The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-02
AMERICAS FIRST DUTY
Senator George F. Hoar Dis
cusses Annexation.
A COMMONPLACE EMPIRE
A Warning Sounded Against the Grave
Danger Which He Says Threatens
the Countrywide Senate
Will Have a Word.

aa.'osf " aaSS
audience greeted Senator George F.
Hoar, Hon. VIM. II. Moody and John
l.. Bates in Mechanics hall tonight.
Three hundred republicans leaders &C
cupied seats upon the platform with the
speakers. Senator Hoar presided and
was the principal speaker. He said, af-
ter making reference to local issues in
the campaign:
This year has been crowded with his
tory and crowned with glory. 1t is also
TO my mind. crowded with danger. The
flag OF Spain, formerly the proudest
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 arisen
In the eastern sky like a new constella-
ton. Let us not accep the duties and
responsibilities Of his victory in any
temper of vulgar, vain glory. still less
of a vulgar greed OF power or gain
The United States comes to these OPP
pressed people. East and West. as a
great deliverer. To deal with his oc-
casion by talking about coaling sta
tions and trade advantages degrades
and belittles IL. We have not over
thrown Spain, We have not imperilled
the precious lives of our sons that We
may add to our possessions, or that we
may make money out Of our new rela-
ions.
But yet the first duty of the Amer
lean people IL to themselves, and when
l say this 1 say II in no spirit OF sell
fishness or of Indifference to the well
fare of mankind.
On the contrary, I believe that the
highest service the American people can
render 80 mankind and to liberty is to
preserve unstained and unchanged the
republic as 1t came to us from the ia
theirs. 1t is by example and not by
guns or by bayonets that the great
work of America for humanity is to
be accomplished. And in my opinion
We are to-day in a great danger-a
greater danger than we have ncoun
tered since the Pilgrims landed at
Plymouth. The danger is that we are
to be transformed from a republic
founded or the declaration of indepen-
dence. 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
example of England. The institutions
OF England. which hav enabled her to
govern successfully distant colonies
and subject states, are founded, as Mr..
Gladstone pointed out. on the doctrine
of equality. IL we are to outstrip Eng
land in national power. II must be by
pursuing our own path and not by fol-
lowing in hers. IL is said that Porto
Rico Is already ours. Blu there is no
authority under the constitution OF the
United States TO acquire any foreign
territory. save by a 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 For one. i de-
ny this alleged right of conquest HUI
man beings-men, women, children, peo-
ples-are not 10 be won as spoils OF war
or prizes in battle. IL may be that such
a doctrine finds a place In the ancient
and barbarous laws OF war. but IL has
no place under the American constitu-
tion. IL has no place in the code of
OF morals OF the people OF the Unit
ed States. l have stated elsewhere the
conditions which i'm my Judgment war
ranted the acquisition OF Hawaii.
Hawaii came to Us with the con-
sent OF her own government, the only
government capable Of maintaining it
self there for any considerable length
Of time. IN the case OF the Philippines,
we are asked to subject a nation and
hold them 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 governments.
Some Of our good friends have said
th~ougAtlessly in their zeal, that where
the American flag goes. IL must stay.
But surely they cannot wish 10 commit
the country to that doctrine. We plant
ed IL i'm the City OF Mexico. But no
man demanded that IL should stay
there. III the war goes on. we shall
plant IL on the coast II Spain. but we
have no desire to hold permanent 10
minion there IL the Philippines De-
come ours, then under the late direction
of the supreme court. every child mere
after born in them. becomes an Amer
ican child. free to come free 70 60.
Are you going to hold them rs subjects
Are you going TO have a trained anu
governing class? Are o going TO have
The national tax gatherer the most ire
quent and best known visitant 20 every
American house? Are you going TO IN
crease many fold your national oept.
These things are involved In this WHO
and imprisoned outcry for empire. fof
myself. I disbelieve and hate the notion
that the American people are 10 supmi'
N Sneh "A inflammation"