The San Francisco call., 1898-04-17
THE CAMPAIGN OF TREASON.

H VEN Tn tune Of peace, With no war III sight
 1t is held to be crime to reveal the means o
 - nations defense. in the shape of concealed oatteries, mines, torpedoes and other effective pre- parations, the best o which depends upon these locations being known only to those whose official authority puts upon them the responsibility of de- ense and oHense.
 Benedict Arnold's crime less in the transfer oi his sword tQ the enemy than in revealing to that enemy the means by which Government fortified post might be surprised and taken The potent pas sion reused in France against Captain Dreyfus had for its the charge whether true or false, that he had communicated the French means of defense to Germany.
 The Examiner has printed a chart of the entrance to San Francisco harbor, with the location of its sub marine defenses. Each one is indicated with pre- tended accuracy, and the information being made public, is put within reach of Spain for her use and benefit ii her fleets prvateers this way It is not only criminal act of bad faith, but an act of treason and disloyalty. While 1t is highly probable that the chart IS lie, fake begoten in the innate scoundrelism Of yellow journalism it is an indication or what the country is to expect from the during the war that is to come. paper that would sneak reporter on American man -of-war as
 stoker on her trial trip in order to gain pretended acquisition of knowledge to be used in lying attack upon her construction and efficiency is very natur ally guilty of any form of treason the Government even when the situation is grave and high interests are at stake
 During such paper will bribe and suborn to get at the confidential plans of campaign, the clusons of councils of war, the object of secret petitions land and sea, the policies of the Govern ment and other grave matters the revelation of which embarrasses the administration and costs life and treasure. The course of Hearst's two criminal pa pers and of certain ruling members of the minority in Congress make plain every loyal citizen that ill partisan desperation they hope for the defeat of their country's arms and will contribute to it in order to discred the administration and make poli tics for the fall elections. Ii this judgment seem harsh those whose fragrant conduct and disloyal terances justify it responsible for it.
 To make defeat probable they howed for war and tried by lying to lash public opinion into fury at time when the country was so unprepared that it would have inevitably faced six months of defeat, making unsuccessful war without ships, guns, com missary, transports or powder. At the time it would have had the cost of offensive preparation more than doubled
 But that is what the calamity howlers wanted They had shouted commercial disaster until nature out of her bounty had proved them liars Unable to
  upon their country in time of peace they were willing to bring 1t by plungng 1t into war unprepared The President restrained them until he could gain time to prepare the nation. He has created navy by the purchase of ships abroad which could not have been bought during war, because their sale would have violated international neutrality under the rule we established in the Alabama case He has gained time for the making Of powder and ammunition of cannon, small arms, tents equipments and trans ports. He has organized the commissary and with almost incredible energy has put the country on war footing. His requtal for this service is in vile abuse lying misrepresentation heartless islander and false ascrpton of motives which would have been dsgraceful to Nero at the zenith of his infamy
 When his preparations are complete these ill., wishers of their country trying to make them inadequate by challenging Continental Europe to combat by the form of Congressional declaration He kept the issue where 1t might have been decided by victory in single action at arms against Spain They are trying to shift 1t to grounds where its de- cison by such action is hardly possible and where it may be met by the most formidable alliance of mod ern times
 He may be compelled to fight on the ground die tated by these calamity howlers and if so they stand ready to hamper him by every means that falsehood and hypocrisy to destroy public confidence and bring national calamity The Examiner Is worthy organ of such combi- nation and its early entry upon the field as spy for the enemy is in line with their policy