Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-11-05
HOAR SCENTS DANGER.
Massachusetts, Senator Declares
L. Our Institutions Imperilled.
OPPOSES TERRITORIAL ACCESSION

No Authority Under the Consultation
TO Acquire Any Foreign Territory.
Save by a Treaty Approved by the
Senate by n Two-thirds Vote.
Worcester. Mass. Nov. "A large
and enthusiastic audience greeted SEN
ator George F. Hoar, Congressman
William II. Moody and Speaker John
L Bates in Mechanics Hall last night.
Three hundred Republican leaders &C.
cupied seats upon the platform with
the speakers. Senator Hoar presided.
and was the principal speaker. After
making reference to local issues in
the campaign Senator Hoar said:
This year has been crowded with
history and crowded with glory. 1t is
also to my mind crowded with danger.
The flag of Spain. formerly the proud
est power on earth since the day 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 constel-
lation. Let US not accept the duties
and responsibilities Of this victory in "A
temper of vulgar vainglory, still less of
vulgar greed Of power or of gain.
The United States comes to the OPP
pressed people, east and west, as a
great deliverer. To deal with this
great occasion by talking about coaling
stations and trade advantages degrades
and belittles it. We have not over
thrown Spain, we have not perilled the
precious lives Of our sons that we may
add TO our possessions, or that we may
make money out of our new relations.
But yet the first duty OF American
people is to themselves, and when I
say this say it in no spirit of selfish
ness or OF indifference to the welfare
OF mankind. On the contrary, I be-
lieve that the highest services the
American people can render to man
kind and to liberty is to preserve un-
stained and unchanged the republic as
1t came TO us from the fathers. 1t is
by example, and not by guns or by
oayonets, that the great work of Amer
1ca for humanity is to be accomplished.
And in my opinion we are today in a
great danger-a greater danger than
we have encountered since the Pill
grims landed at Plymouth The dan
ger is that we are to be transformed
ration of independence, guided by the
counsels of Washington, into a vulgar.
commonplace empire founded upon
physical force.
i for one am not dazzled by the
example of England. The institutions
or England which have enabled her to
govern successfully distant colonies
and subject states are founded, as Mr..
Gladstone pointed cut, on the doctrine
II inequality. Our Institutions are
founded on the doctrine OF equality.
IF we are to outstrip England in ma
tional power it must be by pursuing
our own path and not by following in
hers
1t is said that Porto Rico is already
ours It may be that Porto Rico Is to
,oecome ours But there is now no au-
therlty under the constitution OF the
United States to acquire any foreign
territory save by treaty approved by
'tne senate by two-thirds vote. or by
an act Of legislation in which the presi-
dent, the house Of representatives. and
the senate must unite. 1t is said that
the Philippine Islands are already ours
by the right Of conquest. For one I
deny this alleged right Of conquest.
Human beings-men, women, children,
-peoples-are not to be won as spoils
OF war or prizes in battle. It may be
that such doctrine finds a place in
the ancient and barbarous laws OF war.
but 1t has no place under the Ameri-
can constitution. 1t has no place in
the code Of morals Of the people of the
United States.
Il have stated elsewhere the con-
celebrations which in my judgment ac-
quired the acquisition of Hawaii. Ha-
wall came to us with the consent of her
own government, the only government