The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-02
A SENATOR'S WARNING.
Mr.. Hoar Declares Our Institutions
Imperilled.
OPPOSES TBRRIToRIALAOoEssIoN

No Authority Under the Constitution
to Acquire ANY Foreign Territory,
save by Treaty Approved by the
sennte by n Two-thirds Vote.
Worcester, Mass, Nov. "A large
and enthusiastic audience greeted Sen
ator George Il. Hoar, Congressman
William II. Moody and Speaker John
l.. Bates in Mechanics Hall last night.
Three hundred Republican leaders oc-
cupied seats upon the platform with
the speakers. Senator Hoar presided
and was the principal speaker, After
making reference to local issues in
the campaign Senator Hoar said:
This year has been crowded with
history and crowded with glory. 1t is
also to my mind crowded with danger
The flag of Spain, formerly the proud
est power on earth since the day of the
Roman empire, has gone down in dark
ness 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 cOnstel-
lation. Let us not accept the duties
and responsibilities of this victory in
temper of vulgar vainglory still less Of
a vulgar greed of power or of gain.
The United States comes to the op-
pressed people, east and west, as a
great deliverer. To deal with this
great occasion by talking about coaling
stations and trade advantages degrades
and beittles it. We have not over
thrown 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.
But yet the first duty of American
people is to themselves, and when 1
say this 1 say it in no spirit Of selfish
ness or of indifference to the welfare
of mankind. On the contrary, 1 be-
lieve that the highest services the
American people can render to man
kind and to liberty is to preserve un-
stained and unchanged the republic as
it came to us from the fathers. 1t is
by example, and not by guns or by
bayonets, that the great work of Amer
lea for humanity is to be accomplished.
And in my opinion we are today in
great danger-a greater danger than
we have encountered since the Pill
grims landed at Plymouth. The dan
ger is that we are to be transformed
from a republic founded on the decla-
ration of independence, guided by the
counsels of Washington, into a vulgar,
commonplace empire founded upon
physical force.
II for one am not dazzled by the
example of England. The institutions
of England which have enabled her to
govern successfully distant colonies
and subject states are founded, as Mr..
Gladstone pointed out, on the doctrine
If inequality. Our institutions are
founded on the doctrine of equality.
If we are to outstrip England in ma
tional power it must be by pursuing
our own path and not by following in
hers.
at is said that Porto Rico is already
ours. 1t may be that Porto Rico is to
become ours. But there is now no au-
thority under the constitution of the
United States to acquire any foreign
territory, save by treaty approved by
the senate by a two-thirds vote, or by
an act of legislation in which the presi-
dent, the house of representatives and
the senate must unite. 1t is said that
the Philippine Islands are already ours
by the right of conquest. For one l
deny this alleged right of conquest.
Human beings-men, women, children,
of war or prizes in battle. 1t may be
that such a doctrine finds place in
the ancient and barbarous laws of war,
but it has no place under the Ameri-
can constitution. 1t has no place in
the code of morals of the people of the
United States.
"I have stated elsewhere the con-
siderations which in my judgment ac-
ne 10
waii came to us with the consent of her
own government, the only government
capable of maintaining itself there for
any considerable length of time. In
the case of the Philippines we are ask
ed to subject nation and to hold II in
subsection. We get them by conquest
and hold them by force. In the case
of the Hawaiian Islands we get them
by compact made with their lawful
government.
"Some of our good friends have said
thoughtlessly in their zeal that where
the American flag goes it must stay.
But surely they cannot wish to COM
| NIT the country to that doctrine. We
planted 1t in the City of Mexico. But
! no man demanded that it should stay
| there. If the war goes on we shall
| plant 1t 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 supreme court every child hereaf-
| ter born in them becomes an American
| citizen, free to come, free to go. Are
| you going to hold them as subjects ?
Are you going to have a trained and
governing class? Are you going to
have the national tax gatherer the most
| frequent and best known visitant to
every American house? Are you going
to increase many fold your national
debt?"