Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-20

great has been the need for such 2 |
party in the past there never was
time, from the adoption of the consti-
tuition to the present hour. when there |
was greater need for a conservative |
and powerful democracy than in the
year nineteen hundred and one. New
er in our entire history have the |
forces of political wisdom, of eXtray-
agence and folly. OF undemocratic
and unrepublican principles been so
nearly concentrated as they now are
in the republican party and never |
were they so clearly personified as Ill
the administration of President Nc |
kinley.
But the duty of the present hour
calls our attention to local rather than
national affairs. The commonwealth |
of Iowa and our own county of Wapel
10 have claims upon us which we are
met to discharge. Two weeks ago
there assembled in this hall conven-
ton of our fellow citizens and they
were told by the chairman who occupi-
ed this platform that the democratic
party never had won a victory and
never could win a victory excepting
upon the mistakes of the republican
party. | do not refer to this state
ment for the purpose of calling at
tcntion TO that chairman's heresy in
the admission that the republican
party has actually made mistakes nor
dc do so for The purpose of DIV Sling
upon his lamentable ignorance of his
country's history. Ny purpose is
rather to cheer you with his sophism
than to ridicule his errors. Gentle
men if our victories follow upon re-
publican mistakes we should at this
time rejoice and be exceeding glad
for we are surely upon the vary verge
OF thousand years of democratic
rule
IF / were a republican addressing a
republican convention ] would prob
ably state that 1.-THE administration"
1.-The Lord or .sthe protective tariff
has placed within our power the means
of securing a great triumph at the
coming election: But being a demo-
crat addressing democrats and realiz-
ing that in this assemblage honesty
can not be supplied with cant, | pre-
fer to state that the exercise of good
judgement is all that is necessary to
win great victory.
The very convention of the great
and Invaluable party to which | have
referred presages our triumph. There
is not citizen in Wapello county who
does not know that, outside of nomi-
mating certain minor county officers,
its entire time was devoted to deter
mining the momentous question as to
which railroad should select the dele
CATION to the state convention. A few
days later the state convention as
sembled at Cedar Rapids where the
battle was fought over again and
where the question as to which partic-
ular corporation should control the re-
publican party for the next two years
was disposed of. The democratic
party has no quarrel with the rail
roads nor with any other legitimate
corporation or individual business.
But it holds that the railroads of Iowa
will have enough to do if they trans
port our people and carry our freight
and that they assume an unnecessary
burden when the assume the task of
choosing our governors. Strip the
Cummins fight of all but it's facts and
you have left simply disagreement
between the railroads of the state as
to who shall sit in our executive coun-
ell and exempt them from a portion of
their taxes.
This same infallible party that now
allows the railroads to selects it's
leaders has been even more kind to
those corporations than is indicated
by this action. You will remember
that some years ago this party con-
ceiyed to be within the line of it's
duty to attempt the most stringent
legislation with regard to them but
new dispensation now prevails and
under its benign provisions they are
through the management of our rep
ublican executive council relieved of
large portion of the burdens of tax
:.tion. Yes, and the present republi-
can nominee for governor who made
an apparent fight against the iniquity
of his party does not dare to say one
word in favor Of an equitable adjust
ment of the matter and the platform
upon which he stands is innocent of
any reference to it.
This same infallible and heaven
guided party thatafeW years ago went
up and down this state shouting that
he who was not prohibitionist was
| unworthy of the name of prohibition
Is accountable to the people for other
sins than those / hav. mentioned.
While protecting the traffic and wisely
framed liquor law that shall cease
| diverting millions of dollars of re-
venue from this state This same
party that shrieks that it is not pro-
ribition party dominates avowed pro-
hibitionists in its local convention and
then proceeds to nominate man for
the governorship whom it's leaders
have denounced throughout the state
as traitor to the principles for which
! it processes to stand. Gentlemen, it
will not be necessary for us to make
charges against the republican nomi-
nee in this campaign. The charges
made against him all through the
state by members of his own party will
amply suffice to indict him before the
people of the state. There are radical
democrats in Wapello county Demo
Gratis who are disposed to condemn all
things republican at all times. But
no condemnations that they can utter
can be more sweeping than those sent
forth by the leaders Of the republican
party in this county within the last
month
But it is now time for this conven-
/ tim, IN 10 tln