The Portland daily press., 1899-04-01
WILL NOT BE CHALLENGED.
Some of the Principles Underlying the
Philippine Business.
(From Senator Hoar's Letter. J

From senator 6Oar Ltbter.
No man, during this whole discussion,
has successfully challenged, and no man
will successfully challenge
First-The affirmation that under the
constitution of the United States, the
acquisition of territory, as OF other prop
erty, is not q constitutional end, but only
means to "a constitutional end, and that
while the making new states and pro-
viding for the national defense are CON-
stitutional ends, so that we may acquire
and hold territory for those purposes, the
governing subject peoples Is not con-
stitutional end, and that there is there
fore no constitutional warrant for &C
quiring or holding territory for that pur-
pose.
Seoond-That to leave our own ooun-
try to stand on foreign soil Is in viola
tion of the warnings of our fathers and
of the farewell address of Washington.
Third-Ihat there was never tropical
colony yet governed with any tolerabie
success without system of contract la.
Dor degrading to the dignity alike Of
labor, of citizenship and OF manhood.
Fourth-Ihe trade advantages of the
Philippine islands, If thpre he any, must
be opened alike TO all the world, ard that
our share OF them will never bsgin TO pay
the cost of subiugating them by war or
of holding them in subjection in peace.
Fifth hat the military occupation OF
these tropical regions must be kept at an
Immense cost both to the souls and the
bodies of our soldiers.
Sixth-That the declaration as to Cuba
nv the President and by Congress APP
plies with stronger force to the case Of
thefsphilippines islands. Who can doubt
that CongrPS SIS. II 1t had dreamed of the
present condition of things when it maize
its declaration as TO Cuba, would have ex-
tended it to all other Spanish territory.
Seventh-That Aguinaldo ana his fol-
lowers, before we began to make war
upon them, had oonQne'ed their own ter
ritory and independence from Spain,
with the exception of n single city, and
were getting ready to establish free
constitution
highth-That while they are fighting
for freedom and Independence and the
doctrines of our fathers, we are lighting
for the principle that one people may con-
troll ard vern another in spite of its
resistance and against its will
Ninth-Ihat the language and argu
ment OF those who object to this war are
without change the language and argu'
pient OF Chatham, of Fox, of Burke, of
Barre of Camden, and of the Englist
and American Wings. and the language
and argument of those who support 1t
are the language and argument OF George
Ill, of Lord North, of Mansfield, of We'd
derburn, and OF johnson, and OF the Eng
lish and American tories
Tenth--No orator, or newspaper, or
preacher, being ! supporter OF this policy
OF subjugation, dares repeat In speech or
in print any of the great utterances for
freedom OF Washington, of jefferson, of
John Adams, of A abraham Lincoln, or of
Charles Sumner.
The question the American people are
now considering and with which they are
about to deal, is not question of day,
or of year, or of an administration, or
of century. 1t is to affect and largely
determine the whole future of the coun-
try. We can recover from a mistake in
regard 10 other matters which have in
tefested or divided the people, however
important or serious
Tariffs and currency and revenue laws,
even foreign wars, all these, as Thomas
jefferson said, "are billows that will pass
under the ship" But If the republic is to
violate the law of its being, If 1t is to be
converted into an empire, not only the
direction of the voyage is to be chan ged,
but tho chart and the compass are to be
thrown away. We have not as yet taken
the irrevocable step. Before it is taken
let the voice of the whole people be heard.
am, with high regard, faithfully yours