The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-02

A large and enthusiastic audience
greeted Senator George F. HOar. Con-
gresham william H. Moody and
Speaker John L. Bates. in Mechanics
hall tonight. Three hundred Republic
can leaders occupied seats upon the
platform with the speakers.
Senator Hoar presided and was the
principal speaker.
After making reference to local IS
sues in the campaign, Senator HOar
said:
This year has been crowded with HIS
tory and crowded with glory. II is also
to my mind, crowded with danger. The
nag Of Spain formerly the proudest
power on earth, since the day OF the Ro-
man 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 arisen
In the eastern sky like low constella-
tion, Let us not accept the duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES OF this victory in any
temper OF vulgar gain glory, still less OF
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 talking about coaling stations and
trade advantages degrades and belittles
Il. We have not overthrown Spain, we
have not periiied the precious lives OF
our sons, that we may add to our pos
sessions, or that we may make money
out OF our new relations.
"But yet the first duty OF the Ameri-
can people is to themselves, ana when
say this / say 1t In no spirit OF selhsh.
ness or OF indifference to the welfare OF
mankind.
A Sentimental Appeal.
"on the contrary, / believe that the
highest service the American people
can render to mankind and to liberty IS
to preserve unstaIned and unchanged
the republic as 1t came to us from the
fathers II is by example and not by
guns or BY bayonets that the great work
Of America for humanity is to be ac-
complished. And in my opinion we
are to-day in a great danger-a greater
than we have encountered since the pill
grIms landed ut Plymouth The danger
Is that we are to be transformed from
a republic founded on the declaration
OF independence guided by the couhselS
OF washington, Into vulgar, common
place empire founded upon physical
force.
AZ for one, am not dazzled by the e&-
ample 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
OF equality. II we are to outstrip Eng
land in national power, 1t must be bV
pushing our own path and not by FOL
lowing in hers.
A Constitutional Question.
ut is said that Porto Rico is already
ours. 1t may be that Porto Rico is to
become ours. But there is no authority
under the constitution OF the United
states to acquire any foreign territory,
save by treaty approved by the sen
ate bY a two-thlrdg vote or by an act
of legislation IN which the President,
the house OF representatives and the
senate must unite.
II Is said the Philippine Islands are
already ours bv the right OF conquest.
For one, deny this alleged right OF
conquest Human beings-men, wo-
men, children, peoples-are not TO ne
won as spolls OF war or prizes in battle'
It may be that such a doctrine hnds
Mace In the ancient and bnrbarous laws
az war. but II has no place under the
American constitution. It has no place
In the code of morals OF the people OIL
the United States. have stated else
where the conditions in which ms
Judgment warranted the acquisition OF
Hawaii, Hawaii came to US with the
consent OF her own government, the only
government capable OF maintaining IL
self there for any considerable length
OF time, In the case OF the Philippines
we are asked to subject nation and to
hold II in subjectlOn. 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
Begging the Question.
Some Of our good friends have said
thouEhtlessly in their zeal that where
che American flag goes It must stay.
But surely they cannot wish to commit
the country to that doctrine. We plant
edit on the city of Mexico. But no man
demanded that It should stay there. II
the war goes on we sHall plaNI ~ W.
the coast OF Spain, but we have no de-
sire to hold permanent dominion there.
II the Philippine Islands become ours
then under the late decision OF the su-
preme court, every child hereafter born
in them becomes an American citizen
free to come. free to 60. Are you go
ing to hold them as subjects? Are son
going 70 have trained and governing
cInss7 Are YOU going to have the ma
tIonal tax-Eatherer the most frequent
and the best known visltant to every
American house? Are you going to IN
c-euse many fold your national deb!
These things nre involved in this wild
and lmpassloned cry for empire. For
myself dlsbelleve and hate the notion
that the American people are to submit
to such transformation.