The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-14
A rlonstrous Position.

The New York Sun of yesterday con-
tanned an editorial which should be
read by every American. 1t seems
that a Mr.. Watkins. of Albany, recent
~ wrote to Attorney General Harmon
a letter inquiring If Americans might
lawfully express in public meetings
their sympathy with the patriots or
Cuba. The attorney general in his re-
ply. while forced to admit the absence
of any law to prevent such meetings,
went out of his way to say that "inas-
much as we are at peace with Spain
and have a treaty with her, it behooves
all American citizens who have respect
for the laws and obligations of their
country. and regard for its honor, to be
neutral in word as we'll as in Decd
The attorney general added: Taking
such action as you mention in your
letter q. e., holding a public meeting)
would, in my Judgment, be discourteous
in the highest degree to friendly
power, and tend to embarrass and OBJ
struct the government of the United
States"
Concerning this monstrous PROPOSE
ton the Sun properly says: 1T ap-
pears, then, If We are to receive with
anything but amaZement and contempt
this dictum of the attorney general,
that 1t Is the duty of an American cti-
zen, when he beholds another people
following the example of his fathers
and struggling for independence, to be
neutral even in word, and stifle every
expression of good will, lest he seem
discourteous to the oppressor and OBJ
struct or embarrass his own govern
ment, which turns a deaf ear to the
cry Of the oppressed. Such a doctrine
could only be preached by man gross
ly ignorant OF our own republics obll-
cations, and blind to the innumerable
precedents which rebound to the honor
of our people. What would have be-
come of us in the revolutionary war
had this base doctrine been acted on
at Versailles, and had the voice OF
Lafayette and his fellow enthusiasts
been smothered before they evoked a
storm of sympathy that swept even
despotic government into alliance with
the thirteen colonies! We were at peace,
and we had treaties with France In 1888.
but what would Jefferson have said to
the assertion that Americans ought to
seal their lips when Frenchmen strove
in their turn to grasp the liberty which
\ A. tn oft toi nj Wa
at. peace with Spain, and we had
treaties with her when Rufus King,
from his post OF minister In England.
urged Alexander Hamilton to arouse
the American people to undertake the
deliverance of the Spanish-American
communities. Again, we were at peace
with Spain, and we had treaties with
her in March. 1922, when President
Monroe sent his memorable message to
congress, advising that we should
recognize the independence Of the in-
surgents in many Spanish-American
countries. We were at peace with
Austria and with all the German and
italian governments in 1913; but what
would then have been thought of At
torney General 1rarmon's doctrine,
which would have forbidden us to ut
ter, as we did utter in public meetings
and through the press, our unanimous
and ardent sympathy with the Ger
man, Italian, and Hungarian revolt
tlonists!
attorney General Harmon has dis
graced himself. ana he has disgraced
the Cleveland administration by the
letter in which he seeks to gag the in
stinctive fellow feeling Of Americans
for other peoples combating for liberty.
Are we to heed the detestable injunc-
ton to be neutral even in word, when
our neighbors, CALLED by intolerable
tyranny. are fighting the good fight for
freedom? If we were capable Of such
neutrality we could not read. our fa-
thers' record without flush Of shame"
Dare the Cleveland administration
stand by this insufferable impudence
Of one Of its cabinet members? ~
There Is nothing in common between
this nation and Spain. There Is much
In common between It and Cuba. On
the one hand is oppression. long abuse
of power. perfidy and false conduct; on
the other. an honest uprising for in
Alisnabls rishts. It d thin kind Of