The record-union., 1898-11-02

WORCESTER CMass), Nov. IA
large and enthusiastic audience greeted
Senator George F. Hoar, Congressman
William H. Moody and John L. Bates
IN Mechanics Hall tonight. Three
hundred Republican leaders occupied
seats upon the platform with the
speak kers.. Senator Hoar presided, and
was the principal speaker. After max
ing reference to local issues. Senator
H0ar said:
This year has been crowded with
history and crowded with glory 1t is
also, to my mind, crowded with dan
ger. The flag Of Spain. formerly the
proudest Power on earth since the day
of the Roman, 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 constel-
lation. Let us not accept the duties
and responsibilities Of this victory in
any temper of vulgar, vainglory, still
less Of vulgar greed for power or gain.
The United States comes to these op-
pressed people, East and West, as a
great deliverer. To deal with this
great occasion by talking about coal
ing stations and trade advantages de-
grades and belittles it, We have not
overthrown Spain, we have not periled
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 the Ameri-
can people is to themselves, and when
I say this 1 say it in no spirit Of sell
flshness or Of Indifference to the well
fare of mankind 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 it came
to us from the fathers. 1t is by exam
pie and not by guns or by bayonets
that the great work Of America for hu-
7nanity is to be accomplished. And in
my opinion we are to-day in a great
Ianger-a greater danger than we have
encountered since the Pilgrims landed
at Plymouth. The danger is that we
are to be transformed from republic
founded on the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, guided by the counsels of
Washington, into a vulgar, common
place empire founded upon physical
force.
''I for one am not dazzled by the ex-
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. If we are to outstrip
England in national power, it must be
by pursuing our own path, and not by
following in hers.
TT is said that Porto Rico Is already
ours It 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 a treaty approved by the Sen
ate by a two thirds vote, or by an Act
of legislation in which the President,
the House of Representatives and The
Senate must unite. It is said that the
Philippine Islands are already ours by
the right of conquest For one, I deny
this alleged right Of conquest. Human
beings-men, women, children, peoples
are not TO be won as spoils of war
or prizes in battle. It may be that such
a doctrine finds a place in the ancient
and barbarous laws Of war, but it has
no place under the American Consti-
tuition. It has no place in the code of
morals Of the people of the United
States.
IT have stated elsewhere the condi-
tions which, in my Judgment, warrant
ed the acquisition Of Hawaii. Hawaii
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 it in
Bubjection. We get them by conquest
and hold them by force In the case
of the Hawaiian Islands we got them
by compact made with their lawful gov
ernment.
Some Of our good friends have said
fhoughtlessly in their zeal that where
the American flag goes 1t must stay.
But surely they cannot wish to commit
the country TO that doctrine. We plant
ed it 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
main 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 and free TO go. Are
you going to hold them as subjects?
Are you going to have a training and
governing class? Are you going to
have the national tax gatherer the most
frequent and the best known visitant
TO every American house? Are you go
ing 70 increase many fold your ma
1ional debt7
These things are involved in this
Wild and inpassioned cry for empire
or myself, I disbelieve and hate the
notlon that the American people are TO
SUBMIT 10 such a transformation
congressman Moody assured his
hearers that the management of the
war would be thoroughly investigated
a 1ne coming session Of Congress, and
II O4aIne We're found, no official would
be spared, high or low.
FORAhER WOULD RETAIN THE
PHILIPPINES.
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. l.. Senator
Foraker OF Ohio this evening addressed
a hepupllcan meeting in this city. He
declared himself in favor of the reten-
Eion OF the Philippine Islands. and the
extension OF American commerce wher-
ever the American flag had been hoist
ed The sentiments were heartily ap-
plauded.