Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-28


came into existence, dedicated, among
other purposes, to the great task of
arresting the extension Of human sla-
very. In 1860 1t elected its first presi.
dent During twenty-four of the forty
four years which have elapsed since
the election of Lincoln the republican
party has held complete control of the
government. For eighteen more of the
forty-four years 1t has held partial con
troll through the possession Of one or
two branches of the government, while
the democratic party, during the same
period, has had complete control for
only two years. -
This long tenure Of power by the re-
publican party is not due to chance.
1t is demonstration that the republi-
can party has commanded the conf
dence of the American people for
nearly two generations to a degree
never equaled in our history and has
displayed a high capacity for rule and
government which has been made even
more conspicuous by the infirmity of
purpose shown by it's opponents.
Carried Government THROUGH War.
The republican party entered upon
it's present period of complete suprem-
acy in 1897. We have every right to
congratulate ourselves upon the work
since accomplished, for it has added
luster even to the traditions of the
party which carried the government
through the storms Of the civil war.
We then found the country, after
four years OF democratic rule, in evil
plight, oppressed with misfortune and
doubtful Of the future. Public credit
had been lowered, the revenues were
declining, the debt was growing. the
administrations attitude toward Spain
was feeble and notifying, the stand
ard of values was threatened and un-
certain, labor was unemployed, bust
ness was sunk in the depression which
had succeeded the. panic Of 1893, hope
was faint and confidence was gone.
We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously, effectively and at once. We
replaced democratic tariff law, based
on free trade principles and garnished
with sectional protection, by a con-
sistent protective tariff, and industry,
freed from oppression and stimulated
by the encouragement Of wise laws,
has expanded to degree never before
known, has conquered new markets,
and has created a volume of exports
which has surpassed Imagination.
Confidence Restored, Debt Reduced.
Under the Dingley tariff labor has
been fully employed. Wages have
risen, and all industries have revived
and prospered. We firmly established
the gold standard, which was then
menaced with destruction. Confidence
returned to business, and with conf
dence and unexampled prosperity. For
deficient revenues, supplemented by
improvident issues of bonds, we gave
the country an income which produced
large surplus, and which enabled us
only four years after the Spanish war
had closed to remove over one hun
dred millions of annual war taxes, re.
duce the public debt, and lower the
interest charges of the government.
The public credit, which had been
SO lowered that in time Of peace a
democratic administration made large
loans at extravagant rates of interest
in order to pay current expenditures,
rose under republican administration
to it's highest point and enabled us to
borrow at two per cent even in time
of war. We refused to palter longer
with the miseries of Cuba.
We fought quick and victorious
war with Spain. We set Cuba free,
governed the island for three years,
and then gave it to the Cuban people
with order restored, with ample reve-
nues, with education and public health
established, free from debt and con-
nected with the United States by the
wise provisions for our mutual inter-
ests.
Porto Ricans Given Freedom.
We have organized the government
of Porto Rico and it's people now en-
JOY peace, freedom, order and pros