Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-16
WHY NOT BE oPTIMIsTs?

Other things being equal it is the
person with the optimistic views and
tendencies who is able to accomplish
greatest good for himself and his fell
low beings AS it is true of men in
private life SO with public offici-
ais. Though optimism is not absolute
ly necessary to the successful admin
istration of public affairs, yet it is al
most universally the case that pros
porous administration is characterized
by leaders of optimistic views.
When has the United States ever ex-
perienced a more prosperous era than
of the past six years? Each twelve
months since William Mckinley was
inaugurated as the President of the.
United Staes, has seen this country
far ahead of it's previous position I'M
til today it stands pre-eminent among
the nations of the world, experience
ing the most prosperous era that has
ever visited this land. Among the men
who have been at the head of this ma
ton, none have been of more optimis-
tic disposition or belief, none have had
greater faith in the future of the coun-
try and it's people than President
Roosevelt. 1t is not because he is sat
isfied with everything as it now exists,
but he finds great inspiration in the
bright side of the picture and becomes
better fitted to cope with the questions
as they arise by looking thereon,
In the review of the accomplish
ments of the United States in its ma
ional life President Roosevelt in the
opening paragraphs of his message
shows the happy view he takes of the
condition of public affairs. He says:
Even if we would we could not play
small part. If we should try, all that
play a large part ignobly and shame
fully.
But our people, the sons of the men
of the civil war, the sons of the men
who had iron in their blood, rejoice in
the present and face the future high
of heart and resolute of will. Ours is
not the creed of the weakling and the
coward; ours is the gospel of hope and
triumphant endeavor. We do not
shrink from the struggle before u.s.
There are many problems for us to
face at the outset of the twentieth
grave problems abroad and still graver
at home-but we know that we can
solve them and solve them well, provi-
ded only that we bring to the solution
the qualities of head and heart which
were shown by the men who in the
days of Washington founded this gov
eminent and in the days of Lincoln
preserved it,
mo country has ever occupied a
higher plane of material well being
than ours at the present moment. New
er before has material well-being been
SO widely diffused among our people.
Great fortunes have been accumulated
and yet in the aggregate these for
tunes are small indeed when compared
to the wealth of the people as a whole.
The plain people are better off than
they ever were before. There are more
deposits in the savings banks, more
owners of farms, more well paid wage
workers in this country now than ever
before in our history"
Where is the true American who is
not proud of the accomplishments of
this nation? It's whole history from the
time of it's inception and birth under
the leadership of George Washington,
assisted by his efficient compatriots,
down through it's fierce domestic
struggle in the sixties to the present
time, is ,largely characterized by those
things that act as inspirations to con-
tinued efforts and activity. Will it not
! be well for the people of this country
to view the bright side Of this picture
and while doing this give assis-