Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-11
the Mexican Herald, published in the
City of Mexico is reproduced here

lean Union today witness the orderly
transfer OF the executive power Of
the nation, as the result of the presi-
dental election held in November last,
a popular and idolized ruler, and also
soldier, retiring to make way for
civilian, fairly elected, the whole body
of voters being entirely agreed to
Mr. Taft's perfect title to the presi-
dency.
We emphasize the entire acquies
cence of the American people in this
matter so vital to their interests, for
out of total of 14,S63,473 votes, the
Republican candidates for president
and vice president received a clear
majoriy of only 455000, something to
be kept in mind in Judging Of the po-
liticaf serenity and sound sense of
the huge American electorate All the
men, some 100000 who voted against
Judge Taft, acclaim him today as their
rightfully chosen ruler, or, more cor
rectly, as their designated chief SER
want. On this day he takes, with Re-
publican simplicity the great oath Of
fidelity to the constitution, that no
table instrument under which $1,000
600 people live at peace among them
selves, the most successful example
Of a self-governing people on earth.
The success of the venerable Ameri-
can Union" as the German emperor
has aptly called the United States, is
due, we must believe, to the profound
instinct of the people for obedience to
the law and their reverence for the po-
litical institutions founded by the faith
ers of the republic.
President Taft is a notable example
of reward bestowed on a good and use
full citizen in a free country. He comes
of most respectable middle-class
family, and though his father was at
torney general of the federation and
he had the advantages of an uni
versity education, he began life as
newspaper reporter. From that sta
ton of useful service he rose from
one post of public trust to another to
a federal judgeship to the governor
ship of the Philippines, and to the sec
retaryship of war, in which latter ca
pacity he was virtually in charge OF
Cuban affairs during the American oc-
cupation of the island, of Panama, and
Of the colonies generally. He has
shown his ability to conduct difficult
diplomatic tasks successfully, and his
knowledge of men and nations Is I'M
equalled in all the lists of his Illus
trious predecessors in the presidency.
He is superbly equipped for his high
and responsible duties, for today he
becomes one of the most powerful OF
the worlds rulers, virtually consti-
tutional sovereign Of immense and di-
rect influence.
A free nation, which at present rate
of growth will number 100000,00O
souls in fifteen years, does not hest
tate to place imperial powers in the
hands of its elected chief magistrate.
Every decade those powers are en-
larged and the president finds his du-
ties more extended; it is process OF
constitutional evolution which began
at the time of the civil war, and which
was foreshadowed by Presiden JET
ferson's bold action in concentrating
the purchase of the vast Louisiana ter
ritorv from Napoleon, a long step in
the direction of acquiring truly I'M
perial domain.
Let us look back at a people, who,
occupying half a continent, and adj
mittedly the richest nation on earth.
manage their own affairs with such
notable success. Did we give heed only
to the sensational press and to hostile
foreign critics of the United States,
we should almost believe that the
great republican experiment was
doomed to disaster. The yellow press
gives an exaggerated prominence to
the doings of two extremes Of the so
cial scale, the vulgar rich and the
lower classes. or, say, to less than
tenth of the population Of the. great
republic. But meanwhile, the vast body
Of the nation, the plain people" IN
| whom Abraham Lincoln trusted law
abiding, Godfearing and industrious,
90 their quiet way, animated by per-
fectly reasonable ambition to accumu-
late moderate fortunes, to educate
! their children and do their duty as
GOOD neighbors and citizens. They can
ALWAYS be trusted to do right; they
are the backbone and sustaining pow
or Of the country. When you move
| about among them you know WHY the
credit Of their government stands SO
high: you understand how their rep
resentatives at Washington could fol
low out o policy Of equity and true
friendliness TO the politically untaught
| Cuban peop!e and hand over to them.
in due time. their government machin-
erv. peacefully withdrawing from that
| rich island whose wealth. actual and
potential, would tempt any other ma
ton to seek it's permanent possession.
| The dealings Of the United States with
Cuba stand out uniquely in the history
of nations.
We have from time to time noted
the practical philanthropy of rich
Americans who year by year devote
enormous sums, often more than $12O,'
100000 annually. to the endowment OF
colleges and universities. the educa
ton of the blacks in the southern
states. medical research, hospitals
scientific work. etc. The dollar is
EAGERLY pursued, but note what is done
with it.
| Only the other dav. the great fleet
of American battleships returned to
Hampton Roads after a cruise of four
teen months around the globe, voy
age of momentous Importance. for, in
reality. the great fleet carried only
messages Of peace and good will tc