Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-01-19
CONCERNING sells.
America the First Nation TO Rocognil
Their Patriotic Services.

CONCERNING SPIES.
America the First Nation to Recognize
Their Patriotic Services.
Is the service of a spy honorablee 1t
certainly can not be set down as al
ways dishonorable, since some men
who have performed it have been re-
garded as in the highest degree worthy
Of honor. Nathan Hale. Of Connecti-
cut, an American patriot OF the high
est character, volunteered, after WASH
ington's defeat on Long Island, to go to
the mainland and seek information OF
the strength, plans and situation OF
the enemy. Hale was brave young
officer, and had distinguished himself
by dashing and brilliant service.
Probably he had no liking for the
work OF a spy; but it was enough for
him that his commander desired a
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
were: 81 only regret that have but
one life to lose for my country. "
The virtues and bravery OF Hale
alone would have invested the service
of the spy with considerable degree
of honor, even if there had not been
many other spies whose work had been
almost, If not quite, as brave. But
there is no doubt thatthe duty OF y
spy is commonly regarded as in some
sense dishonorable, even by those who
take advantage of it.
Vattel, the author of the Law OF
Nations" says that ga man OF honor,
who would not expose himself to die
by the hand OF the common execu-
toner, ever declines serving as a spy;
he considers it beneath him. as il sell
dom can be done without some kind OF
treachery. A sovereign, therefore,
can not lawfully require such service
of subjects, except, perhaps. in some
singular case, and that of the last i'm
portance."
Following this idea, the French have
always had certain repugnance to
spies, even their own. The story is
told that, at the time of Napoleon l., a
French spy was charged with making q
plan of the Notifications of May.
ence. When he arrived al
that city, he found the German
garrison expecting the arrival of al
English General. The spy was able tC
speak the English language perfectly
well, and it occurred to him that il
would be an excellent plan for him tC
impersonate this English General. He
carried out his plan so skilfully tina
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 thu
Notifications, and given every item o
information that he wanted. When HI
had seen and taken note of every thing
he disappeared, and returned to Napo
Icons headquarters His information
proved Of great service to his country
and It was proposed to the Emperor tC
decorate the man with the cross o
the Legion of Honor.
No, indeed" said Napoleon. q
did not establish the Legion of Honor
to reward services of that kind" Blu
he gave the spy five thousand dollars
in money.
In opposition to the doctrine lait
down by Vattel and Napoleon, it ma!
be urged that the very possibility o
dishonorable death, and the knowledg,
that a spy's service may be regarded
as "beneath a man of honor" ma.
render the voluntary performance o
this duty more an act of bravery than
the most daring service on the battle
field. The soldier has the rush ant
excitement of battle to spur him on t,
brave deeds; the spy has before hin
the possibility of an ignominious death
He must meet peril alone, and in colt
blood. The soldiers brave servic
may be the result of a sort of physica
courage, while that of the spy must b
the result of moral courage.
AS America has honored spy in tn
person of Nathan Hale, it is distin
guished as the first nation to institut
full trial by court-martial of the spie
of any enemy. Previous to this, it ha
been customary to send spies to tn
gallows, as Nathan Hale was sent
merely upon the order of con
mander-in-chief.- Youths Companion