Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-13

clean hands. and that whoever claims
liberty as right must accept the re-
sponsibilities that go with the exercise
OF the right. Do our opponents object
to what was done in reference to the
petition of American citizens against
4 the k1shenev massacre? or TO the
protest against the treatment of the
Jews in Roumania? or to the eff
forts that have been made in behalf Of
the Armenians in Turkey? No other
administration in our history, no other
government In the world has more con-
s1stently stood for the broadcast spirit
OF brotherhood In our common human
| lty, or has held more resolute atti-
tude of protest against every wrong
that outraged the civilization of the
age, at home or abroad. Do our oppon-
ents object to the fact that the inter
national tribunal at The Hague was
rescued from impotence and turned in
to potent instrument for peace
among the nations2 This government
| has used that tribunal and advocated
| its use by others in pursuance of it's
/
national peace and good will by all
honorable methods. In carrying out
this policy, it has settled dispute after
! dispute by arbitration or by friendly
agreement. 1t has behaved towards all
nations, strong or weak, with courtesy
dignity and justice; and it is now on
excellent terms with all
| The Alaska Decision.
'sDo our opponents object to the set
Element of the Alaska boundary line? ?
Do they object to the fact that after
freeing Cuba we gave her reciprocal
trade advantages with the United
States, while at the same time keeping
naval stations in the island and pro-
/ viding against its sinking into chaos,
or being conquered by any foreign
power? Do they object to the fact that
4 our Dag now flies over Porto Rico? Do
| they object to the acquisition of Ha-
wall? Once they hauled down our
flag there; we have hoisted it again
do they intend once more to haul it
down? Do they object to the part we
played in China? Do they know that
the voice of the United States would
now count for nothing in the far east
If we had abandoned the Philippines
and refused to do what was done in
China? Do they object to the fact that
this government secured peaceful
settlement of the troubles in Vene-
zuela two years ago? Do they object
to the presence of the ship-of-war off
Colon when the revolution broke out
| in Panama and when only the pres
ence of this ship saved the lives of
American citizens and prevented in
suit to the flag? Do they object to the
fact that American warships appeared
promptly at the port of Beirut when an
effort had been made TO assassinate an
| American official. and in the port OF
| Tangier when an Americc n citizen had
been abducted and that in each case
the wrong complained of was righted
and expiated? and that within the last
few days the visit of an American
squadron to Smyrna was followed by
the long delayed concession of thei1
just rights to those Americans con
eerned in educational work in Turkey
Do they object to the trade treaty
with China,so full of advantage for the
American people in the future? Dc
they object to the fact that the ships
carrying the national flag now have
a higher standard than ever before in
craftsmanship and in seamanship, as
individual units and as component
parts Of squadrons and fleets? If they
object to any or all of these things
we Join issue with them. Our foreign
! policy has been not only highly ad
yantageous to the United States, but
hardly less advantageous to the world
as a whole Peace and good will have
followed in it's footsteps. The govern
ment has shown itself no less anxious
to respect the rights of others thar
insistent that the rights of Americans
be respected In return. AS for the navy
4 it has been and is now the most potent
guarantee of peace; and it is sucf
chiefly because it is formidable ant
ready for use.
i The Pension Laws.
when our opponents speak of EN-
croachments' by the executive upor
the authority Of congress or the judic
larry, apparently the act they ordinari
!, ly have In view Is Pension Order No
, rs, issued under the authority of exist
. ing law. This order directed that here
, after any veteran of the civil war who
: had reached the age of sixty-twt
should be presumptively entitled to +;
pension of six dollars a month. give1
under the dependent pension law t,
those whose capacity to earn their live
lihood by manual labor has been de
creased SO per cent and that by The
time the age of seventy was reached
, th Drpsumntion should he that fhf
: physical disability was complete: tht
, age being treated as an evidental fac
, in each case. This order was made il
!, the performance of duty imposed
upon the president by an act OF con
gress which requires the executive tt
, make regulations to govern the subor
, dipates Of the pension Office in deter
] mining who are entitled to pensions