The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-03-14
SPIEs:oF WAR.
Discussion as to Whether Ie Is an Honor
able Undertaking.,

discussion as to Whether It Is an Honor
able Undertaking.
Is the service of a spy in war hon
orable? It certainly cannot be set
down as always dishonorable, since
some men who have performed it have
been regarded as in the highest degree
worthy of honor. Nathan Hale, of
Connecticut, an American patriot of
the highest character volunteered,
after Washington's defeat on Long
Island, to go to the mainland and seek
information of the strength, plans and
situation of the senemy. Hale was
brave young officer, and had distin-
guished himself by dashing and brill
liant service. Probably he had no lik-
ing for the work of spy; but it was
enough for him that his commander
desired brave and prudent man for
the service. He volunteered, and was
accepted
Hale crossed to the mainland In
safety, obtained full knowledge of the
situation, and set out to return to
Washington's camp. He was discov-
cred by the enemy and hanged in New
York by the order of Sir William
Howe, without trial His last words
We're: Il only regret that l have but
one life to lose for nay country"
The virtues and bravery of Hale
alone would have invested the service
OF the spy with a considerable degree
of honor, even if there had not been
nyother spies whose work had been
almost, if not quite, as brave.
Bat there is no doubt that the duty
of 8 spy is commonly regarded as in
some sense dishonorable, even by those
who take advantage of it.
Vattel, the author of tss Law of
Nations. says that "a maza of honor,
who would not expose himself to die
! by the hand of the common execu-
/ tloner, ever declines serving as a SPY:
! he considers it beneath him, as it sell
dom can be done without some kind Of
treachery. A sovereign, therefore.
cannot lawfully require such a service
of subjects, except, perhaps, in some
singular case, and that>of the last ina-
portance."
Following this idea, the French
have always had a certain repugnance
to spies, even their own. The story is
told that, at the time of Napoleon I, a
French spy was charged with making
plan of the Notifications of Mayence
When he arrived at that city, he
found the German garrison expecting
the arrival of an English general.
The spy was able to speak the English
language perfectly well, and it ,oc-
Cured to him thatit would be an .ex-
cellent plan for him to impersonate
this English general.
He carried out his plan SO skillfully
that no one suspected that he was not
genuine English officer; and as the
English were in alliance with the Ger
mans he was taken through all the
Notifications and given every item of
information that he wanted.
When he had seen and taken note of
everything, he disappeared, and re-
turned to Napoleon's headquarters.
His information proved of great service
to his country, and it was proposed to
the emperor to decorate the man with
the cross of the Legion of Honor.
INC, indeed" said Napoleon. 81
did not establish the Legion of Honor
to reward services CT that kind"
But he gave the spy $1,000 in
money.
In opposition to the doctrine laid
down by Vattel and Napoleon, it may
be urged that the very possibility .oi
dishonorable death, and the knowledge
that spy's service may be regarded as
beneath man of honor" may rem.
der the voluntary performance Of this
duty more an act CT bravery than the
most daring service on the battlefield.
The soldier has the rush and excite
ment of battle to spur him ON to brave
deeds; the spy has before him the pos
sibility of an ignominious death. He
must meet peril alone, and in cold
blood. The soldiers brave service
may be the result of a sort of physical
courage, while that of the spy must
be the result of moral courage.
AS America has honored a spy, in
the person of Nathan Hale, it is dis
tirguished as The first nation to insti-
tute full trial by court martial of the
spies of an enemy. Previous to this,
it had been customary to send spies to
the gallows as Nathan Hale was sent
merely upon the order of q com
mander in chief. - Youths Com
panion.
De 0uincey's Difference.
De Quincy suffered from indiges-