Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-21

as statesmen, men OF ability as war
riors. 1t has always had, in its ranks,
the man for each and every emergency
as 1t arose to threaten the nation
When civil war cast a dark shadow
over the country, and the question Of
equal rights to all men was to be set
tied once and for all, Lincoln was the
man who, stepping from the ranks Of
the republican party, guided the nation
through the greatest struggle history
records. Dying, he left the union a
union still, more firmly cemented than
ever, monument to his heroism and
devotion and his ability to triumph
over obstacles.
And among the foremost Of Lincoln's
aides In his great work. probably the
greatest general who wore the blue,
was the son of poor man, Ulysses s.
Grant, who fought his way through
nearly every battle Of the Mexican war
and won brilliant victories over the
misguided forces Of the south in the
civil war. Grant became president in
the days following the reconstruction
and proved himself worthy of the trust
reposed in him by his party by his ear
nest and unself1sh devotion to his coun-
try during the eight years of his In
cumbency as the chief executive He,
too, was equal to the occasion.
Rutherford B. Hayes succeeded
Grant and guided the union through a
period that is now mentioned in his
tory as one of peace and prosperity.
He was equal to the occasion.
James A. Garfield, with bright pros
poets for a successful four years as
president, began his term in 1881. He
had risen to the highest Office in the
gift Of the American people, triumph
ing over every difficulty that lay in
the path of the son Of poor and humble
parents. When, a few months after
his inauguration, he was laid low by an
assassin, Chester A. Arthur proved
himself equal to the occasion and as
president carried out the policy that
would have been followed had Garfield
lived.
When, after the first term. IF Cleve.
lands presidency, Benjamin Harrison
succeeded him, the country continued
upon the high road of progress, Har-
rison aided in the enactment of the
Mckinley tariff law, and after the dis
astrous second Cleveland term, Will
liam Mckinley was the man who, at
the head Of the affairs, turned panic
into prosperity and saved the republic
from ruin. 1t was Mckinley. who, in
1893, held the fierce war sentiment IL
leash until the time WAS ripe to strike
the Spanish death blow, and it was
Mckinley who saw the war of that
year finished so quickly, under his d.
rection, that the whole world was as
founded by the magniflcence of Amer
lean power.
Theodore Roosevelt proved himself
equal to the occasion when he was call
ed upon to assume the presidency after
the sad death of Mckinley. Roosevelt
had gained fame at the cannon's
mouth, but since he became the chief
executive he has proved his ability as
peace maker equal to his strength
as a fighter. He has been equal to
every emergency
The republican party, through fifty
years, has stood as the bulwark, OF
American independence and American
power. 1t took Lincoln from his hum
BILE farm home, Garfield from the tow
path, Grant from amid his fallen for
tunes, and proved them worthy Of the
greatest trust and confidence as execu-
tives. 1t took Roosevelt, a rich mans
son, who had won his spurs fighting
among the widest spirits of the west,
where rich and poor are leyeled by
hardships and danger. It has always
recognized but one standard in judg-
ing the fitness Of men-their ability
to meet the occasion. Always it has
had the right man for the place. And
now, when this partys members gath
er to celebrate its, semi-centennial,
they can look back over it's records of
fifty years and feel deep pride.
The record of the republican party is
| a grand one It Is a record of which