The Arizona sentinel., 1889-01-19
CONCERNING SPIES.
America the First Nation to Recognize
 Their Patriotic Services.

America the First Nation to Recognize
 Their Patriotic Services.
 Is the service of spy honorableP It 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- gut, 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 a 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: 'I 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 that the duty of a 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- tioner, 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, can not lawfully require such a service of subjects, except, perhaps. in some singular case, and that of the last inn 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 l., a French spy was charged with making plan of the Qualifications of May ence. 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 occurred to him that it would be an excellent plan for him to impersonate this English General. He carried out his plan so skilfVlly that no one suspected that he was not a 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 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 to decorate the man with the cross of the Legion of Honor.
 No, indeed" said Napoleon. 'I did not establish the Legion of Honor to reward services of that kind" But he gave the spy five thousand dollars in money.
 In opposition to the doctrine laid down by Vattel and Napoleon, it may be urged that the very possibility of dishonorable death, and the knowledge that a spy's service may be regarded as ''beneath a man of honOr," may render the voluntary performance of this duty more an act of bravery than the most daring service on the battle field. The soldier has the rush and excitement of battle to spur him on to brave deeds; the spy has before him the possibility 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 spy in the person of Nathan Hale, it is distin- guished as the first nation to institute a full trial by court-martial of the spies of any enemy. Previous to this, it had been customary to send spies to the gallows, as Nathan Hale was sent, merely upon the order of com mander-in-chief Youth's Companion.