Evening star., 1900-04-17
APPEAL TO THE PAST
Senator Hoar Relies on History to
Sustain His Contention.
FOR INDEPENDENCE OF FILIPINOS
Territory Acquired to Be Formed
Into States.
OUR COURSE TOWARD CUBA

OUR COURSE TOWARD CUBA
Senator Hoar addressed the Senate at
lergth this afternoon on the question of
retaining the Philippine Islands. He said,
in part:
II do not expect to accomplish anything
for liberty in the Philippine Islands but
through the republican party. Upon II the
fate of these islands for years to come is to
depend. If that party cannot be persuaded.
the case is in my judgment for the present
hopeless. That party will be in power for
the EeXt twelve months. 1t will be con-
t1nued in power for at least four years
thereafter If it were otherwise, what we
do within the next twelve months could
not be undone without the consent of re-
publican Senate. Our majority in the Sem
ate for at least four years is assured; and
if that were doubtful there are democrats
enough committed 10 this expansion policy
to make it sure if the bulk of the republi-
can party determine to continue it.
Il cannot look with any favor upon Mr..
Bryan as an alternativ l cannot believe
that there is anything to hope for from his
election. Upon all other questions than i'm
periaiism he announces no single doctrine,
principle or purpose which has in it any
thing either of prosperity or safety to the
republic. And cannot forget that when it
was attempted to defeat the Paris treaty,
or at least to compel an amendment which
II II had been done, would have put the
Philippine Islands upon the same footing
with Cuba, would have prevented the war
and would have preserved our national doc
trines of liberty and our ancient policy, it
was due to Mr.. Bryan, more than to any
other man after the treaty left the hands
of the President that that attempt was
frustrated. Unless he is much misrepre-
sented, he used all his power and influence
with those of his friends who were ready
to listen to his counsel to secure the ratifi-
cation of the treaty. That ratification in
volved the continuance of the war, which
had then proceeded no further than an un-
authorized outbreak of hostilitieS and an
assumption of sovereignty over an unwiii-
ing people-to be purchased by the United
States-the cause Of years war and ell
the disasters and melancholy history Of the
last twelve months.
Hope Only In Republicans.
Now, 1 do not wish to speak unkindly of
our democratic antagonists. federation
comes with age and experience. i am glad
to recognize cheerfully the patriotic purpose
and the manly qualities of so many of the
leaders the democratic states of the south
have contributed of late to the public SER
vice.
But I cannot forget that the main power
in the democratic party still abides with the
combinations of men who govern the cities
of New York and of Chicago; with the men
who are believers in what seems to me q
dishonest currency, and in a policy that
would bring distress and poverty into the
homes of millions of American workmen;
the men who would undermine the Supreme
Court, and the men who would destroy the
safeguards of property.
Il cannot see, in Mr.. Bryan in the presi-
Dental chair and the Senate and Congress
so controlled, either hope that this policy
of imperialism would be abandoned, or that
any good can come which will compensate
US for the great evil such rule will bring
with 1t. ! am not ready to take the admin
1stration of this country from the party
which for fifty years has been wrong but
once, and commit 1t to the party which for
nifty years has never once been right
Il believe that, If not today or tomorrow
yet at an early day, better knowledge of
of liberty and Justice which still burns in
the hearts of the republican masses in this
country, will bring that party back to the
principles and policy upon which it planted
itself in the beginning.
The Issue.
ave are presented with an issue that can
be clearly and sharply stated as question
of constitutional power, question of inter-
national law, question of justice and
righteousness, or a question of public ex-
pcdicncy. This can be stated clearly and
sharply in the abstract, and it can be put
clearly and sharply by an illustration grow.
ing out of existing facts
Ihe constitutional question is: Has Con-
sress the power, under oar Constitution, to
hold in subsection unwilling vassal states?
The question of international law is: Can
any nation riShtfully convey to another
sovereignty over an unwilling people who
have thrown off its dominion, asserted their
independence, established government of
their own, over whom 1t has at the time no
practical control, from whose territory IT
las been disseized, and which 1t is beyond
Its power to deliver?
The question of Justice and righteous
ness Is: Have We the right to crush and
hold under our feet an unwilling and SUBJ
Ject people whom we had treated as allies,
whose independence We are bound in good
1aith to respect, who had established their
us?
THE question of public expediency is: Is
1t for our advantage to promote our trade
al the cannon's mouth and at the point Of
the bayonet?
All these questions can be nut In n
way of practical illustration by inuuiring
whether we ought to do what we have done
are doing, and mean to do in the case of
Cupa, or what we have done, are doing and
some OF you mean TO do in the case of tho
Philippine Islands.
object of Acquiring Territory.
u admit that the United States may ac-
quire and hold property, and may make
rules and regulations for its disposition.
i admit that, like other property, the
United States may acquire and hold land
1t may acquire 1t by purchase. 1t may ac-
quire 1t by treaty. 1t may acquire 1t by
CONQUEST. And 1t may make rules and
regulations Tor its disposition and govern
mont. however it be acquired
w men there are Inhabitants upon the
Iand SO acquired 1t may make laws for their
government But the question between me
anu az & me sentieInen on the other side is this:
Is this acquisition of territory. of land or
other property. whether gained by pur.
chase conquest, or treaty, a constftutiona1
emo or only means to a CONSTITUTIONAL
END May you acquire. hold and govern
territory or other property as an end for
winch our Constitution was framed. or is II
only means toward some other and fur.
lher @ enu! May you acquire, hold and gov
ern property by conquest, treaty or ~
chase for the sole object of so holding and
governing 1t, without the consideration Of