Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-24
ciple asserted by the republican par

Taking up the war with Spain, and |
the question of our foreign posses
sions, Mr.. Cummins said in part:
81 predict that in the future years
the declaration of war against Spain,
promulgated in April, 1898, will be ac-
copied by the historian as marking a
new era in American life and develop
ment for the manner in which the gov
eminent has carried out its declara-
tion towards Cuba. and for the manner
in which it has dealt with Porto Rico
and the Philippines, the republican
party must hold itself answerable to
these people of the United States.
If it has abused the power conferred
upon it should be repudiated at the
voters of the United States are called
upon to express their views. | may
go still lurther. If honestly intended
/ to serve humanity and preserve the
| interests and welfare of the citizens of
/ the United States. its policies tend to
direct the nation into unsafe, unjust
and Improbable paths, your confidence
should be Withdrawn, and you should
commission some other organization to
take up the work. With the extinction
4 of Spanish power came the necessity
! for an immediate government OF the
same character. Pending the con-
struction Of the Cuban constitution,
the United States put into execution a
temporary provisional government, in
tended solely to protect life, liberty
and property. until the Cubans could
act | have never heard the plan cen
sured. 1t is not possible to examine
it in detail, but ] assert without fear
of opposition that it has administered
more justice, preserved more liberty
secured more safety and induced
more prosperity in the Island of Cuba
than the Cubars ever before knew.
In this government there has been, it
is true, one or two unfaithful Amer
leans, but retribution has been sure
and swift. and the penalty that will be
inflicted for the want of integrity will
probably be as surprising as it certain
ly will be instructive to the govern
ment about to be installed. | firmly
believe that when the impartial his
torian shall come to prepare the annals
of America, he will exhaust the vocab.
ulary of praise in describing the con
duct of the United States toward the
Island of Cuba. On behalf of the re-
publican party | bring it forward as
the most conclusive evidence that hon
or inspires it's action and intelligence
directs its course.
LAS to the Philippines These is
lands became ours by the fortunes OF
war. The Spanish title, overcome by
the prowess of our army and navy
; was again transferred to us through
the purchase of the Treaty of Paris
make no prediction with respect tt
the future of the Philippines. We
! are treading new path, but it is witt
, courage, intelligence and conscience
What our duty towards the inhabitant!
, of the Philippines may be three, five
ten or twenty-five years hence, M
sane man will attempt to define. Ii
the rapid evolution of races and ma
tons, industry and commerce, hi
!, would indeed be a yenturesome mai
who would attempt to declare the fu
: ture relation of the Malays of the Pa
cific with the Americans of the Unite
J. States. Whether the Malays o
o the Philippine islands will become a
S Independent nation, whether they Wi
L become citizens of the American re
L public, or whether they will remain
a colony of the republic, with some SUI
e ervision on our part and local sell
/ government upon their part, do no
II know, nor do | believe it is materia
q to know. OF one thing we may b
= absolutely certain, that as long as tn
S people of the United States continu
n to love liberty, SO long as they hav
l. faith in free institutions, and so Ion
as they are moved by virtuous impul:
a es whatever the relation between u
a and the races of the Philippines ougf
= to be, that it will be-
It Turning to the commercial phase {
IS the Philippine question, and speakin
i of the Importance of the islands
d connection with our affairs in Chin
d Mr. Cummins said in part:
t. 81 cannot conceive Of man who's
N view of the rightful powers of govern
y ment is so narrow as to question tn
e. advisability of the United States tai
C. ing hand in affairs so vital to til
AZ growth and prosperity of his own cou
ot try. If there are such men, the
he voices will be drowned in the might
n demand of the American farmer. me
I'd chant, manufacturer, and laborer
n preserve a fair field and no favor
RS the ports of China. With the Phil
NJ pines we have the power to enfort
10 our reasonable demands.
=, With them we hold the key to tt
a, problem. Without the Philippines v
40 -, are driven to barren negotiations
- impossible war. | look upon the col
r. cidence of New China and our acqui
10, 10 ition OF the Philippines as one of Il
~ ~ providences of the Almighty, int
y posed for the maintenance of our pl
eminence among the nations Of tt
= earth. ! repeat that l know not VIII
N M tie, shall eventually bind us to the
~. 40 islands in the far-off Pacific sea, b
W, do know that so long as we are stru
~ gli~g with Europe for place in t
i, commerce of China, there will
~ American territory in the Philippil
~ Islands, and American harbors alol
~ their shores"
if. After quoting the plank in the repu
ce lican platform which demands a rev
,y- ion of the tariff, Mr.. Cummins said:
m This declaration is worthy of mo
nv than a casual thought. 1t is anoth
ds evidence that the republican par
as does not blindly close it's eyes to t
Of. progress of events and that it is