Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-12

the bedrock upon Which it is based
the policy that it has since pursued,
is fostering and caring for the laborer
of this country; and when | remember
it's achievements, in the amelioration
of the condition of labor in the en-
hancement of the wages 1t is a matter
of wonderment to me how any man
who labors with his hands can belong
to any other organization than that
which has cared for him so lovingly.
1t would be Improper for me to in
dulge in extended remarks at this time
but l cannot refrain from congratulate
ing you upon the leadership that we are
to nave in the approaching national
campaign. Theodore Roosevelt is as
certain to be our candidate by the
choice OF all of our people, as is the
fact that he lives today. (Applause.)
He is already nominated in the hearts
of stalwart republicans everywhere
(applause), and all we can do when
our delegates meet In national conven-
ton is to register the will that is al
ready asserted and that we all know of.
This result is fitting, indeed. Where
can we find in all the list of names of
great men, members of our organiza-
ton, one that is so near the ideal of the
great mass of the party; honest beyond
criticism or cavil; truthful in all utter
ances; bold under all circumstances;
wise in the policy of government; we'll
grounded in the principles that have
made this nation great? Roosevelt
stands pre- eminent today among the
great galaxy of men who will be glad
to be his supports throughout the
whole campaign. He has been tried in
many capacities; in everyone he has
been found fully capable of accomplish
ing all that those who were most in
sistent could demand of him. In his
career as governor of the state of New
York, in his services of nearly three
years in the presidential chair, in the
wisdom of his utterances upon all civic
matters, weshaves evidence that he has
true conception of what should be-,
and a wise appreciation of the method
of it's accomplishment He will not
only be our nominee, gentlemen, but II
l may continue in the roll Of prophet,
with the; utmost confidence, / may
prophesy that he will be his own sue
cessor at the end of the presidential
campaign (Applause).
There may be slight divisions here and
there In the membership of our party, but
1t is rare that these differences have rela-
ton to the basic principles Of the party
There are differences, in almost every IN
stance, growing out of questions infinitely
below party principles, ali. Infinitely below
the range of purity utilization, personal In
their character; and while they furnish sub
ject for criticism and discussion in the
newspapers. we will find that when the
stress comes and the time Of battle Is on
that all Of these so-called factions will be
found In the thick of the fight, furnishing
their full quota to the success which we be-
lieve we will have.
believe 1t will be somewhat difficult for
our opponents to find material upon which
to base a formidable campaign. What
topic Is there left for them to discuss
They have. tried to make issues: they tried
to make one one over the ratification Of the
Panama treaty, but ignobly did 1t fall.
When they, Icameato count the troops they
found that the majority Of the democratic
senators were in favor Of the ratification
of the treaty and why not? Most all Of
their claim was thAo argument that the
President of the United States had been
too hasty In the negotiation of the treaty
in the recognition OF the new state Of Pan
ANA. Some thought that he had, until he
gave emphatic denial; but ! heard of no
man who repeated II afterwards that he
had anything to do with the inspiring Of
the insurrection. That was quietly, quieted
by democratic senators themselves, and his
friends we're aabfe to call attention to this
great fact.s2Hefe wastthis canal that had
received the attention of navigators for
nearly four hundred wears; that We had
discussed for more than fifty years; that
we had spent millions i6f dollars upon in
our endeavor to secure a. route for a COM
mercial canal across the istbmus.iIt was
said that it was great work demanded
by the commerce of the world. to say
nothing of our own commerce. Here was
the great fnct, that bysifs construction it
would double they effective force of the
it possible for the .Etiantic fleets to re-
inforce Pacific sqnadr6hs; for them in turn
to- come to the jeast in the emergency of
war, in case their presence was needed.
1t would give, an impetus to our coast
trade In shortening the voyage between the
great ports Of the east Eand west, all our
own territory nearly eleven thousand miles;
and the people of the United States and
the people Of the world insisted now was
the time to build After all of our efforts
and after offers that were compensatory
beyond all limits of reason, we found the
petty nation. of Colombia standing in the
way; a petty nation that by accident
claimed ownership over that little strip of
ten miles. believe IL there had been
no Panama treaty, that IL, there had been
no Colombian acquiescence, 1t would have
been the duty of this nation to have wiped
that petty people away (Appause) I'm
willing to move themselves, unable. per-
haps to contribute in any considerable de-
gree to the great enterprise demanded by
the commerce of the world, they proposed
to bleed liberal people, which our Presi-
dent would not permit. (Appause) We
had, Fortunately for us, the right man in
the right place, at the right time, and I
thank God for it! They cannot talk now
about that.
do not know any of them that now
| want to talk about expansion and colonial
ism and Imperialism; TINT powder has been
burned and the people nre satisfied with
what has been done. Progress is being
made in the philippine islands. True, con
ditions are not such us we would have
them to be. They cannot be for some peri
cd Of time in the nature of things. We
are trying TO breathe into.a semi-barbarous
people the true spirit of civilization and
Christianity that we have here. 1t will
take time; they must have the opportun.
| ity to see the benefits that result to them
| from adopting our method and dscarding
| their own, but when they do, and see the
| benefits to come from school, that come
| from churches that come from factories
| that come from improved agriculture, that
come from all sources that will bless the
possibilities of that land. how glad then
they will be that they fell into the hands
| of republican administration rather than
into the hands of our opponents. But when
that time comes will And enterprising
| ~, 70 fres