Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-24
Its Reverberation is the Signal
That War is On.
LARGE CROWDS LISTEN TO WISDOM
Holds Close Attention OF Enthusiastic
PopuIace as He Discusses the situa.
ton and Applied Logic in a Master
ly Manner-Speeoh in Full.

Centerville, Sept. %. - Hon. A. B.
Cummins, republican candidate for
governor, formally opened the cam
paign this afternoon, addressing a
large audience in this city He deyot-
ed two hours to discussing state and
national issues.
Mastery Address.
Mr.. Cummins' preface to his regular
ADDRESS was non-partisan and con-
talns much which should find place
III the democratic as well as the re-
publican literature OF this campaign.
He said
My Fellow Citizens: In the an
clent days when every man admins
tered justice for himself and preserv.
ed MS own safety as best he could, it
required a great deal of his time and
all his strength to maintain his rights
and to keep his head firmly upon his
shoulders. In these modern DAYS,
when elaborately organized govern.
ments have been substituted to accom-
piish these purposes, it still, requires
much time, much thought. great vfr-
tue and high courage on the part of
the voter to secure just laws and their
honest execution. The more complex
tsociety becomes, the more difficulty
the adjustment of governmental reeu-
lations will be, and each recurring
year will demand higher intelligence,
purer patriotism and more thoughtful
attention at the hands of the citizens
/ OF the republic. You are engaged
therefore in the most serious business
OF life and my purpose is neither to
entertain nor amuse you, but to Join
\ you in a conference upon public af-
fairs.
/ What is said here viii have little
influence upon the fate of our country,
but what you think here and do here.
after VIII deeply concern the future Of
your fellow men.
Good government is the ultimate
object of all sincere political discus-
sion, and it inspires every conscien-
tious political act. There never has
been and never will be difference Of
opinion upon this fundamental propo-
sition. What good government is.
ana how 1t can best be attained. are
matters upon which honest. intelli-
gent and patriotic men have always
dlhered, and upon which it nav safely
be said they always will differ 1t is
TINS concurrence in the end to be
reached, and difference respecting
the path leading to il, which separate
the people into political parties. and
which create the basis for political
!; gatherings. While it is not easy to
trace the boundaries of ihe field of
settled principles or mark the limits
Of the region of fair dispute. We in.
stinctiyely know whether .any given
question hes within the one or tho
other. Il is plain that when we meet
TO consider questions that are stiu
open for consideration, tolerant
spirit should pervade the minds of the
people who should conceive of no
hours OF Grayef moment than those in
which tne voters OF the republic rc.ay-
anime their political faith and dis
charge their political duties. It may
sound somewhat startling. but 7 think
you VIII agree with me when I say
that there is one thing even more es.
sential and moro important than that
you should do right: It is that Won
should believe that you are doing
right 1t is better for yourselves and
for YOUR country to do wrong. beliey.
ing that you are doing right. than to
do right believing that you are doing
wrong.
These observations. trite as they.
are. will disclose my mental attitude
toward our opponents in the begin.
ming of the campaign of 1901. I am
, here firm and steadfast in the belief
) that the republican party holds and
enforces principles which are neces.
; sary to the honor of the nation and to
the welfare Of the people; that It has
9 past which gives it better title to
YOUR confidence and support and fu-
ture with q brighter and clearer prom
Use than any other political organiza-
tion known to the history
of your country. But am
: not here to impugn the mo.
tiVes or question the loyalty of my fol.
: low men who advocate doctrines in
i consistent with my own, nor to unfair.
+ ly disparage and unjustlv belittle anv
! other political party. When have
finished, some of YOU may say that I
am mistaken, but am determined
that none of you shall say that | am
either bigoted or malicious.
Before | touch upon those subjects
which ordinarily form the texts of 4
political speech, You must permit mo
to say word upon subject in which
1--WE are all equally interested, which
should appeal to us as citizens OF a