The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10

years is that the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the Constitution are a failure, and
that America is TO begin the twentieth CEN
fury as Spain began the sixth. The Monroe
doctrine IS gone. Every European nation,
every European alliance has the right to
acquire dominion in this hemisphere when
We acquire IL in the other" 1t may he
thought that. ne said In a tempest of popu-
lar delusion, cloud might for the moment
cover the great truths of our declaration.
He had encountered such storms in his eX-
perience. but the clouds had passed and The
sunshine had come again.
Mr.. President this spasm of folly ana
delusion also, in my judgment, viii sure
ly pass BY. Whether it pass by or not. !
thank God | have done my duty, and that
/ have adhered to the great doctrines of
righteousness and freedom which l learned
from my fathers and in whose service my
life has been spent.
Mr.. Hoar spoke two hours and ten min
utes, concluding a 2:30 p. m. Only once
was he interrupted, and then by Mr.. Plat,
of Connecticut, at whom the speech was d.
rected. When Mr.. Hoar said that within
the past few months MIR. Platt had changed
his position. as during the Cuban discussion
he had supported the proposition that the
Cubans are and Of right ought TO be free
and independent Mr. Plat, 1nterrupung.
said: Il think the senator has misstated
my position. / did not vote for that propo-
sition."
In reply Mr. Hoar inquired if Mr.. Plat,
while he may not have voted for the prOpO-
sitiCn, did not actually think the people of
Mr. PIatt-The senator is tempting me
into q speech which he would nos tolerate
if l should deliver 1t here.
MR.. PLATT'S SPEECH.
When Mr.. Hoar had concluded Mr.. Plat
addressed the Senate He said: II cannot
ask the indulgence of the Senate at this
time to reply extemporaneously to the care
fully prepared argument of the senator
from Massachusetts. L can only say that 1
have listened to it with great attention and
interest. The senator is a master of lam
guage and an adept at the use OF sarcasm.
He has succeeded in conjurng up a specter
which is really only a specter. He has spent
a large portion of his argument in erecting
man of straw ard the remainder of his
argument III demolishing that man OF straw.
He has not answered the argument which
had the honor to make, but has misrepre-
Sented what / said
Mr.. Plat maintained that Mr. Hoar had
admitted his contention that this country
had the right TO acquire and govern dis
tant territory, but that he had unfairly pre-
sented what he (PlatO had said about the
acquisition and government of such terri
tory. He then read from his own speech
paragraph showing that he had held 1t TO
be the duty of this country to provide for
acquired territory a most liberal and en-
lightened system of governmental govern
ment in accord with the spirit of the Deca
ration of Independence and of the Constitu-
ton Yet" said Mr.. Platt with emphasis,
ing to the people of this acquired territory
the principles of legislation in accordance
with the spirit of the Declaration of indie
pendance and of the Constitution. The
United States never has legislated in opposi
ton to the Declaration of Independence and
TO the Constitution, and it never will L
want to say that an application of the doc
trineS of the senator from Massachusetts
would have prevented our expansion west
ward across this continent to the Pacific
coast. We found here this continent in the
hands of the Indians, who did not want
us here, nor did they want to be placed
under our government. Notwithstanding
that condition we established our govern
ment here, and now at last we have brought
many Indians to state of civilization and
citizenship. You violated your Declaration
OF Independence, says the Indian, when you
legiSlated for me- But who, Mr.. President
would turn back the hands of time to meet
the requirements Of the doctrines of the SEN
atOr from Massachusetts
1t is the spirit of the Declaration of In
dependence that gives 1t life. 1t is perfectly
well assured that no attempt will ever be
made to legislate for the people of this coun-
try or of our acquired territory in contra
Vention of the Declaration of independence.
L am one of those who believe that we shall
not ring the doom of this country when we
snail place over the inhabitants of our ac-
quired territory legislation which will confer
upon them the blessings of peace, happiness
and prosperity"
Mr.. Caffery inquired of Mr.. Plat whether
he would force upon these people our sys-
TEN OF government against their will.
ITS OWN ANSWER.
THAT question:" replied the Connecticut
SENATOR lis part of the argument of the
senator from Louisiana and the senator
from Massachusetts in support of the pend
ing resolution. They hold that we cannot
so into an enemy's country, even in time of
war, without the consent of the inhabitants
Of the country. The argument contains
within itself it's own answer"
After alluding to the late war and the
responsibilities entailed by it upon this coun-
try and explaining briefly his own position
with respect to the war, Mr.. Plat said:
w propose to proclaim liberty and Justice
and human rights in the Philippines or
wherever else the flag OF this country she'll
be planted. Who win haul those principles
down? No, Mr.. President, this entire argd-
ment of the senator from Massachusetts, is
Specter conJured up by him in support of
his position. cannot be accused of not
loving justice, and purity, and unselfishness
as deVoutly as the senator from Massa-
chusetts loves them. l shall meet the re-
sponsibilities that are to arise in connection
Declaration of independence and of the Con-
stltution, and could never be persuaded to
Mr.. Hoar briefly replied to the statement
OF Mr.. Platt, reiterating and calculating
some of the points of his own speech which
ne conceived Mr.. Platt had misunderstood.
MIR. Caffery concluded his speech in oppo-
sition TO the Nicaragua canal BILL but an
eIIort to fix time for vote upon it failed.
Mr.. 4titcheIl, of Wisconsin, to-day re-
ported from the military affairs committee a
bill providing that all honorably discharged
soldiers ana sailors who served in the war
OF the rebellion and the volunteer soldiers
and sailors of the war of 1912 and of the
Mexican war, and of the war with Spain
who may be disabled in any way. shall be
admitted into the home for disabled volun-
teer soldiers. 1t was passed.
A bill TO authorize the revival of suits
and actions commenced lawfully against Of
ficers of the United States as such on the
termination of the terms of such officers
was passed
Mr.. Gallinger offered an amendment to
the naval appropriation bill appropria ting
100000 to pay the officers and men of the
navy and marine corps the bounty and
other allowances due them under Section
1886 of the Revised Statutes for the capture
or destruction of ships or vessels of war
during the war with Spain.