Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-10

to be one that ought not to be exer-
cised by anybody-one that the franz
ers OF the constitution thought ought
not to be exercised by anybody.
Flrst-Because it is immoral and
wicked in itself.
Second-Because it is expressly de-
MED in the Declaration of Independ-
ence. the great interpreter and ex-
FOUNDER of the meaning of the consti-
tuition, which owes it's origin to the
same generation and largely to the
same men,
Third-It is affirmed that it is inn
moral and unfit to be exercised by any
body-in numerous instances by con-
temporary State constitutions and the
contemporary writers and authorities
on public law who expressed the opin-
ion of the American people in that gem
Grafton who adopted the constitution
as well as of the men who framed it.
In discussing how territory may be
acquired constitutionally by the United
States, Mr.. Hoar said: 1T may acquire
adjoining or outlying territory. dis
pose of it. make rules and regulations
for it for the purpose of national secur-
lty and defense, as in
although it may not be expected that
the territory so acquired, held, and dis
posed Of shall ever come into the union
as q State
However, Immediately following this
statement, Mr.. Hoar set the Philip
pines against Hawaii in this declara-
ton: Mr. President you are not now
proposing to acquire or own property
in the Philippines with dominion as
| necessary incident; you are not to own
foot of land there. You propose now
to acquire dominion and legislative
power and nothing else. Where in the
constitution is the grant of power TO
exercise sovereignty where you have no
property"
In support of his Interpretation of the
constitution, Mr.. Hoar cited numerous
authorities, among them Charles Sum
ner, Mr.. Justice Matthews and Mr..
Justice Brewer. He then appealed to
senators who are hesitating as to what
their action upon the question of ex-
pansion may be-"the greatest ques-
ton that has ever been or ever will
be put to them in their lives, the ques-
ton, not of year or of a Congress,
not of a generation, not of century,
but question pertaining rather to the
great period of national life"-not to
commit themselves in principle to such
policy by supporting the peace treaty
and they say they will consider here
after how they will act under it. In
the course of his appeal to senators.
Mr.. Hoar said: when you raise the
flag over the Philippine islands as an
emblem of dominion and acquisition.
tnly "a = a Il H..
hall"
He quoted the statement of Louis
Napoleon made in 1854 that "the time
of conquest is past, never to return, for
it is not by extending the boundaries
of its territory that nation can hence
forward be honored and powerful, but
by placing itself at the head of
GENEROUS IDEAS
and spreading everywhere the empire
of right and justice, and added: Ma
poleon forgot what he had said when
he grew little stronger. He saw his
opportunity in Mexico, as our friends
think they see ours in the Philippine
islands. But the sure and terrible feet
of Destiny overlook him in the midst
of his pride and power.
Our commissioners come back from
Paris bringing with them the cast-off
clothing if this pinchbeck Napoleon
and ask us, who have seen his fate, to
discard for them the spotless robes in
in which our fathers arrayed the
beautiful genius of America
"A year ago last December the
President of the United States sent a
| message to Congress. In that message
he said: i speak not of forcibIe an
nexatiOn, because that Is not to be
thought of, and under our code of NOR
atty that would be criminal agrees
SION
The time of conquest is past
said Louis Napoleon. All, Mr.. Presi-
dent, President Mckinley but repeated
Louis Napoleon, though in louder and
clearer voice. President Mckinley.
when he spoke, was not thinking even
of honor or Of power, inspiring and
alluring as are honor and power. He
| placed himself and placed the Ameri-
can people on the stern, enduring and
perpetual
ROCK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
| that forcible annexation is not TO be
| thought Of, under our code of morality;
that would be criminal aggression.
Who shall haul him down? Who
| shall haul down the code? Who shall
! haul down the PRESIDENT"
Mr.. Hoar dwelt with emphasis upon
| the large increase in national expen-
| diture that the policy Of expansion ad-
| vocated by Mr.. Platt would entail
placing the amount at $4,000, 900 an
nually. He argued that the adop-
| ton of Mr.. Platt's doctrine would re-
| duce wages, increase taxation, place
an armed soldier on the back of the
workingmen, and by the act of the
| government every Americans dignity
| would be dishonored and his man
| hood discrowned.
| In conclusion, Mr.. Hoar said he
| could not agree that the lesson of our
| first hundred years is that the declar-
| alton of independence and the consti-
| tuition are failure, and that America
! is to begin the twentieth century
| where Spain began the sixteenth.
with this policy" he said, the Mon
| roe doctrine is gone. Every Euro
| Dean nation, every European alliance.
| has the right to acquire dominion in
! this hemisphere when we acquire 1t in
| the other"
| It may be. he thought. that in a
tempest Of popular delusion a cloud
| might for the moment cover the great
truths of our declaration. He had
ENCOUNTERED SUCH STORMS
| in his experience, but the clouds had
/ passed and the sunshine had come
again. Mr. President" he added.
s4thfS SnaGrn 0f folly and daIuciov, sco,