The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-31

around thi. city. headed by ev-Governoi
Boutwell, commending the attitude in
congress Of Senator IIoar and inviting
him TO address them at future date,
was made public yesterday by Secretary
Winslow OF the -smpcrinhst league.
Accompanying it is the letter Of ac-
knowledgment from Senator Hoar, bear.
ing date of March 20. in which he says;
II do not think there is any reason
personal TO me for holding such a public
meeting just at the present time,
but / think IL will be wiser to have
meetings Of that character little later
rather than just now We do not yet
know whether the present war for the
subjugation OF the people OF the Philip.
pine Islands is 10 continue indefinitely.
or whether there is TO be "A speedy sub
mission TO the overwhelming power of
the United States. II the war shal,
shortly be ended. We shall then be able
to discuss the Question OF our national
duty free from the disturbing influences
which exist always when the country IS
at war. II, on the other hand. the war
shall long and indefinitely continue, the
people will begin TO feel the burden of
increased debt and increased taxation,
the loss Of life and health of our youth,
and the arrangement Of trade and Of
peaceful industries.
AN attempt has been made to per-
susde the American people that the re-
sistance to our arms by the people of the
Philippine islands has been due TO those
who oppose the attempt TO subjugats
them, and who opposed the ratifiont tion
l. &K.l,- .t~.-
them was purchased and paid for as
an article OF merchandise. There was
never more unfounded or a more foolish
calumny. strict military censorshi ip
was exercised over the cable TO the
Philippine islands during the whols
period"
After quoting some personal expert
ences growing out OF his position. Sena-
tor Hoar says: The blood of the
slaughtered Fflipinos. the blood and the
wasted health and life OF our own SCI
diers is upon he heads Of those who have
undertaken 20 buy people in the MAJ
Ket like sheep, or 10 treat them as law
full prize or booty Of war. to impose a
government on them without their con-
sent. and TO tIample under foot not only
the people of the Philippine islands. but
the princiISes upon which the American
republic itself rests"
Continuing. Senator Hoar refers 10 the
pledges of the country toward Cuba. and
the presidents declaration that any other
conduct on our part would have been
criminal aggression The law Of
righteousness and justice on which the
great and free American people should
act, and in the end, ! am sure. will act,
depends not on parallels OF latitude and
meridians OF longitude or points of the
compass.
''It is the same yesterday today and
forever. 1t is as true now as when our
fathers declared RI In fff6. IT Is as bind
ing upon William Mckinley today as IL
was upon George Washington or Abra-
ham Lincoln. The only powers of gov
ernment the American people can recog-
nize arc the just powers, and those pow
ers rest upon the consent of the gov.
erned.
mo man during this whole discussion
has successfully challenged, and no man
will successfully challenge. the affirma-
tion that under the constitution of the
United States the acquisition of terri
tory. as of other property. is not con-
stitutional end, but only a means TO a
constitutional end, and that while we
may acquire and hold territory for those
purposes. the governing of subject peo-
Piles is not constitutional end, and that
there is therefore no constitutional war
rant for acquiring and holding territory
for that purpose"
Mr. Hoar further says that TO iesve
our own country to stand on foreign soil
IL in violation Of the warnings of our
fathers. and of the farewell Address of
Washington. that there was never
tropical coisny yet governed with any
tolerable success without system of
contract labor. The trade advantages
of the Philippine Islands. II there be any,
he argues, must be opened alike to all
the world. and our share Of them will
never begin TO pay the cost Of subJugat-
ing them by war or holding them in sub
lection in peace.
Aguinaldo and his followers. he says,
before we began To make war upon them
had conquered their own territory and
independence from Spain. with the ex-
ception Of single city. and were getting
ready 10 establish "A free constitution.
While they are fighting for freedom and
Independence and the doctrines of our
fathers. We are fighting for the prtnci-
pie that one people may control and
govern another In spite Of it's resistance
Nnd against its VIII.
Senator Hoar concludes his letter as
follows: the question the American
people are row considering and with
which they are about 10 deal is not
question of "a day or Of year. or OF an
administration. or Of a century. IL Is to
efiect and largely determine the whole
future of the country. We can recover
from q mistake IN regard 10 other mat
ters which have interested or divided the
people however important or serious.
Tariffs currency and revenue laws. and
even foreign wars. sll These. as Thomas
Jefferscr II ioNs that W.t. uerf
D~s@