The Yale expositor., 1900-10-19
MASSACHUSETTS, SENATOR
AGAINST BRYAAISM.
No Confidence in a Party that
Denies Self.GOvernment.
The Real Issue Is the Preservation Of
National Financial Honor and Not
Whether AguinaldO Shall
Succeed.
(By Hon. George +. Hoar, United
States Senator.)

States Senator)
am asked to state briefly why l think
anti-imperialists should vote for Presi-
dent Mckinley this fall. There is in my
judgment such thing as imperialism,
and such a thing as anti-imperialism. The
imperialist says the Philippine Islands
are ours The anti-imperialists say the
Philippine Islands belong to the
Philippine people. The imperialists
say we will establish for them the
best government we think they are fit
for The anti-imperalists say they have
right to establish for themselves such
a government as they think good and fit
for themselves.
Now, President Mckinley made the
treaty, and Mr.. Bryan, when its defeat
was assured, came to Washington and
saved it,. These two great political lead
ers, between whom You are to take your
choice, are equally responsible for every
thing that has happened so far. When
the treaty became the law of the land,
the public faith was pledged to pay $40
100000 for sovereignty. over the Philip
pine Islands, and that Congress, and not
the people, should dispose of them here
after. 1t became the constitutional duty
OF the President, until Congress should
act, or declare otherwise to reduce them
TO order and submission. The Supreme
Court of the United States so held long
ago. The only difference up to this point
between President Mckinley and Mr..
Bryan is that President Mckinley be-
lieved he was doing right, belonged to a
party which had always been, as he him
self had been, the champion of political
liberty, in the past, and is right on all
of the other questions that are at stake
in the coming election, aud is fit to be
trusted with all new questions that shall
arise. On the other hand. Mr.. Bryan
thought the whole transaction wrong,
makes some thin and frivolous excuses
for his conduct, and the party with whom
he acts; and the men who surround him
and viii surround him as his counselors
are men who have been the opponents Of
righteousness, equality and civil liberty
always in the past are wrong on all the
other great questions that are at stake in
the present election, and are not, in my
judgment, to be trusted with new ques-
tions, however important or vital, that
are to come up in the future.
In the matter Of Imperialism there has
been little practical difference between
President Mckinley and Mr.. Bryan in
the past. There will be little practical
difference in the future. Mr.. Bryan does
not even promise to use his power as eX-
ecutive and commander-in-chief in call
ing our troops from the Philippines. He
only promises to call Congress together.
He knows very well he cannot command
even the strength of his own party to
undo the mischief which seventeen of his
own followers in the Senate, at his own
instance. wrought when they ratified the
treaty4Messrs. McEnery. McLaurin,
Morgan, Pettus. Sullivan, Allen, Butler,
Harris, Teller, Kyle and Jones (of Ne
vada)-have not changed their minds.
Possibly Mr.. Clay of Georgia and Mr.
Kenney Of Delaware among his associ-
ates have done so. 1t is hopeless, even
IL the Democrats get tie, or even a ma
jority in the Senate, TO expect them to
accomplish anything in behalf of the in
dependence of the Philippine Islands.
In 1896 You regarded Mr. Bryan's cam
paign as passionate crusade of dis
HONOR You said its success would bring
with it not only adversely, but disgrace
Would its success not bring disgrace
now? Mr. Bryan said at Topeka that ii
he were elected the free coinage of silver
should be accomplished before another
presidential election. Secretary Gage
says he can lawfully accomplish it by
executive power alone. Whether Mr.
Gage is right in his construction Of the
powers Of the President under existing
law, ! will not undertake to say. But
will undertake to say that Mr.. Bryan
will not hesitate 60 use that power il he
has the great authority OF Mr.. Gage for
. It's lawfulness. do not believe the man
who promoted the ratification Of the
Spanish treaty means business in this
matter OF the Philippine Islands. But
do believe he means business in the mat
ter of the free coinage of silver, in the
matter OF free trade. and in his purpose
to reconstruct the Supreme Court He
means bad Business. He means business
which will overthrow prosperity and en-
barrass manufacture: which will reduce
wages and destroy credit: which will de-
baticll the currency and render the stand
ard Of value uncertain; which win impair
the obligation Of contracts and the value
OF savings which will hurt our credit and
break our faith. All this you believe, as
I do. You said so in 1896 You have
been confirmed in your opinion by every
thing that has happened since. VIII you
support candidate who. If he have his
way. YOU admit will accomplish all these
things. because he and his party give you
an empty promise Of Justice TO 10000.
600 Asiatics, and at the same time threat
en- grievons injustice and wrong to TO-
100000 Americans?
will not vote for a candidate for The
presidency, or help to bring a party into
power who. while they plant one heel on
the forehead OF Booker Washington, and
the other on the forehead Of Robert
Small. wave the flag over Aguinaldo and
Mabini. GEORGE +. HOAX.
Worcester, Mass.