New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-11-23
The Danger
of Empire,
Senator Hoar's Urgent Plea Against the
Acquisition of Territory.
The Doctrine of Title by Conquest, He
Says, Is Wholly Un-American.

Senator George F. Hoar of Massachu-
sets took strong ground recently agains,
the proposed acquisition of Porto Rico
and the Philippines. In the course of a
political speech at Worcester, Mass, he
said:
"This year has been crowded with his
tory and crowded with glory. 1t is also,
to my mind, crowded witt danger.
"The United States comes to these op-
pressed people, east and west, as u great
deliverer. To deal with this great ques-
ton 10y talking about coaling stations
and trade advantages degrades and be-
Titles it. We have not overthrow
Spain, we have not periled the precious
lives of our sons, that we may add to oul
possessions or that we may make money
out of our new relations.
"The first duty of the American peo-
pie is to themselves, and when say this
I say it in no spirit of selfishness or OF
Indifference to the welfare of mankind
On the contrary, I believe that the high
est service the American people can rem
der to mankind and to liberty is to pre-
serve unstained and unchanged the re-
public as it came to US from the fathers
1t IS by example, and not by guns or by
bayonets, that the great work of Amerl-
ca for humanity is to be accomplished.
"And in my opinion we are today in a
great danger greater danger than we
have encountered since the pilgrims
landed at Plymouth. The danger is
that we are to be transformed from a
republic founded on the Declaration of
Independence, guided by the counsels Of
Washington, into vulgar, commonplace
empire founded upon physical force.
II for one am not dazzled by the ex-
ample of England. The institutions of
England which have enabled her to gov
elm successfully distant colonies and sub
iect states are founded, as Mr.. Gladstone
pointed out, ON the doctrine of inequali-
ty. Our institutions are founded on the
doctrine of equality.
sit is said that Porto Rico is already
ours. 1t may he that Porto Rico is 10
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 senate
by twc-thitds vote or by an act of le-
gislation in which the president, the
house of representatives and the senate
must unite.
"It is said that the Philippine islands
are already ours 10y the right of conquest
Human bcings-men, women, children
people-are not to he won as spoils Of
war or prices in battle. It may be that
such a doctrine finds place in the an
Gent and barbarous laws of war, but ii
has no place under the American con
stitution. 1t has no place IN the codes OF
morals of the people of the United States
"Some of our good friends have said
thsughtlessly in their zeal that where
the American flag goes it must stay
But surely they cannot wish to commit
the country to that doctrine. We plant
ed 1t in the City of Mexico. But no mar
demanded 1t should stay there. If the
war goes on, we shall plant it on the
coast of Spain. But we have no desire
to hold permanent dominion there.
'If the Philippine islands become
ours, then under the late decision OF the
supreme court every child hereafter born
on them becomes an American citizen,
free to come, free to 60. Are you going
to hold them as subjects? Are you 60
ing to have trained and governing class
Are you going to have the rational tax
gatherer the most frequent and the best
known visitant to every American house
Are you going to increase MANIFOLD your
national debt2
:rhese things are involved in this
wild and impassioned cry for empire
For myself, l disbelieve and hate thu
notion that the American people are tt
submit to such a transformation"