The Portland daily press., 1900-02-24
AN ELOQUENT CHAMPION
To Cause of Anti
Imperialism.
IOurke Cochran Addresses Meeting
at Paneuil Hall.
Was Accorded a Great
Reception.
His Speech That Of Born
Orator.

Boston, February 23.--hon. ". bourke
9 ockran OF New York sloquently cham
pi onsd the cause Of the q nti-Imperislists
at q mass meeting held In Eaneuil hall
tonight under the auspices Of the Anti
ImpsriaIist lie sgue. Although there were
many In the audience who ware not In
sympathy with the sentiments OF the
speaker. they were { rced to applaud his
orstory and many times he was Obliged
to pause to give the bursts OF applause
full sway.
Former Governor George 5. Boutwell,
Of this state. president of the Anti-Imperi-
alist league. was the presiding officer and
when he appeared upon the platform.
accompanied by Mr.. Cochran and Edward
Atkinson. he was given round Of ap-
plause.
Ex-Gos. Boutwell callsd the meeting
to order and delivered from manuscript
an address of some length which ELECTED
more CT less applause.
This was the case when he declared
that highlands supremacy was passing
away, which Led him to remark that one
might infer that the audience was not
in favor Of an ALL anoe with England.
be called attention to the non-partisan
character Of the meeting and declared
their sole purpose was to defeat
imp riaIism. At the conclusion OF his
speech he introduced Hon. W. Bourk.
Cochran. who was accorded great reoep-
tion.
His speech was that OF born orator
and was treat, even to those who
differed from his conclusions. When he
declared that he would rather "ten thou
sands times be traitor with Edm unds
and Sherman and Hosr and Boutwell,,
than q traitor wlth-wsn say, Hanna.
the applause was terrific.
MIR. Cocl.ran's reference to the labor
ing men and his statement that "the
badge OF nobility In this country ought
not to be the knspsack. but the dinner
PAIL" was another sentiment that found
instant approval from the audience.
Upon being introduced, Mir. Cochran
saids
"No person who has enjoyed the bless
ings OF liberty and constitutional govern
ment can visit the sacred PR clncts Of It's
cradle without bang deeply impressed
with the character Of the peopls on whose
virtues 1t rests.
"I am grstiGsi beyond measure to be
invited to contributs feeble voice TO
the great principles which inspired
voices have proclaimed from this hall
now more than q century"
Continuing, he said:
COCHRAN'S SPEECH.
Nobody can deny that the establish
ment of a colonial empire by this rspub-
lilo would work radical change in our
political institutions. Men may differ as
to whether this change would be salutary
or pernicious, but all agree that 1t will
be change an expansion as its support
ers contsnd, leading through profitable
conquest TO glory crowned heights-a par
version as Its opponents believe. leading
through proftless Tyranny to hopeless
ruin.
Had the people of the Philippine Is-
lands submitted quietly to be Transferred
like mercantile assets, the colonial empire
would now be an established fast, and
the policy known as American for a GEN.
fury would have been abandoned CON-
oletely and irrsvocaby. The American
people might present the subversion Of
their political IS stem. but they would be
poverls ss to prevent 1t. 1he ancient
constitution might be memory to cher
ish, IL would no longer be a possession to
defend. But the refusal of the Filipinos
To ratify by peaceful delivery the sale Of
them lives and the failure of the United
States army to subdue their resistance
have frustrated all attempts to forestAll
the action of the people on this QUESTION
of vital national concern. To his ever
lasting credit be 1t said, the American
soldier has not proved as effective for the
Of despolism as hs has tesn
irresistible In the deiepss of liberty.
The decision of this moE4entons issue
is reserved for the ballot box, and hap
PLY the course of events has operated TO
throw such flood Of light upon Ii that
every voter can see just what IL Involves
Through the wstcaful favor OF Proyi-
dencs the harvest has been revealed be-
fore the seed has hsen committed TO the
ground.
Until very rece ntly discussion of this
policy mas been en- DAfraesSu ana coniuse1
by the impenetrabie obsourity which sur
rounded IL. Its supporters refused to de.
fine 1t themselves whils- they resented and
repudiatsd every definition attempted by
others. Imperialism has always been q
form of piracy, but piratioal craft sal
dom display their true colors while In
sight OF civilization. This imperialism
OF ours while 1t remained under exami-
nation by the American people, tried TO
assume every appearance Of an expedition
tor the conversion OF sinners The crew
used the language OF the hymnRl, al
though the stridsnoy of thsir voices and
gestures suggested the boarding gang
rather than the choir. They concealed
the weapons OF violence under the garo
Of religien-a few Of whose mi ssionariss
tney had deooysd on board. When the
younger and more iHpat emit showed a
disposition 10 cast of aiFguiss and to
appear In the usual equipment of their