Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-05

New York DR.. Mcdonald occupied the
place on the program that was to have
been President Wilson's, the latter be-
ing unable to fulfill his engagement on
account of the sudden crisis in the
Mexican situation. Dr. McDonald's ad-
dress was on North Americas World
Leadership and it is of as great in
terest throughout the whole country
as it was to the publishers who heard
it. The address in full follows:
Three years ago | was a guest at
the annual banquet of this association.
On that occasion President Taft was
the guest of honor. The burden of his
message to you was the Importance
of the service which the newspapers
Of the United States might render In
urging upon congress the trade agree
ment with Canada which he was so
strongly advocating, His advocacy
was the more urgent because he hon.
estly believed such reciprocity IN
trade would serve the highest interests
of both countries. He also was OF
opinion that it was timely, because, as
he thought. If Canada entered into
fiscal agreement with the rest of the
British Empire it might be impossible
for her to make special trade ar
rangement with the United States. His
words were: Canada Is at the part
ing OF the ways"-the way of fiscal
freedom and the way of Imperial lim1-
tation.
President Taft did succeed In put
ting that reciprocity proposal through
congress. But when it was submitted
to vote OF the Canadian electors IN
September, 1911. the Liberal govern
ment and the prime minister, Sir Will
frid Laurier were defeated. Not long
afterwards President Taft met SINH
lar emphatic defeat at the hands OF
the people Of the United States
These interesting facts come back to-
mind tonight as | stand again In the
presence of this association and face
the responsibility of making an ad-
dress.
No Regrets for Defeat.
recall those incidents not to make
excuses or explanations, not to ex-
press regrets for the political results.
and certainly not to confess any
change of mind as to the soundness OF
the policy of international trade then
at issue. I speak not for myself alone,
but for The Toronto Globe. Of which
| am editor, and for Canadian Liber-
alism, with which that journal is al
lied, when declare that the ex-
periences of the past two years have
brought no regrets; indeed, have only
confirmed the opinions then held and
advocated. Better trade relations,
easier exchanges of commodities. larg-
er fiscal freedom between the United
States and Canada would promote the
prosperity of the peoples OF both
countries, would strengthen their
civilizing forces without uniting their
political institutions and would make
T, the life and leadership of North
! America tell more vitality, more power
/ fully. more redemptively. on all the
world.
| Americas World leadership.
North Americas world leadership!
That is the vision which comes to the
United States and Canada. That is
the rallying cry of these two English
speaking nations. That is the chal,
, lenge which marks the opportunity
and the Obligation Of our North
American civiliza,.on. That is tho
appeal-half appeal and more tha,
half COMMUNICATIVE would widen
the horizons of citizenship In both
countries, would make each the ccn.
plement of the other and would
Justify through sacrifice and service
Americas high promise to the world.
Most of all. it is this call to world
leadership that will redeem journalism
in the United States and in Canada
| from narrow partisanship, from racial
prejudices and from the bane Of CEN
| tury-old national antipathies which
| should have no place or part in North
Americas newborn world democracy.
| In North Americas world leader
ship the United States has pre-emi.
nent place, not because of its physical
! area, not because of it's almost bound.
| less resources and not because of the
mere numbers of It's population. This
| is the distinction of this republic, that
| in their struggle for independence the
| thirteen colonies which at first made
up the United States learned this les
son for themselves and taught it to all
other nations-this lesson which de-
mocracy must learn today as surely
as monarchy had to learn it in the
past: that any colony that desires ia
! be free and is fit to be free must be
given freedoms unfettered> chance;
any people who desire self-government
and are fit for self government must
begranted the rights and the RESPONSE
bilities of self-government.
That world lesson the American
colonies of the eighteenth century
learned for themselves and taught to
| the mother country of Britain and to
all nations for all time. 1t was q
costly lesson. It cost strife and bit
terness and division. But the price
had to be paid The world had learned
,, no other way to national self-govern.
ment than the way of separation and
the bold adventure The American
colonies took that way, and history has
| justified their choice.
! Canada also has share in North
iAmerica's world leadership. During
the past half century on the north hall