Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-06-23

cure for all our citizens, without dis
tinction the rights of travel and So
journ in friendly countries, and we
declare ourselves in favor of all pro-
per efforts tending to that end
Growth of Foreign Commerce.
Under the administration of the
Republican party the foreign com
merce of the United States has exper-
fenced a remarkable growth until 1t
has present annual valuation of ap-
proximately $3,000,000,000 and gives
employment to vast amount of labor
and capital which would otherwise be
idle. 1t has inaugurated, through the
recent visit of the secretary of state
to South America and Mexico, a new
era of pan-American commerce and
comfy which is bringing us into
closer touch with our twenty sister
American republics, having a common
industrial heritage, a Republican form
of government, and offering us a lin.
itless field of legitimate commercial
expansion.
"The conspicuous contributions of
American craftsmanship to the great
cause of International peace, so signal
ly advanced in the Hague conferences,
are an occasion Cor just pride and
qualification. At the last session of
the senate of the United States eleven
Hague conventions were ratified, es-
tablishing the rights of neutrals, laws
of war on land, restriction of contrac-
tual debts, governing the opening of
hostilities, extending the application
OF Geneva principles, and in manv
ways lessening the evils of war and
promoting the peaceful settlement of
international controversies At the
same session twelve arbitration con-
ventions with great nations were con
flrmed and extradition, boundary and
naturalization treaties of supreme i'm
portance were ratified. We indorsa
such achievements as the highest
duty people can perform and pro-
claim the obligation of further
Strengthening the bonds of friendship
and good will with all the nations OF
the world
Would Encourage Shipping.
I'VE adhere to the Republican doc
trine Of encouragement to American
shipping and urge such legislation as
will revive the merchant marine pres
tige of the country, SO essential to ma
tional defense, the enlargement of for,
ity Of our own people.
Pensions for Veterans.
Another Republican policy which
must be ever maintained is that of
generous provision for those who have
fought the country's battles and for
the widows and orphans of those who
have fallen. We commend the increase
In the widows pensions made by the
On, FD,
eral administration of all pension laws
to the end that the peoples gratitude
may grow deeper as the memories
of heroic sacrifice grow more sacred
WITH the passing years.
| Civil Service lndorsed.
We reaffirm our former declara-
tions that the civil laws enacted, ex.
tended, and enforced by the Republi-
can party shall continue to be main
tanned and obeyed.
1--WE commend the efforts designed
to secure greater efficiency in nation
al public health agencies and favor
such legislation as will effect this pui-
pose.
"In the interest Of the great mineral
industries of our country we earnest
ly favor the establishment of a bureau
| VI luluS6 IllIllHS.
Cuba, Philippines and Panama.
THE American government, in Re
publican hands, has freed Cuba, given
peace and protection to Porto Rico and
the Philippines under our flag, and
begun the construction of the Panama
canal The present conditions in Cuba
vindicate the wisdom of maintaining
between that republic and this imper.
ishable bonds Of mutual interest and
the hope Is now expressed that the
Cuban people will soon be ready to
assume complete sovereignty over
their land.
"In Porto Rico the government of
the United States is meeting loyal and
patriotic support; order and prosper
ity prevail and the well-being of the
people is in every respect promoted
and conserved.
I'VE believe that the native inhab:-
tants Of Porto Rico should be at once
collectively made citizens of the Unit
ed States and that all others properly
qualified under existing laws residing
in said island should have the priyil-
ege Of becoming naturalized.
"1n the Philippines insurrection has
been suppressed, law established, and
lie and property made secure. Edu-
cation and practical experience are
there advancing the capacity of the
people for government, and the pol
icies of Mckinley and Roosevelt are
leading the inhabitants step by step to
an ever increasing measure Of home
rule.
Panama Route Approved.
Time has justified the selection of
the Panama route for the great 18th.
mian canal and events have shown
the wisdom Of securing authority over
the zone through which it is to be
built. The work is now progressing
with a rapidity far beyond expecta-
tion, and already the realization of
the hopes Of centuries has como
within the vision of the near future.
1--WE favor the immediate admission
Of the territories of New Mexico and
Arizona as separate states in the
Union
Feb. IL, 1909, will be the Tooth an
niversary Of the birth of Abraham
Lincoln, an immortal spirit whose
fame has frightened with the receding
nd rIyhn -,