Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-29
AN oLp NAN ELOQUENT.

Il is a common habit Of United States
senators to read their speeches. The great
majority Of the arguments made in the
senate are delivered in this way. but Sen
ator Hoar very rarely uses a manuscript
when he addresses the senate. He is a
reTe arkabiy ready and exact speaker.
He never discusses a subject until he has
studied IL thoroughly and few men have
a skill and readiness like his In the use
Of language.
Even his ex-tempore and incidental
speeches are almost invariably models of
English undehled. as we'll as pointed and
cOgent reasoning. There was very general
surprise on the floor and In the galleries
when the venerable Massachusetts senator
rose TO speak last Thursday with a manu-
script in his hand and adhered closely
TO It all the way through.
AS the sequel showed. Senator Hoar
had endeavored in the preparation of this
speech to cover the whole Philippine
question and in the two hours and half
that he occupied he probably came
nearer doing so than any other man could.
He had spoken on the same subject be-
fore. always impressively. often with great
presenting his views on the Philippine
problem had Senator Hoar given such a
superb Illustration of his strength as
debater and HIS rare quality as an ora
tor. That effort must be ranked among
the greatest Of the many notable speeches
OF the old man eloquent OF the American
senate. Senator Hoar feels very deeply on
the subject OF this address and has con-
WINGED many OF his fellow countrymen
that Il is at least a great misfortune 20
our country that Il has been placed in
its present attitude toward a people
struggling for liberty.
He deplores also the undeniable fact
that principles on which our govern
ment was founded and which IL has hith-
erto held sacred have been repudiated by
the advocates Of conquest. by some of
them evasively and alphabetically and
by others boastingly and brutalfy; that
traditions which were formally cherished
by all Of our people with pride and affec-
ton are now scored at by many OF them
as unworthy OF imitation by a proud and
aggressive world power; that the decla-
ration OF one OF those shouider-strapped
statesmen who have recently so sorely
afflicted the country that we have out
grown the constitution was received with
applause by an assembIage OF American
citizens; that the Declaration of indie
pendence has fallen into disrepute among
those whose policy flies into its face; that
the Monroe doctrine, which I'm the recent
past we proclaimed 80 proudly has been
thrown 10 the winds, and that we have
taken our place among the nations that
rule by armed might.
There are many striking passages in
this speech which must be classed among
the most notable deliverances in con-
gress during this decade.
Referring 10 the teachings of the IA
theirs of the republic and our century OF
unsuIlied history Senator Hoar said
that these are now appealed to in vain
and that their lessons fall upon the ears
Of men dazzIed by military glory and deli
rious with the lust OF conquest"
The peroration OF this splendid protest
against permanent abandonment of our
old standards Of national justice, national
honor and national glory is said to have
thrilled the senate and the crowded gal
leries as have no other words that have
been uttered in that arena of high debate
In years. It is not surprising that burst
OF applause from senators and visitors
attested the effect OF this great speech.