The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-02
AMERICA IN GREAT DANGER.
Senator Hoar Disapproves the Poll
CIV OF Exnssn sion.

senator Hoar Disapproves the Poll
cx of Expansion.
Worcester, Mass, Nov. IA large ana
enthusiastic audience greeted Senator
George F. Hoar, Congressman William H.
Moody and Speaker John L. Bates in Me-
chanics Hall tonight Senator Hoar pre-
sided and was the principal speaker.
| He said, in part: This year has been
crowded with history and crowded with
with danger. The flag of Spain, formerly
the proudest power on earth since the
days of the Roman empire, has gone
down in darkness and In blood before the
victorious navy and army of the United
States. The flag Of the United States has
risen in the Eastern sky like a new con-
stellation. Let us not accept the duties
and responsibilities Of this victory In any
temper OF vulgar vainglory, still less or
a vulgar greed Of power or of gain. The
United States comes to these oppressed
people East and West, as a great deliv.
erer To deal with this great occasion
by talks about coallng stations
and trade degrades and belittles 1t. We
have not overthrow Spain, we have not
perilled the precious lives Of our sons,
that we may add to our possessions, or
that we may make money out of our new
relations.
1T is by example and not by guns or
by bayonets that the great work Of
America for humanity is to be accomplish
ed And in my opinion we are to-day in
a great danger--a greater danger than
we have encountered since the Pilgrims
landed at Plymouth. The danger is that
we are to be transformed from a republic
founded on the Declaration of Independ-
ence, guided by the counsels Of Wash
ington, into a vulgar, commonplace en-
pire founded upon physical force.
Il, for one, am not dazzled by the ex-
ample of England The institutions of
! England, which have enabled her to gov
ern successfully distant colonies and sub
ject states, are founded, as Mr. Gladstone
pointed out, on the doctrine Of inequality.
Our institutions are founded on the doe
trine of equality If we are 70 outstrip
England in national power il must be pur-
suing our own path and not by following
in hers.
ut is said that Porto Rico Is already
ours. II may be that Porto Rico is 10
become ours. But there Is no authority
under the constitution of the United States
to acquire any foreign territory save by
a treaty approved by the Senate
in two-thrds vote, or by
an act of legislation, In which the
the President, the House of Representa-
tives and Senate must 1nite. It Is said
the Philippine Islands arc already ours
by the right of conquest. For one / de-
ny this alleged right OF conquest. Human
beings-new women, children, peoples-are
not 70 be won as spoils Of war or prizes
in battle. 1t may be that such doctrine
finds a place in the ancient and barbarous
laws of war, but II has no place under the
American constitution. III has no place
in the code of morals Of the people Of the
United States.
Some Of our good friends have said
thoughtsessly In their zeal that where the
American flag goes II must stay. But
surely they cannot commit the country 10
that dictrine. We panied Il on the city
of Mexico. But no man demanded that it
should stay there II the war goes on we
shall plant At on the coast Of Spain, but
we have no desire to hold permanent do
minion there.
IF the Philippine Islands become ours
then under the late decision of the ST.
preme Court every child hereafter born
In them becomes an American citizen, free
10 come, free 10 80. Are you going to
hold them as subjects? Are you going t.,
have trained and governing class? Are
you going to have the national taxgather
the most frequent and the best-known Wis
liant to every American house? Are you
going to increase many fold your nationai
debt2
These things are involved In this wild
and impassioned cry for empire. For my
self, / dssbelleye and hate the notion thar
the American people are to submit 10
such transformation"