Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-20

directly to their substance. His cap
aclty for work is enormous, yet quite
as helpful is his equable temperament,
which will not allow the annoyances of
life to distract or hamper him. AL
though of an aggressive personality,
he possesses an infinite good nature,
charm of manner and poise which
nave made him model for exalted
station. In the final analysis even the
highest officials must be judged as.
men, and under this criterion Secre-
tary Taft is now and will ever be
known for his broad sympathies with
every grade OF. humanity and as one
Invariably actuated by that democratic
spirit which should characterize pro-
gressive., American. And vet mo one
can for a moment hesitate to recog-
nize his severity in dealing with
wrong doing While no honest en-
terprise need fear him, no dishonest
scheme could hope to hide its face
from the light or to escape punish
ment
Taft, the Father of the F,iIipinos."
More than any other of our public
men he has had to do with our out
lying dependencies and colonial rela-
tons. 1t was he who took in charge
the prosecution of that colossal en-
terprise on the Isthmus. the canal uni
ting the lesser and the greater oceans,
and under his directing hand the COM
pletion of this most stupendous of
public works is no longer a vague and
distant hope, but an imminent reality.
With his every-ready skill as paci-
ficator, he restored tranquility in the
fertile island Of Cuba, so often dis
tracted by civil strife. In the far off
Philippines, under blazing tropical
sky, he found a people of many races
and tribes, degraded by centuries OF
misrule and oppression: and there too
he not only established the rule Of law
and local control in place of confusion
and bloody strife, but showed the way
to lf-government, and a new recog-
milton Of the rights of man. For peo-
pie and races, like individuals, under
the inspiration Of a friendly guide,
may lift their faces heavenward and
seek to climb the great worlds altar
stairs to nobler heiehts Of liberty and
opportunity. 1t Is to his lasting hon
or that his desire was not to be known
as Taft, the Pro- Consul but as
Taft, the Father Of the FIipinos,'
who brought to them the light Of
modern civilization.
Taft Will Furnish a Certainty Of
Peace.
In the larger sphere Of world politics
we are entering into new and closer
bonds with all the nations Of the earth.
Who is better Qualified than he to lead
America to her true position In this
later day when the boundaries estab-
lished in the centuries mast are be-
coming less distinct and Kingdoms and
races are beginning to realize that
they have all one common destiny?
Secretary Taft has exceptional
familiarity with conditions in the dis
tant Orient-in Jaoan, in China. Wo
may rest assured that our traditional
friendship with Japan will continue.
Moreover, the future promises that the
slumbering millions Of China will
awake from the lethargy of ages, and
she then will realize that the morning
dawn of fresher life and wider out
look comes to her across the broad
Pacific from free America, her truest
| friend and helper. We covet no por-
ton of her territory. We desire from
her, as from all nations, increased g Cd
! will and that mutual respect which
KNOWS neither buster no cringing on
either side. Thus in this new era of
larger relations, Secretary Taft, with
| his comprehension of national and in
ternational subjects, would furnish u
| certainty of peace and sustained pres
tige. Under him, at home and every
| where, this mighty people would have
an assured confidence in the secure
development and progress Of the coun-
try and would rest safe In the reliance
| that q chief executive was at the helm
VINO IN peace or in war; would guide
the destines of the nation with q
strong hand and with gentle, patrio-
| tic heart
And 50 today, in the presence of
more than ten thousand. and with the
Inspiring thought Of the we'll nigh ten
thousand times ten thousand who
dwell within our borders, / nominats
for the presidency that perfect typs
or American manhood, that peerless
| representative Of the noblest ideals In
our national life, William H. Taft. OF