Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-07

subject to no despot. We are held
back by no bayonets. No govern.
ment can demand the three best years
of our lives in military service We
are free. There Is no man at any Of
our shores to inquire where we are
going when we go away, or to ask
why we return when we come back.
This is the land of liberty.
Not Buffer.
For one hundred and twenty-five
years the world has considered the
American buffer. But during all
that time the American has not been
defeated on land or sea.
For more than century the world
has considered the American a wild
west performer, wearing clothing sim.
ply as concession to the tastes of
other people. But during that time
the American has been harmonizing
himself, stirring and assimilating the
different bloods in his veins prepare
tory to finally turning out the An
ished American PRODUCTIVE best man
alive.
"The American, for a century and q
quarter, has gone into every contest
underestimate by everybody except
himself and has come out with all the
trophies of victory.
"The American has never gone into
battle which he did not expect to
win, and which everybody else did
not expect him to lose. He has never
gone into battle knowing exactly
how much he would win, but has al.
ways believed that he would win
something.
SeIf-Confidence Characteristic.
"The American has had occasion for
believing in himself. No man can &C
complish things who does not believe
in himself The tight rope walker and
the man who loops the loop would
fail If he did not have confidence in
himself.
"The American has succeeded so
many times where others have failed
that he no longer reckons on defeat.
He defeated the greatest nation Of the
world in his early manhood and the
confidence thus early established has
been growing. History has told that
A story and for more than century 1t
has been an inspiration to the brave
4 hearts of young Americans.
Seeks No ouarrels.
For a century the American has
sought no quarrels. He has only in
sisted on other nations attending to
their own business. Now that he is
strong, he has no disposition to seel'
quarrel with his interiors. Being
4 underestimated for century he has
I not received the respect which has
/ been his due. Now that his prowess is
no longer questioned, he has no oc
| casion either to assert or to demon
strate his courage. Now when oul
state department sends the battleships
1 to an alien harbor to demand the re
lease of an American subject, he is re
leased.
The American Soldier.
4 "Has the American any warrant fol
the faith he has had in himself? Has
he not slept on the ground and rested
in the snow and rain; has he not lait
in the trenches in the water and the
heat, has he not marched and suffer
ed in the swamps; has he not gone
against Notifications with small arm.
and uncomplainingly; did he not &c
up Bunker Hill twice and would he
not be going yet had not his powder
been exhausted; hasn't he gone into
conflicts with foes on the sea and the
best soldiery on land; has he not con
tinued to go against the enemy re
CARELESS of the enemy's bullets; has
he not fought more in the open than
any other man; has he not been every
where always brave, fighting as Ma
poleon said: On bright fields where
every helmet caught ray of the
glory? The American does not shoot
from the hip nor in volley; he shoots
from the eye to get the enemy. He
has been the best soldier living and
the bravest. and is the noblest soldier
dead"