Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-18
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Daily Courier, year, by mall. .s4.OO
Semi Weekly Courier, year. -. 1.50
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.

aSNAS isNAoSu ny SAC PACoo III uiISlCll
parts of the United States. During
the past few days the demands of GER
tain papers have been peremptory that
President Roosevelt should Immediate
ly order Admiral Dewey to La Guayra
with the fleet of war vessels that has
been assembled in Caribbean waters
for winter maneuvers. 1t is however,
to the credit of the administration at
Washington that it has preserved a
affairs, and the citizens of this coun-
try can be assured that no steps will
be taken in the matter that will with
out just cause entangle the United
States in the present imbroglio.
Considerable surprise has been &C.
casioned by the summary action of
the German and British commanders
in the bombardment of the forts and
custom house of Porto Cabello.
Though the Washington officials have
not given out any opinion as to this
action, it is felt that there is thor
ough understanding of the situation
at the capital. Whatever may have
been the cause for the action of the
allies it is probable that it has COM
mitted them to a policy, which may
prove difficult to abandon with dig
nifty to themselves. Whatever may
be the result of the events, this gov
eminent has assurances from the al
lies that they will observe the Monroe
doctrine, and thus far there has been
no action that could be interpreted as
disregard to that doctrine.
AS partial assurance that it is the
intention to observe the Monroe doc
trine comes the intelligence that. the
British government has sent instruc-
tions to the commander of her fleet
in Venezuelan waters restraining their
actions, pending decision on the
Venezuelan proposition for arbitration.
Reports from Caracas indicate that
Minister Bowen has affairs well in
hand and though he states that con-
siderable excitement prevails through
out the country, yet he does not init
mate that there is any necessity for i'm
mediate interference on the part of the
United States.
At such times as this there always
has been-and probably always will
be-a class of people in the United
States, that has demanded immediate
and radical action. Surely the events
just preceding the Spanish-American
war have not already been forgotten
Some people and the press of the coun
try at that time urged the immediate
declaration of war.When that demand
failed bitter and vicious attacks, upon
the policy being pursued by the ma
tional administration and even upor
President Mckinley himself, were
forthcoming. But through all this try
s ing time William Mckinley held firm
ly to conservative cause and whe1
the moment came, when he felt tina
everything was in readiness war was
declared and the administration b.
the yigor and strenuousness will
which it pursued it's campaign
brought the struggle to a successful
end within a few months. However
there were those who were unwilling
to accept the responsibilities tina
came to us as result of this wal
Again the administration was at
tackled. Blamed with the results tina
simply followed the end of the cor
flict, the administration was subjecte
to the most severe and cutting crit
cism, not from those who had stoo
by the President from the beginnin
of the trouble but the most sever
criticism came from those people an
national leaders, who had been tn
most rabid in their demands for Al
early inauguration of the war.
That the administration understand
the conditions as they exist in Vene
zuela, as we'll as the demands of tn
allies and their position regarding tn
observance of the Monroe doctrine
cannot be doubted. That there appear
to be some, who think they are quail
fed to handle the affairs in the Sout
American republic better than is Pres
ident Roosevelt and his corps of at
visers, is evident from their uttel
ances.
With one of the largest fleets c
American naval vessels ever Assem-
bled, in charge of the hero of Manil
bay, only days sail from the seen
of the trouble. Minister Bowen, VIII
has heretofore proven his ability a
wise and efficient diplomat,in charg