Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-06
The Imprisonment of Waller.

For several months a citizen of the
United States, John II. Waller, formerly
an American consul'to Madagascar, has
been imprisoned by the French govern
ment. About four months since, he was
tried by court martial in Madagascar
and sentenced TO twenty years impris-
onmeut. lie was conveyed to France,
where he has since been confined.
The trial was farce; the sentence,
evidently a pre- arranged plan. No de-
fense was allowed, the entire proceedings
being an outrage upon justice. 1t was
simply seizure of an American citizen
and after e few hollow forms, condem-
nation to twenty years servitude in a
French dungeon.
The attention of the State Department
was Immediately called to the matter
A feeble request was made of the French
government by the American minister,
for the privilege of an examination OF
the records of the trial. This request,
to the present time, has been refused.
And here the case practically rests, the
officials of the State Department, during
the interval, announcing time and again
that no further action would be taken,
that Waller would receive no govern
ment aid.
1t is recognized principle of Inter-
national law that Nation shall demand
and secure fair and open trial with
every opportunity of defense for its citi-
zens, wherever they may be. In Wal
ler's case not only was every particle of
this principle violated, but TIE French
government has refused even an exami-
nation of the records of the trial.
Further, Waller declares his innocence
of any crime and his declarations are
supported by all obtainable evidence.
Again, whatever the alleged offense,
Waller was residing upon the island of
Madagascar, over which our government
does not recognize the authority of the
French. In the face of all this the Ad-
ministration pocketed the insult of re-
fusal of its just request, and left Waller
to rot in prison.
The meekness and cowardice displayed
by the Administration in its failure to
insist upon the production of the trial
records, the very least that could haye
been asked, is disgraceful and humillat-
ing. Without being influenced by any
partisan spirit, it can be said that under
any but Cleveland Administration the
refusal to promptly grant the simple re-
quest that was made would have been
quickly followed by a strong demand for
the release of Waller, and to-day, in
stead of being in French dungeon, he
would undoubtedly have long since been
free man.
The American press is deeply aroused
over the affair, and in response to its de-
mands, the Administration has an
nounced that it will again take up the
case. Whatever may be the outcome,
the fact remains that Waller has already
remained in prison for four months,
llciu JllO pCllOl
its simple duties in a manner that an
outrage of this magnitude calls for, he
would either have secured his prompt
release or fair and honest conviction of
a crime. The refusal of the French Gov
ernment to allow examination of the rec
ords, shows that these records would un-
doubtedly offer no justification for the
imprisonment Of Waller. The next step
should be firm demand, not for the rec
ords, the time for such demand has
passed, but for the unconditional release
of the prisoner.
These displays of weakness in aban-
doning our rights and privileges great
and small without even a protest, is pain
fully frequent under this Administration.
The abandonment of Waller was not only
weakness but rank cowardice. That the
Administration made prompt move in
the first stage of the case, shows that it
appreciated its duty iu the MATER, and