The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10
BRIEF REPLY BY Mr.. PLHTT
WHO ACCUSES MIR. HOAR or CONJUR-
ING UP A GAUZY SPECTER,
Says America Proposes to Proclaim
Liberty and Justice, and Asks ssVVhO
VIII Haul These Principles DOwns"

WASHINGTON, jan 9.-This proved to
be interesting day in the Senate, the
principal subject under discussion being the
constitutional right of the United States to
carry into effect the policy of expansion.
The leading speaker was Mr.. Hoar Rep.,
Mass) who delivered a speech in support
Of the resolution introduced by Mr.. Vest
Dem, Mo- declaring it to be in opposition
to the Constitution for this country to ac-
quire foreign territory to be governed per-
manently as colonies Although Mr.. Hoar
occupied the time of the Senate for more
than two hours, he was accorded the un-
usual compliment of close and undivided at
tention by his colleagues on the floor and q
large audience in the galleries. He con-
fined himself closely to his manuscript but
his address was delivered with all the fire,
earnestness and animation of the orator
that he is. Mr.. Hoar is a master of the
subtleties of the English language and q
rhetorician of notable ability, and his keen
sarcasm and wit were thoroughly enjoyed
by his auditors. His speech was in answer
to that recently delivered by Mr.. Platt
(Rep Comm, and had been most carefully
prepared. He took strong ground against
senator, maintaining that it was in viola
ton of the Constitution and Declaration of
independence, "the great expounder of the
Constitution" for this country to acquire
foreign territory to be held and governed
as colonies He said, in parts
ut is not my purpose to discuss the gem
eral considerations which affect any acqui-
sition of sovereignty by the American peo-
pie over the Philippine islands, which has
been, or may be, proposed l am speaking
to-day only of the theory of constitutional
Interpretation propounded by the senator
from Connecticut (Mr. Plato If at any
time hereafter the senator shall seek to put
his theories into practice by reducing TO
subiection distant people, dwelling IN the
tropics. aliens in blood, most of them Mos
lem in faith unable to speak or comprehend
our language, or to read or to write any
language, to whom the traditions and the
doctrines of civil liberty are at present un-
known, it win be time to point out what
terrible results and penalties this departure
from our constitutional principles will bring
upOi' 10 PLATT QUOTED.
Mr. Hoar quoted Mr. Platt as saying: "As
TO every matter, the United States as a ma
ton possesses sovereign power except only
where sovereignty has been reserved TO the
States and the people," And again: AS
nation possesses every sovereign power not
reserved in it's constitution to the States or
to the people, the right to acquire territory
was not reserved, and is, therefore, an IN
herent sovereign right In the right 10 ac-
ouire territory is found the right TO govern
it. and as the right to acquire is sovereign,
inherent right the right to govern IS SOW
eregn right not limited in the Constitution
These propositions of Mr.. Platt, Mr.. Hoar
expresly denied He affirmed that every
constitutional power is limited to the one
supreme and controlling purpose declared IN
the Constitution itself In order to form q
more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the COM
mon defense, promote the general weifare
and secure the blessings of liberty TO our
selves and to our own posterity"
"When the senator from Connecticut un-
dertakes to declare" said Mr.. Hoar that
we NAV do such things not for the perfect
union. the common defense, the general well
fare Of the people of the United States, or
the securing of liberty 10 ourselves and our
children. but for any fancied or real obli-
cation to take care of distant peoples be-
vond our boundaries, not people Of the
limited States then i deny his proposition
and tell him he can find nothing either in
the text of the Constitution or the exposi-
tion of the fathers, or the Judgments or
courts from that day to this to warrant or
s,lpport his doctrine. We have heard OF linz
tied monarchies constitutional monarchiess
despotism tempered by assassination; but the
logic of the senator from Connecticut makes
pure. unlimited, untempered despotism
without any relief from assassins.
Mr.. Hoar maintained that the propositions
advanced by Mr.. Platt We're not sustained
by a single one of his authorities. He heid,
in tho course of his argument that the
powers of the United States must be affirm
atively delegated or they do not exist IN
other words. the implied powers referred
to by Mr. Platt-the bower to govern terri
torv acquired through war-did not exist.
The power which Mr. Platt maintained this
government possessed was one. Mr.. Hoar
said. that our fathers and their descend-
arts have ever loathed and abhorred, and
they believed that no sovereign on earth
could rightfuy exercise it,"
He said that while Mr. Platt admitted that
the governments should derive their just
powers from the consent of some of the
governed" he did not understand that in
subiugating and governing the Fipinos Mr..
Platt proposed to get the consent of any
OF them.
EXPANSION RIDTCULED.
Mr.. Hoar was inclined 10 ridicuie those
who favor expansion and the ratification
Of the treaty Of Paris without amendment.
Their arguments. he said. were three cheers
for The flag: who will dare to haul it down?
Hold on to everything you can get America
has outgrown Amerlcanism. In general,
the friends Of what is called imperialism, or
expansion. content themselves with deelar-
fe, fl,af tho xsh{.h falsan f4r.tsv