Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-02
HOAR AGAINST IMPERIALISM.
Eloquent Republican Wnrning-The
Country In Great Danger.

large and enthusiastic audience greeted
Senator Hoar, Congressman Moody, and
Sneaker John Bates in Mechanics Hall
tonight. Three hundred Republican
leaders were on the platform with the
speakers. Senator Hoar was the princi-
pa! speaker He said, in part:
This year has been crowded with his
tory and crowded with glory. 1t is also,
to my mind, crowded with danger. The
flag of Spain, formerly the proudest
Power Oh earth since the days 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 risen in the
eastern sky like a new constellation.
Let US not accept the duties and respon-
sibilities of this victory in any temper
OF vulgar vaingory; still less in vulgar
greed of power or of gain.
THE United States comes to the op-
pressed people East and West as a great
deliverer. To deal with this great oc-
casion by talking about coaling stations
and trade advantages degrades and be-
Titles it. We have not overthrown
Spain, we have not perlled the precious
lives of our sons, that We may add to our
| possessions, or that we may Lake money
out of our new relations.
THE COUNTRY'S PERIL.
ut is by example and not by guns or
| by bayonets that the great work of
| America for humanity is to be accom-
plished, and in my opinion we are to-day
in great danger-a 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 Independ-
ence, guided by the counsels of Wash
| ington, into a vulgar, commonplace en-
pire, founded upon physical force.
81. for one, am not dazzled by. the ex-
ample of England. The institutions of
England which have enabled her to gov
ern successfully distant Colonies and
| subject States are founded, as Mr. Glad
stone pointed out, on the doctrine of
| inequality Our institutions are founded
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.
PORTO RICO NOT OURS.
1T 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 a treaty approved by the Se- tie
| in a two-thirdG vote, or by an act OF
legislation in which the President, the
| House of Representatives, and the Sen
| ate must unite. 1t is said the Philippine
| Islands are already ours by the right ol
! conquest. For one, l deny this alleged
| right of conquest. Human belngs-men
women and children, peOples-are not 10
be won as spoils Of war or prizes in bat.
tie. 1t may be that such a doctrine
finds place in the ancient and barbarous
laws of war, but it has no place under
the American Constitution; it has nc
place in the code of morals OF the people
of the United States.
Some of our good friends have SAID
thoughtlessly in their zeal that where the
American flag goes it must stay; but
surely they cannot commit the country
TO that doctrine. We planted 1t on thC
City of Mexico, but no man demanded
that 1t should stay there. If the war goes
on, we shall plant IL on the coast of Spain
but we have no desire to hold permanent
dominion there.
FILIPINOS AMERICAN CITIZENS.
'Tf the Philippine Islands are to be-
come ours. then, under the late decision
Of the Supreme Court, every child here
L
citizen. free 10 come, free to go. Are yol
going to hold them as subjects? Are yol
going to have a trained and governing
class? Are you going to increase many
fold your national debt?
"These things are involved in this wild
and impassioned cry for empire. For my
self. | disbelieve and hate the notion tha
the American people are going TO submit
TO such a transformation"