The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-31
SENATOR HOAR'S WARNING.
He would Beware Entering ON Mad
Career of Empire ON Distant Seas.

BOSTON, Mass, July Ex-senator Hoar
was the guest of honor at the annual meet
ing of the Massachusetts Club at Marble
head Neck and made a long and carefully
prepared speech, in the course of which he
discussed the question of our foreign rela-
tons growing out of the war. Upon this
question he said
1T is impossible with our eyes on this
constantly changing kaleidoscope to predict
with certainty how we are to solve the
difficult problems that are corning upon us
at the end of this war with Spain. But of
this you may be sure, that the vote of every
person who now has legislative responsible
ity in either house of Congress, by the choice
of the Republicans of Massachusetts, or is
likely to have such responsibility hereafter,
will be cast in accordance with the opinion
of Massachusetts.
Her opinions on such questions are the
truit of nearly three hundred years of great
and honorable history. She will not depart
from the Declaration of Independence: She
viii not depart from the doctrines of liberty
laid down in her own Constitution. She will
not consent TO be the ruler over vassal
slaves nor subject peoples. She will enter
upon no mad career of empire in distant
seas. She will not seek to force her trade
upon unwilling peoples at the cannon's
mouth. She Will not exact tribute or reve-
nues from men who have no voice in regard
TO Them She will not consent to enter with
the powers of Europe into any partnership,
alliance or contest for the plumber of China
or the division of Africa. or for the subjuga-
ton of the Eastern archipelagoes or for
compelling unwilling peoples to trade with
her.
If the American flag appears in the East
it will be as the emblem of their liberty
and not of our dominion. She will desire to
meet the great responsibilities which the
end of this war seems likely to bring to
the American people solely in the interest
of the provinces we may deliver from Spain
and not for our own. The power of the
United States is to be exerted through ex-
ample and influence and not by force.
1T will be a sad thing for the country.
II win be a sad thing for mankind If the
people of the United States come to abandon
their fundamental doctrine. If we attempt
to govern great masses of people, aliens In
birth, of strange language. OF different re-
ligions. our spirit will not. l am afraid-(sod
grant that / may be wrong-the American
spirit will not enter into and possess them.
but their spirit will enter into and possess
The best thing we could hope in such
case is that we should succeed as England
has succeeded with those OF her colonies
whom she admits TO no considerable self
government. 1t is much more likely that we
may fail as Spain has failed.
Let Us wait until the negro throughout
counted in freedom and in honor Let US
wait until the poor immigrant can come
into the Northern port and be received as a
brother and as an equal without being used
an instrument to debase the elections in
New York or Baltimore or Chicago.
Mr.. Gladstone In his famous comparison
of England and the United States. IN which
he expresses his admiration for our Const-
tuition, says also: In England inequality
lies at the very base of the social structure
Equality combined with liberty was the
groundwork Of the social creed of the
American colonies An aristocracy or a
monarchy may govern subject states 1t
never has done and never win be done sue
ccssfully BY democracy or republic"