New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
A CALIFORNIAN SECEDES'
RASH ACT OF MAJOR HOWE ON HIS
WINTER ISLAND POSSESSION.

Fr RASES BIS ACTION ON THE DfNlAAhhlio'>
OF rSnrrrSpExcr-HE Is WILLING TO
ARBrTRATE TO SAVE SECRETARY
SHERMAN TROUBLE.
= San Francisco March 5.--Edward Everett Hale
N The Man Without Country" has drawn
. nowerf,il picture of the fate Of man who re-
nounced his country Despite the remorse when
n, Hale pictures as the portion of his hero. a
Californian has just followed the example OF
lieutenant Nolan in seeding from the Union.
Wis name is Major William o. Howe. and the
cause O. his peculiar action is his deep resent
,osnt over the recent reelection of Senator Marx
Hanna IN Ohio. He holds that the success OF
,,,o nv what he calls corrupt means. Is an
insult to every American. and on the strength OF
the declaration Of Independence he argues That
he has a perfect right to secede from the country
tnr,ne the rule of the present Administration
t5e has sent a formal letter Of secession 70 Sec
re,arv Sherman. and has also proposed plan
NJ arbitration; but the Grand Army post OF
oakland 10 which he belongs, on March tried
hin, nv court martial and expelled him for
treason.
Major Howe would be called by most people
q crank. hut he says tina: he glories In the utie'
O. II fits John Brown and Lincoln and other
National heroes. He served during the war ana
was wounded seven times. but though honorary
discharged he has been unable secure a pension
and this failure has embittered him FOR sew
e,al wears with his wife and several children ne
has led kind Of nomadic existence on winter
Island. in Susun Bay which opens into san
Francisco Harbor. His oldest son carries on
nr,nt,ny Office IN Oakland and to 1t the rather
makes FREQUENT visits The island. however
,,,,, hin, nc home. as ne feels more independ-
ent on IT than on the mainland HIS frienos
saw that for months he has been greatly aroused
over the effort OF Hanna to retain his seat IN
the United States Senate. and he has declared
that II Hanna won he would not remain cl'i-
zsr q, This Government II was in the nature Of
a surprise however. even TO his frlends "heh
thew learned that on January % he had sent a
formal notification 70 Secretary sherman OF his
withdrawal from the Government. This notif-
cation read as follows:
Island Home, Cal. January % 1898.
II John sherman. Secretary Of State. Washing
Ton, J.. G. -, ,.,
Sir: The present Government OF the United
States having become odous to every true Amer
Ican citizen I feel notwithstanding the FACT that
] have personal grievances. varied ana man!
which l have borne with heroic forutude ana
without complaint. that the elevation or Mark
Hanna 10 the United States Senate by question
able means Is a public outrage which no Amerl-
can patriot can tolerate in justice 10 humanity.
Therefore, the contamination OF more pelle't
Government in the future demands more Wig
orcus protest than mere talk; and as yplcaI
representative OF my ancestors VINO WIN 'neI'
lives nrot 9sted against such manifest injustice,
J beg leave TO tender my resignation as sun
tect Of the powers at Washington and 10 be-
come an independent subject Of my own DOMAIN
The little strip of earth in which,l ho'u an IN
terest so far as | am concerned. beg TO Win
draw from the Administration. and TO nave IL
considered no longer as subject to the National
jurisdiction.
p6
aside from those already mentioned. which must
he obvious to every liberty loving person In this
WILLIAM O. HOWE.
rbsr.,sno question of Major Howe's perfect
ROOD faith IN this communication. He actually
appears 10 believe that he can secede as an In
dviauaI from this Government and that when
heyretires TO his Island home he Is practically
independent If the United States. although the
island belongs to the State as much as the maih-
land and the settlers on 1t pay taxes The Major
fears that his action NAV embarrass Secretary
Sherman az would the secession of State, 50
he proposes 70 refer the matter TO arbitration.
Major Howe has had lively time with Lyon
Pos, % the 6 A. r. of Oakland 10 which he
belonged The officers Of he post cited him TO
appear before them on March ! 10 show cause
why he should not he expelled from the order
because OF "disloyalty 10 the United STATES ana
Violation OF the oath and pledges gwen al 'he
time OF his muster into the post Howe ala not
appear in person but was represented D! couh-
rel and defended his ''nalienahle right 10 Sc
cession from the Government" That ne mas also
an eye upon the main chance is shown by inc
q 'act that a Wartime fomapce, enbodYlhe ms
own adventures his hard fortune in trying 10
get pension and his recent secession VIII De
eramstized and presented throughout tho STATE
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FATHTP 'DOTGHERTY'S PLAN.