The times., 1898-12-12
senntor Honr,. scnre.

SeuatOr ttOuE'S ScuFc. /
Senator Hoar has never been a great
man. AT no time in his public career |
could he have. received attention in the
same chamber with the men who have
made the Senate an impressive body in
the past. Even among his contemnor-
aries 1t is chiefly his experience in the
practical methods of legislation that has
given to him whatever Influence he is sup
posed to have Not even now. with his
benevolent face and venerable white locks
to bestow on him an appearance of amia-
bility and eminent respectability, is he
regarded as a senator of force. In oppo-
sitfon he is only querulous. petulant and
almost spiteful. He is not adapted to
the role of dgnified, deep-minded guar
dian of the nations welfare. The men
with whom he has been associated for
years do not fear his antagonism as they
do that of Senator Vest. for example,
who is-not type of the greatest of our
statesmen, The principal value of Sen
ator Hoar has been that he lent the re-
spectabiity of his beaming countenance
to the worst efforts of partisanship. He
measure the reluctant consent of the New
England conscience. Those who use him
in this way never fear him II he takes
his virtue seriously enough to place him
on the other side.
| Age and long compromising with not
too strong political conscience have told
on him. The position he could never gain
4 hx- IN int fttral ha
takes TO assume by reason of mis- long
/ term of service. which has famiiiarized
( him with methods of procedure fa-
miliarlty that is almost valuable as
the higher qualities of the legislator. He
has found in the peace treaty his oppor
tunity, of which a strong man who is not
! dependent on party favor and who is in
different to popular applause might make
enough TO become conspicuous In a cham
! her of ordinary senators. His first word,
/ howsxcr, is so obviously absurd that even
, Professor Norton can be expected to pity
him. II is an adaptation of Norton's doc
triHes but more inopportune. Senator
| Hoar afiirms:
Ii .we take the Philippines under the treaty Of
! peace, the downfall of the American Republic
/ will date from tie Administration o: William
! Mckinley.
If Senator Hoar had renewed his friend
, iy relations with Professor Norton or had
( sat at the feet of Professor Felix Adler.
he would not have made this blunder, but
would have learned that our downfall
dates from the original abandonment of
i1ne monarchicai doctrines of Alexander
Hamilton in favor of those of George
Washington. 1t is unfortunate for Sena-
tor Hoar that reckless affirmations of this
( kind are not accepted by the American
people No man is big enough, no man
has ever been big enough. TO scare them
by any general warnings. He will
be required to go into specifications.
When ii was suggested that 10
senator more momentous than Caffery
could BE- found to lead fight
against ratification, that statesman began
/ his careful statement of views with the
] promising remark that the grounds of
, objection are manifold Yet he could
find but one-the pitiful assertion that to
have senators on the Peace Commission
, was unconstitutional. Senator Hoar, too.
remarks that he is mot quite prepared
TO discuss this great question" He hasn't
found his reasons yet, but is satisfied to
Z announce that 1.-The downfall of the Amer
ican Republic will date from the admin
! istration of William Mckinley" The
man Will be an object of pity if he ever
takes the floor after starting out with
such an affirmation. However he may
save himself from that. If the Admins
trstion considers the support Of his be-
nevolent and respectable countenance i'm
poriant to the ratification o: the treaty,
We shall not be surprised if he votes for
it, explaining of course. that he does not
approve it.
Senator Hoar is not a. very old man.
There have been men in public life who
have not shown such sign of decay un-
til many years later Still, original
strength of character has good deal to
do with our endurance.