Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-10
DELIVERS A STRONG ANTI-ExPAN.
SION ADDRESS IN SENATE.
SUPPORTS VESTS RESOLUTION
WIT, SARCASM AND ORATORY MAR
SHALED IN ITS BEHALF.
Galleries Crowded to Hear the Ven-
cradle Senator'S Enort-Mr. Plntt
Replies Brfehy-Nicnragua
Canal Question Near
ing n Vote.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-This proved to
be an interesting day in the senate. the
principal subject under discussion being the
constitutional right of the United States TO
carry intoeffect the policy Of expansion.
The leading speaker was Mr.. Hoar, Re-
publican. Of Massachusetts, who delivered
speech In support of the resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Vest, Democrat, of Missouri.
declaring it, to be in opposition to the con-
stitution for this country to acquire foreign
territory to be governed permanently as
colonies.
Although Mr.. Hoar occupied the time of
the senate for more than two hours, he was
accorded the unusual compliment of close
and undivided attention by his colleagues
on the floor, and a large audience in the
galleries. He confined 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 a rhetorician of notable abili-
ty, and his keen sarcasm and wit were
thoroughly enjoyed by his auditors.
His speech was in answer to that recent
ly delivered by Mr.. Platt Republican. of
Connecticut, and had been most carefully
prepared. He took strong ground against
the position assumed by the Connecticut
senator, maintaining that it was in viola
tion of the constitution and the Declaration
of independence, the great expounder OF
the constitution for this country to ac-
quire foreign territory to be held and gov
erned as colonies. Mr.. Plat. at the con-
clusion of Mr. Hoars address, briefly re-
piled to some points of the speech which
had been directed especially at him. He re-
fterated his former statement that the
United States had power to acquire ana
govern foreign territory and declared that
had this country embraced the doctrines of
Mr.. Hoar the Mayfower would have been
turned back from Plymouth Rock and the
country would never have expanded to the
Pacific coast.
Mr.. Caffery concluded his speech in op-
position to the Nicaragua canal bill, but
an effort to fix time for vote upon it
| failed.
| The galleries of the senate were well
filled at the opening of to-day's session,
many persons being attracted by the an
nouncement that Mr.. Hoar would speak.
Mr.. Mitchell reported from the military
affairs committee a bill providing that
all honorably discharged soldiers and SAIL
ors who served in the war Of the rebellion
| and the volunteer soldiers and sailors Of
| the war of 1872 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 volunteer soldiers.
| 1t was passed.
| bill to authorize the revival Of suits
and actions commenced lawfully against
officers Of the United States as such on the
| termination of the terms Of such officers
| was passed.
| Mr.. Hoar then called up the resolution in
| troduced by Mr.. Vest and addressed the
Senate. ""' ''
| Without adverting to the proposed policy
of the United States entering upon an eX-
| pansion of it's territory except in a general
! and indirect manner, Mr.. Hoar entered
upon discussion Of the constitutional
| phases of the question involved in the reso-
| luton under consideration, prefacing his ar
| gument with statement of his personal
| position on the subject.
What say to-day nothing could induce
public duty" he began. II dislike to dif-
| Ter from the president. whose election I
| hailed with such personal satisfaction and
lie. am one Of those men who believe
| that little that is great or good or perma-
! nent for free people can an be accomplished
| I have believed religiously and from my
soul. for half a century. in~the great doc
trine and principles of the Republican
party. :.
whole past. and for Its whole future. L
bound up in the preservation of our great
doctrine of constitutional liberty. It is not
my purpose. of course; to discuss the gen.
quisition of sovereignty by the American
people over the Philippine Islands which
taaS on1 oh be e Of a
from Connecticut tMr., PlatD:. If at any
his theories into practice by reducing to
subsection a distant people, dwelling in the
| tropics. aliens in blood. most of them
prehend our language or to read or to
write any language, to whom the traditions
and the doctrines of civil liberty are un-
| terrible results and penalties this departure
from our constitutional principles will bring
Mr.. Hoar said that our fathers who
framed the constitution were the wisest
| builders of states the world has yet seen.
learned that while there is little else that
democracy can accomplish it cannot rule
| over vassal states or subject peoples with
out bringing the elements Of death into
its own constitution. In this connection.
| he quoted Prof. Greasy as saying in his
Fifteen, Decisive Battles Of the. World
! history that acquired dominion over an
other nation that did not rule it seltishly
ton to this rule. either in ancient or mod
ern times"
~, II hope not to weary the senate by reit-
eration, said Mr.. Hoar concluding his
preface, but this is the greatest question.
! this question of power and authority Of
our constitution in this matter. l had al
most said, that had been discussed among
mankind from the beginning of time. Ger
tainiy 1t Is the greatest question ever dis
cussed in this chamber from the beginning
| OF the government
| Mr.. Hoar believed. he said. this country
| to be a nation-a sovereign nation. He be-
lieved congress possessed all the powers
necessary to accomplish the great objects
| the trainers of the constitution intended
should be accomplished. But he denied ,hat
1T possessed the astonishing" and Eek
which the senator from Connecticut lMr.
quoted Mr.. Platt as saying, "As to every
matter the United States as nation pos
sesses sovereign, power except only where
and the people, And again. las nation
it possesses every sovereign power not re-
served in the constitution to the states or
to the people The right to acquire terri
an inherent. sovereign right. In the right
to acquire territory-is found the right to
govern 1t, and as the right to acquire is
sovereign inherent right. the right to gov
constitution
These propositions Of Mr.. Platt Mr. Hoar
expressly denied. He affirmed that every
and .1 ns n the
constitution itself: 'In order to form a
more perfect union. establish justice. in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
fare and secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and to our posterity."
When the senator from Connecticut un-
We may do such things, not for the perfect
union. common sense, the general welfare
of the people or the securing of liberty to
ourselves and our children. but for any fan
tant peoples beyond our boundaries, not
people Of the United States then I deny
his proposition and tell him he can find
nothing either in the text or the constitu-
fion or the exuosftfon of the fathersI ar tho