The Lust of Empire; Speech of Hon. George F. Hoar of Massachusetts in the United States Senate, April 17, 1900

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... Now, there is a marvellous resemblance between the condition of the people of the Philippine islands during the last year and that of Spain when she was overrun by Napoleon. The Filipinos who side with Aguinaldo are thoroughly as fit. for self-government as were the people of Spain. If Admiral Dewey be right in comparing them with the people of Cuba, they were far fitter. Napoleon undertook to give them what he called a good government. The story of the Spaniards' brave resistance has been told better than any living lips can tell it by the greatest of English poets since Milton, William Wordsworth. This is his description of the feeling of the Spaniards, and this is his description of the resistance of the Spaniards: Hunger, and sultry heat, and nipping blast From bleak hilltop, and length of march by night Through heavy swamp, or over snow-clad height–These hardships ill-sustained, these dangers past, The roving Spanish bands are reached at last, Charged, and dispersed like foam; but as a flight Of scattered quails by signs do reunite, So these–and, heard of once again,–are chased With combination of long-practised art And newly-kindled hope; but they are fled, Gone are they, viewless as the buried dead: Where now? Their sword is at the foeman's heart! And thus from year to year his walk they thwart, And hang like dreams around his guilty bed. Aguinaldo, as I have said, met our proclamation of December 24 with his proclamation affirming his purpose to resist. He also reissued the decree of June 18, 1898, which I will print with my remarks: DECREE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF LUZON, REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL BOARDS, TO BE PUT IN FORCE THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. To the Philippine Nation: Providence has placed me in a position for the ...