Evening star., 1899-03-31
HOAR DEFENDS HIS POLICY
Massachusetts, Senator Writes a Letter on
Philippine Situation.
still Insists There 10 No Con,tItu-
tional Warrant for the Pres
ent War There.

Senator Hoar has written a letter I'm reply
TO one signed by hundred or more OF his
constituents. in which they commend his
course In the Senate i'm regard TO the Phil
ippines. The senator was asked In this
communication TO deliver an address on thu
subject at public meeting. In his reply
he declines this invitation, the ground
that he does not consider such a meeting
opportune. but suggests that Il might be
held later on with advantage 20 the posi-
ton he maintains.
In defense of his position he says:
AN attempt has been made to persuade
the American people that the resistance
10 our arms by the people OF the Philip
pine Islands has been due to those whd
oppose the attempt to subjugate them and
who opposed the ratification OF the treaty
by which sovereignty over them WAS pur-
chased and paid for as an article OF mer-
chandise. There was never a more un-
founded or a more foolish calumny. A
strict military censorship was exercised
over the cable to the Philippine islands
during the whole period. / have In my
possession one Of the original circulars OF
the cable company. warning all persons
that no dispatch would be transmitted hav-
ing the least relation TO politics, without
the assent of the military authorities OK
the United States"
Cites the Case Of Cuba.
Continuing. Senator Hoar refers to the
pledges of the country toward Cuba and
the Presidents declaration that any other
conduct on our part would have been "cr'nl-
inal aggression" and continues:
THE law of righteousness and Justice on
which the great and free American people
should act, and in the end. am sure, VIII
act, depends not on parallels OF LATITUDE
and merldians of longitude or points OF
the compass. 1t is the same yesterday
today and forever. II is as true now as
when our fathers declared IL I'm 1dd6. II is
as binding upon William Mckinley today
as il was upon G~org- Washington or
Abraham Lincoln. The only powers OF gov
ernment the American people can recognize
are just powers, and those powers rest
upon the consent of the governed.
mo man during this whole discussion
has successfully challenged. and no man
will successfully challenge:
First, the affirmation that under the
Constitution Of the United States the ac-
QUESTION of territory, as of other property.
is not a constitutional end. but only "a
means to a constitutional end, and that,
while the making of new states and pro-
vidng national defense are constitutional
ends. so that We may acquire and hold
territory for those purposes. the governing
of subject peoples is not a constitutional
end and that there is therefore no con-
stitutional warrant for acquiring and hold
ing territory for that purpose.
Second, that to leave our own country
to stand on foreign soil is in violation Of
the warnings of our fathers and OF the
farewell address of Washington.
Third, that there was never tropical
country governed with any tolerable sue
cess without system OF contract labor.
What is to He Gained.
Fourth, the trade advantages of the
Philippine Islands. IL there be any. must
be opened alike to all the world. and that
our share of them will never begin TO pay
the cost of subjugating them by war or
holding them in subjection in peace.
Fifth, that the military occupation OF
these tropical regions must be kept at an
immense cost. both to the sous and the
bodies of our soldiers.
Sixth, that the declaration as to Cuba,
by the President and by Congress. app les
with stronger force to the case of the Phil
ippine Islands.
Seventh, that Aguinaldo and his follow
ers. 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 to establish free constitution.
Eighth. that while they are fighting for
freedom and independence and the doc
trineS of our fathers, we are nShting Tor
the principles that one people may control
and govern another in spite OF its resist
ance and against its will
Ninth, that the language and argument
of those who object to this war are. with
out change, the language and argument of
Chatham, of Fox, of Burke, Of Barre, of
Camden and of the English and American
wings. and the language and argument Of
those who support it are the language and
argument of George Ill. of Lord North. of
Mansfield, of WeddeTburn. of johnson and
of the English and American tories.
Cannot Quote Early Patriots.
Tenth, no orator or newspaper or preach
er being a supporter Of this policy of sub
jugation dares repeat in speech or in
print any of the great utterances for free
dom of Washington, of Jefferson of John
Adams of Abraham Lincoln or of Charles
Summer.
1.-The question the American people are
now considering, and with which they
about to deal, is not a question of day,
or of year, or of an administration. or OF
a century. 1t is to affect and largely deter
mine the whole future Of the country We
can recover from a mistake in regard 10
other matters which have interested or
divided the people, however important or
serious. Tariffs and currency and revenue
laws, even foreign wars. all these as
Thomas jefferson said, are pillows that
will pass under the ship
But if the republic is TO violate the law
of its being, IL it is to be converted into
an empire. not ony the direction of the
voyage is to be changed, but the chart and
the compass are to be thrown away. We
have not as yet taken the irrevocable step.
Before IL is taken let the voice of the whole
people be heard. i am, with high regard,
faithfully yours, GEORGE +. HOAR."