, would be
hard to realize. Quoting from the
democratic platforms of 1854 and 1868,
Judge Smith showed how the meth
DDS of Lincoln and Grant were as
sailed, and the same cry as now,
"Militarism," was taken up against
the republican party.
imperialism" said Judge Smith, 'is
their pet issue this year. They say
that Dewey had much better sailed
away from Manila than to have taken
the city. 1t seems somewhat queer
that they did not think of this fact
until two years after the affair, but
victories in the history Of the world.
But they say we should have surren-
dered the port to Spain rather than
hold it. We say in defence of the ad-
ministration, that we could not sur
render the port. Consider our posi-
ton, we had captured the second port
in the enemy's possession, and would
have been insane to give it back, so
that it's earnings should go to the
treasury of our foeman, to be used in
our destruction. We could not give
it back for humane reasons, for we
had no right to leave the people in the
Philippines, whom we had taken from
the despotism of Spain, to be killed by
the savage tribes of the island. The
cruel oppression of the people of the
Philippines which the opposition says
is in force. is another of their myths.
Only two tribes of the eighty-four in
the island have resisted our authority.
and those who have been encouraged
by the traitorous Aguinaldo. They
speak of our violation of the sentiment
expressed in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence that all men are created free
and equal. They say that we do not
recognize that fact with regard to the
Filipinos. Let them look back and see
in what spirit this was written. JEFF
ferson, who wrote the Declaration Of
independence was a slave holder until
his death. He then, must have refer
red to white people, intelligent people,
people who are capable of self govern
ment. They ask what will be done
with the Philippines if made part of
the United States. We answer. that
that point has not as yet been, settled,
but that a fair and just treatment will
be accorded them. They may be re-
garded as the wards of the nation I'M
til such time as they are capable of
governing themselves. And if they
never become capable of self govern
ment they may be the wards of the
country indefinitely, as are the Indians
today"
The address was closed with a
short talk on political matters in gen.
eral, and the repeated failures of the
democratic party to carry out their
promises and realize their prophesies.
After Judge Smiths address H. H.
Hammond, republican candidate for
county auditor, made brief talk, with
which the meeting closed.