Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-22

then Massachusetts owes him her sup
port, and this proposition, we may as
sumo, all persons will agree to, for
the subject is altogether too tremendous
and serious to be set aside as minor
issue.
If Massachusetts proposes to support
the position taken by Senator Hoar' in
what way does she propose to give him
the needed backing? She has elected
him to serve until March /, 1901, and
hence there is no question on that score
as to the renewing or the withdrawing
of her mandate. But Senator Hoar
cannot stand as the representative of
Massachusetts opinion on this issue OF
imperialism if, by her vote, the state
practically repudiates him in choosing
next winter for his colleague any one
who is tainted with the imperialistic
craze. 1t so happens that the term of
office in the upper branch of congress
of Senator Lodge comes to an end on
the lth of March, 1899 If he is to be
reelected, his reelection must be made
by the legislature that is to be chosen
next November, to come together in
January of next year. On this issue,
which Senator Hoar has announced to
be one of the most vital that this cOun-
try has ever known, the two senators
from Massachusetts are not in accord.
There has been no need of late of
quas-ohicial expressions of opinion, but
there is abundant reason for knowing
that Senator Lodge represents the i'm
perialist idea, in contradistinction to
the anti-lmperialism of his colleague.
Under such circumstances, to re-elect
Senator Lodge is to discredit Senator
Hoar; to make it impossible for the
latter to use either his voice or his vote
in the United States senate, as fair
representative Of Massachusetts senti-
ment. in opposition to the acquisition of
servile people. 1t will then be said,
and rightly said, that the mandate last
delivered, the one that Senator Hoar' 5
colleague has freshly taken from the
people of the Bay state, is the one which
represents their views and their aspir-
ations.
There is no gainsayng the logic of
this position. Whether they wish it or
not, the republicans of Massachusetts
are compelled this year to decide on
whether they will or will not support
imperialism, unless, of course, in the in
terval Senator Lodge pledges himself to
oppose in every way that he can the
acquisition by the United States of the
Philippine islands and other distant
colonial possessions. If he is not will
ing to do ths-that is. to place himself
upon the ground that Senator Hoar has
taken-then it is safe to assume, as is
now commonly done, that he is in favor
of such acquisitions; and hence, as we
have Just said. his reelection would
constitute direct blow struck at our
senior senator. 1t is not question of
men. The issue that is presented so far
transcends all personal considerations
that they sink into utter insignificance.
If there is imminent danger that the life
of the republic will be stihed by the
adoption of false and poisonous nation
al policy, then those through whose
instrumentality this deadly act might be
accomplished must be prevented from
acting, no matter how influential they
may be or what subsidiary good qualities
of mind and heart they may possess.
The Endorsement of Senator Hoar makes
impossible the reelection of Senator
Lodge.-Boston Herald.