ers of Europe in
the plundering of China, in the division of Africa; if we
are to quit our own to stand on foreign lands; if our commerce
is hereafter to be forced upon unwilling peoples at the cannon's
mouth; if we are ourselves to be governed in part by peoples
to whom the Declaration of Independence is a stranger; or,
worse still, if we are to govern subjects and vassal States,
trampling as we do it on our own great Charter which recognizes
alike the liberty and the dignity of individual manhood, then
let us resist this thing in the beginning, and let us resist
it to the death.

"I do not agree with those gentlemen who think we would wrest
the Philippine Islands from Spain and take charge of them
ourselves. I do not think we should acquire Cuba, as the
result of the existing war, to be annexed to the United States."

I reinforced this protest as well I could. But I went on
to state the reasons which had actuated me in favoring the
measure, and that my unconquerable repugnance to the acquisition
of territory to be held in dependency did not apply to that
case.

I cited the Teller resolution, and declared that it bound
the American people in honor, and that its principle applied
to all Spanish territory. I maintained that there was nothing
in the acquisition of Hawaii inconsistent with this doctrine.
I think so still.

I was bitterly reproached by some worthy persons, who I suppose
will always find matter for bitter reproach in everything
said or done on public matters. They charged me with speaking
one way and voting another. But I am content to leave the
case on its merits, and on the record.

The war went on. The feeling of the country was deeply excited.
President McKinley made his famous Western journey. He was
greeted by enthusiastic throngs. The feeling in that part
of the country in favor of a permanent dominion over the Philippine
Islands was uttered by excited crowds, whom he addressed from
the platform and the railroad cars as he passed thorough the
country. But the sober, conservative feeling, which seldom
finds utterance in such assemblies, did not make itself heard.

The President returned to Washington, undoubtedly in the honest
belief that the country demanded that he acquire the Philippine
Islands, and that Congress should govern them.

I have never attributed publicly, or in my own heart, to
President McKinley any but the most conscientious desire
to do his duty in what, as the c