Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23

many speculations on the part of the
people and the press. To say that
such a contingency has been entirely
eradicated would indicate a failure to
take common sense viewsof thesexist-,
| ing conditions.
During the past week there has been
a noticeable tendency on the part of
certain papers to influence the adj
ministration to take some immediate
and radical action. In all the dis.
cussion presented by these journals,
failure to consider what the results of
such action would have been has been
apparent.
That this is the case is manifested
by the fact that many of these jour
mails are still criticising the admin
stration for the results of the Spanish
American war and the policy that has
been pursued by the government in
meeting the responsibilities that have
been placed upon us by the outcome
of that struggle. They urge that it was
public sentiment that forced that war
upon the United States. The position
in which they are placed by their pres
ent stand, is quite contradictory. Either
they must admit that they had no part
in the moulding of public sentiment"
which brought on that war, or they
must admit that they are unwilling to
accept the responsibilities that have
come as result of their own actions.
Judging from these conditions the
question arises, who would accept the
responsibility for the results that
would follow war in which the Uni
ted States might become, involved as
the outgrowth of the Venezuelan
trouble. People and papers are busy
urging the United States administra-
! ton to take decided stand in sup
port of Venezuela, but who will fight the
battles of such war? Would these
same people enlist in the armies of the
United States? Would they be willing
to undergo the hardships and priva-
lions and risk the dangers of long
and vigorous campaign and if neces-
sary lay down their lives in defense of
their position? Should they chance to
pass through all these experiences
and return to their homes to resume
the duties of citizenship, would they
be willing to support the administra-
ton in the solution of the questions
that would surely follow such a war?
These are some of the questions that
should be taken into consideration by
those who are agitating immediate &C
ton on the part of the United States
and until they are personally willing
to answer them in the affirmative their
declarations my well be considerated
as nothing more than reasonable in
character.
1t is true that the Monroe doctrine
has come to be considered as an I'M
written law by the people of the colln!
try. This fact is recognized by the
present administration. This has been
| indicated by the reports that have
come from Washington since the be-
ginning of the Venezuelan trouble. Pres
ident Roosevelt and his advisers are
thoroughly eonversant with the stu
alton in the South American republic
and should the occasion demand it
we doubt not that they will say to the
European powers thus far and no far
ther." Then will be the time for the
men of this nation to show by their
deeds that the Monroe doctrine is
thoroughly an American principle,
which the citizens of this nation will
defend with their lives if necessary.