The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-23
WORDS OF WISDOM
.roR HOAR's SPEECH ON PHIL
IPPINE QUESTION.
HIS POSITION WELL DEFINED
orp ATTITUDE IN CUBA AND PHIL
IPPINES CONTRAsTED.

noIIars and Thousands of Lives
sacrificed Merely to Establish "a
DesPOtism.
washington, May pa notable con-
.rib,tion to the discussion of the Phil
,nrine question was made in the Sen
arc to-day by Senator Hoar of Massa-
81 ,busetts. His views on the subject
ara we'll understood, but his expression
of them to-day was profoundly inter
4 esting and even impressive. When the
venerable senator began to speak, every
senator at the Capitol was in his seat,
and for the two hours and a half his
Il address consumed, he was accorded the
4 most careful attention, not only by his
q colleagues on the floor, but also by the
people in the thronged galleries.
Mr.. Hoar confined himself closely to
his manuscript. He denounced the at
titude Of the government in the Phil
Il iDpines as one of the most wicked and
foolish chapters in American history
i He urged that the United States should
withdraw from the islands and permit
Il the people there to erect their own gov
i eminent, as had been done in Cuba. He
i sharply arraigned Gen. Funston for
/ the methods he pursued in the capture
of Aguinaldo, and intimated strongly
4 that had the Senate been aware of the
Il facts Funston might not have been
q confirmed in his recent promotion. He
& hoped that as the irrevocable step had
& not been taken by the United States
s. better counsels yet would prevail, and
q that this government would leave the
q Philippines.
q Spontaneous applause swept over the
Senate and the galleries at the con-
& clusion of the speech. Such a demon
n sraton is very unusual on the floor
q of the Senate. So pronounced was it
that the presiding officer called atten-
ton of senators to the rule prohibit
ing any expressions of approval or
disapproval.
81 Mr. Teller of Colorado, delivered a
& speech in the nature of a history of
the legislative proceedings through
which the new Cuban republic was
Il erected. Senator Teller said the ac-
ton of the United States regarding
Cuba was worthy of our great nation,
which in this instance had put aside
4 greed and conquest and had erected
monument among the nations of the
world.
Seeking Eternal Dominion.
Mr. Hoar maintained that this coun-
try is not al war.
You are fighting for sovereignty,
he said. you are fighting for the
principle of eternal dominion over that
people, and that is the only question
in issue in the conflict"
When it had been determined to re-
sort to force in the Philippines, he
said the government took upon itself
the natural consequences of that de-
cision. The result of the conflict of
arms of such a character was inevi
tably that there would be cruelty on
one side and retaliation by cruelty on
the other, and the responsibility rest
ed upon those who made the policy.
The share which it was proposed to
give the Filipinos in the proposed
scheme of government was an admis-
sion that many of them We're fit for
self-government. The United States
was hghting to secure a dependency,
not republic; a government of our
making and not a government of the
hiliplnos' making.
Discussing the testimony taken by
me Philippine Committee, Mr.. Hoar
SAD 1t has contained some pregnant
ADMISSIONS What vindicates that
winch has been done so far is the saw
ing OF the islands from anarchy and
Ihe material benefit conferred upon the
Philippine people. What the fathers
oi the republic said and our century
81 glorious history were appealed to
III VAIN. Their lessons fell upon the
ears OF men dazzled by military glory
and dehrious with the lust of con-
guest"
he compared the situation in Cuba
with that in the Philippines and de-
Mdhded 10 know which was the bet
ter
Contradicts Our Principles.
Senator Hoar recited a chapter of the
history of this country, which he said,
showed that the present policy of the
sNFfnment was in contradiction of the
monroe doctrine. and it was contra
uleuon of the Declaration of Independ-
eAce. II the present way was followed
me declaration of Independence would
E repealed and nothing would be left
vi me Monroe doctrine except the prin-
.ple OF brutal selfishness This gov
al. nHinent had erected a republic in Cuba
5, .u d aespotism in the Philippines. Six
~,LuulIed millions of treasure and ten
bs.ouSdnd American lives have been
rpa53aI 81 in that endeavor. In the
IN IN pplnes the American flag had been
, ,toue me emblem of sacrilege and of
,4 turning of homes and of the horror
me water torture
al NelleNed that our officers in gem
g ai We're humane, but in some cases
"sS nave carried on your warfare with
c, LIN ure of American ingenuity and
OasQllan cruelty"
"hht Our Ideals Have Cost.
"nat have your ideals cost your"
nv MI ed Mr.. Hoar. For the Philip
TD, h. islands you have had to repeal the
h -lal tlon of Independence. For Gu
~ "a you have had to reaffirm and give
anal luStre. For the Philippine ISL
ros you nave had to convert the Mon
sele, 4ioc1rlne into a doctrine of mere
On ,''IeSs For Cuba you have acted
h ana indicated it, In Cuba you
leorf me eternal gratitude of a free
baya In the Philippine Islands you
on we hatred and sullen submission
vrs SupJugated people. From Cuba
elor,." le brought home nothing but
tro5.5 rom the Philippines you have
pst nome nothing of glory"
i1 49, Llle 10 the cruelties committed
bsfs. Fnlllppines, Mr.. Hoar said he
b,s, e1 me American soldiers were as
IA ana humane as ever lived. They
h. zone simply what always would
ggut IN like conditions. The chief
crsst.3 - upon the heads Of thosk who
l'l The conditions.