The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-18
DISCUSSED BY Mr.. HOAR
The Senator Gives His Views on the
Philippine Question.
He Replies 10 n suggestion and Pro-
poses a. Substitute for What He
Terms the ImperinIistic Policy Of
the Government-An Appeal for
Independence of the Islands.

The feature of yesterdays session in
the Senate was the speech of Senator Hoar
in opposition to the rentention of the
Philippine Islands. It's delivery occupied
three hours and ten minutes, and its c.ose
was followed by a storm Of handclapping
in the galleries, so spontaneous and de-
termined that the presiding officer, Mr..
Frye, recognized tine futility of interier-
ence, and simply let it wear itself cut.
When all was quiet he delivered the
usual lecture to the galleries.
Senators of both parties had listened to
the speech from opening to close with aIpa-
rently very great interest and appre cation,
and there we're more of them in their
seats at the peroration than there were
at the cxordum. Former Senator Saer-
man and Governor McMilIin of Tennessee
heard parts of the speech
The speech was all in type. and most of
it was read from printed slips, but some
portions of it were delivered OIL
hand and with much fervor and Vigor.
Before beginning his remarks Mr. Hear
requested that. on account, Of the state of
his health he be not interrupted, and said
that when he concluded he would be gled
that might be asked.
Retrospective View.
Mr.. Hoar began his speech as follows:
''Mr. President: When. on the sth of
July, 1895 less than two years ago, the
lamented Vice President declared the ses
sion OF the Senate at an end, the people
of the United States were at the high
water mark of prosperity and glory. No
other country on earth, in all history, ever
saw the like 1t was an American pros
perity ard an American glory.
I'VE we're approaching the end of great
century From thirteen States we had be-
come forty-ive States. From 100000
people We had become S0.0O0,GC0. An
enormous foreign commerce. promising 10
grow TO still vaster proportions in the nc ar
future. was thrown into insigrifcan by
an internal commerce almost passing TIE
capacity of numbers to calculate. Our
manufactures. making their way past hos
tile tariffs and fiscal regulations. were dis
placing the products of the greatest manu-
featuring nations in their ov-n marke IS.
South of US, from the Rio Grande to CaIe
Horn. our Monroe Doctrine had ban;shei
from the American continent the powers
of Europe; Spain and France had retired:
monarchy had taken its leave; and the
whole territory was occupied by republics
owing their freedom to US. forming their
institutions on our example. Our flag
known and honored throughout the earth,
was welcomed everywhere in friendly ports
and foated everywhere On friendly seas.
We were the freest. richest, strongest na-
tion on the face of the earth-st. ong N
all the elements of material strength.
stronger still in The justice and liberty on
which the foundations of our empire was
laid. Rich in all material wealth, We
were richer still in a noble history and in
those priceless ideals by which a Republic
must live or bear 20 life.
From all over the country came the
voice Of well-paid labor. dwelling in happy
homes. full of contentment with the pres
ent and OF hope for the ftftre Capital was
seeking new investments on all sides. Our
domestic market. rescued from foreign ir-
yasicn. WIS our own. Foreign markets
were opening. The balance of trade was
on our side. The product of American in
dGstry was carried abroad on an over
whelming and increasing tide"
Mr.. HOar then told of the feeling OF the
people CT the country when the war had
closed, describing the glory of American
achievements in both hemispheres. and
said:
1T was not that we had beaten Spain.
IL was not that I5,O00.000 people had con-
quered 15.000.000. Not that the spirit of
the nineteenth century had been too much
for the spirit OF the fifteenth century Not
that the young athlete had felled to the
ground decrept old man of ninety. 1t
was not that the American mechanic and
engineer ia the machine shop could make
better ships or better guns; or that the
American soldier or sailor had displayed
the same quality in battle that he Rad
shown on every held-at Bunker Hill, at
Yorktown, at Lundy's Lane. at New Or
leans at Buena Vista, at Gettysburg; in
every sea fight on Lake Erie or on the At
lantic. Nobody doubted the skill CT the
American general, the gallantry Of the
American admiral. or the courage of the
American soldier or sailor.
The glory of the war and of the victory
was that it was a war and victory in the
interest of liberty. The American flag
had appeared as a liberator in both hemi-
spheres; when it foated over Havana or
Santiago or Manila, there was written on
Its folds, where all nations could read it,