Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-13
SENATOR HOAR'S SPEECH
Against the Doctrine of Imperi-
alism


of expansion, as such, except in an indi-
rect manner His speech was an argu-
ment in answer TO the speech recently de-
livered by Mr.. Plat of Connecticut, who
held that there is no constitutional objec-
ton or prohibition to our acquisition of
sovereignty over foreign territory. Mr.
Hoar took the ground that the United
States government possesses no constitu
tional right to acquire foreign territory
and govern the people thereof and that
this country has no right to rnpeople
without their consent in any event.
He prefaced his argument with a state
ment of his personal position on the sub
ject 81 am quite sure" said he, that no
man who will hear what l say today will
doubt that nothing could induce me to
say it, but a commanding sense of public
duty. dislike to differ from the Presi-
dent, whose election | hailed with such
- personal satisfaction and such eXultng
anticlpations for the republic. | dislike to
differ from so many OF my party associates
in this chamber, with whom have for so
many years trOd the same path and sought
the same goal. | am one of those men
who believe that little that is great or good
or permanent for free people can be &C
complished without the fundamentally of
party. And | have believed religiousy,
and from my soul, for half a century, in
the great doctrines and principles of the
Republican party. | stood in a humble
capacity by its cradle. do not mean, if |
can help it, to follow its hearse.
"This is the greatest question, this ques-
tion of the power and authority of our con
stitution in this matter, had almost said
that had been discussed among mankind
from the beginning of time. Certainly it
is the greatest question ever discussed in
this chamber from the beginning of the
government. The question is this: Have
we the right, as doubtless we have the
physical power, to enter upon the govern
ment of 10 or Il million subject people
without constitutional restraint? OF that
49, question the senator from Connecticut
takes the Affirmative
Mr. Hoar maintained that the PROPOSE
tions advanced by Mr.. Plat were not sus-
tanned by single one of his authorities.
He held, in the course of his argument,
that d" the powers of the United States
must be firm or they do not exist; in other
words the implied power referred to by
Mr.. Platt-the power to govern territory
acquired through war, did not exist. The
power which Mr.. Plat maintained this
government possessed was one" Mr..
Hoar said, "that our fathers and their de-
scendants have ever loathed and abhorred
and they believe that no sovereign on
earth could rightfully exercise it, He
said while Mr.. Plat had admitted that
governments derived their just powers from
the consent of "some of the governed" he
did not understand that in subjugating
n and governing the Philippines, MI. Plat
proposed to get the consent of any of
}, " them
estt Mr. Hoar was inclined to ridicule those
churcsyho faYafh ~ pansion and the ratification
RS frof the YElleryof Paris, without amendment.
h tI@@Sa eigas fallpent, he said, was: Three
. church last Sure Nag Who will dare to haul
it down? Hold on to everything you can
get America has outgrown American
ISM" "In general the friends of what is
called Imperialism or expansion content
themselves with declaring that the flag
which is taken down every night and put
up again every morning over the roof of
this Senate chamber, where it is in its
rightful place, must never be taken down
where it has once foated whether that be
its rightful place or not-a doctrine which
is not only without justification in inter-
national law, but if it were implanted
there would make of every war between
civilized and powerful nations war of ex-
termination CT war of dishonor to one
party or the other"
"When you raise the flag over the Phil
|, ippjne Islands as an emblem of dominion
" aDd acquisition you take it down from
n Independence Hail." Mr.. Hoar 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
I the boundaries of its territory that nation
can henc forward be honored and power
full, but by placing itself at the head of
generous ideas and spreading everywhere
the empire of right and justice" and added
"Napoeon forgot what he said when he
grew little stronger. He saw his oppor-
tunity in Mexico as our friends think they
see ours in the Philippine islands. But
the sure and terrible feet of Destiny over
took him in the midst of his pride and
power.
!. I "Our commissioners come back from
paris bringing with them the cast of
/clothiDg of this pnchbeck Napoleon, and
ask us who have seen his fate to discard
for them the spotless robes in which our
fathers arrayed the beautiful genius OF
America. A year ago last December the
President of the United States sent mes
y sage to Congress. In that message he
Y said: 81 speak not of forcible annexation,
because that is not to be thought of, and
under our code of morality that would be
criminal aggression
1.-The time OF conquest is past said
Napoleon. All Mr.. President Presi-
ident 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 aud aluring as are honor
aud power, lie placed himself and placed
the American people on the stern enduring
= and perpetual rock of righteousness, tha
Tn forcible annexation is not to be thought
s,riQf; under our code of morality that woulC
tthebe criminal aggression. Who shall haul
feehim down? Who shall haul down tn,
ri code? Who shall haul down the Presi
TO dent?"
oout Mr.. II ,ar dwet with emphasis upon the
snl large increase in national expenditure
pr which the policy of expansion would en-
pho tail, placing the amount at $3.50, 000 00t
ionannually. He argued that the adoption o
nig Mr.. Platt's doctrine would reduce wages
tn increase taxation, place armed soldiers OIL
ia. the back of workingmen, and by the act O
yhlaithe government every Americans dignit
Z Bwould be dishOnored and his manhood dis
ngcrowned.
-. al In conclusion Mr.. Hoar said he coul
~ not agree that the lesson of our first hun
~. bred years is that the Declaration of lde
Sees pendence and the constitution are failure
: me and that America is to begin the twentet
orI century where Spain began the sixteenth