Imperialism Hostile to Liberty

In the speech given by Carl Schurz in Chicago, October 18, 1899 he demands that the public binds together and does not allow the United States to take an imperialist's role in the world. He lectures that:

"The United States has always protested against the the doctrine of international law, which permits the subjugation of the weak by the strong. A self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people. The United States cannot act upon the ancient heresy, that might makes right."

This country could actually use a speech like this one today. The Iraq War we are in now shows how the United States (or more accurately, the leaders of the United States) has turned their backs on their beliefs a hundred years ago. The line that stuck out the most was the second one about the unwilling people. It is similar to the cliche, you cannot help someone who does not want to be helped. We have had a long history of helping countries in need, but where did we cross that thin line?