The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-23
DEFINED AS SEDlTION.
Persons Have Been Sending Unlawful Mes
sases TO Volunteers.
MEN IN PHILIPPINES URGED TO REVOLT
Gables Intercepted by the Censor
and Given to Otis, Who sent Them
TO Washington.

Washington, April 22.-Persons who
have sent messages to the volunteers In
the Philippines urging them to revolt
against their commanders and to demand
immediate muster out have committed the
grave crime OF sedition. That, at least. is
the opinion of the president and his adj
visers. Many such messages, 1t Is al
legged, have been forwarded by cable, and
these have come into possession OF the
censor at Manila, who turned them over
to General Otis. and he In turn has for
warded them to Washington.
The president and his advisers have con-
sidered them carefully, have made an ex-
animation OF the laws governing treason
and sedition and they say are convinced
that by such communications. which are
calculated to incite the volunteers to mu-
tiny. their authors are clearly within the
purview of those statutes.
1t Is not the purpose of the admlnistra-
ton to haul the senders OF the messages
up for punishment at once. But they say
such communications must stop, or those
who attempt to forward them will be
brought under the application OF the law.
The administration says II is endeavor-
ing to muster out and bring home the
Philippine volunteers as rapidly as possl-
BILE, but that there are physical limitations
to the speed with which this may be done.
Meantime the president says he does not
propose permitting those soldiers TO be
melted TO mutiny and spurred to disgrace
the flag they have been serving so vail
iantly.
Washington, April ga cabinet officer
Is authority for the absolute denial OF the
story that the cabinet yesterday discussed
the alleged conspiracy in this country to
weaken the United States in the Philip
pines. Secretary Long, in answer to a
direct inquiry. said the statement was
erroneous. that the cabinet had not been
charging any person or set OF persons IL
the United States with treason. That was
as far as he cared to make any statement
Inquiry develops that the probable basis
for the story is some exchanges of opin-
ions that have been taking place, MOI
among cabinet officers. but among the
close friends of the administration evel
since the submission of the peace treaty
to the senate for It's action to the genera
effect that the delays which were beng
interposed to speedy action upon the trea
ty were harmful. 1t was said that grea
announcement had been given to Aeui
naldo by the attitude OF the opponents c
the presidents policy among American
public men.
Since the conclusion Of the peace nego
tiatlons and the exchange OF ratification
there have also been some expressions o:
the part OF adherents of the presidedt
policy as to the ill-eifect upon thu pubil
and soldiers not actually at the front. ;.
frequent publication OF letters from dis
satisfied volunteers In the Philippines |
was said that the expressions were rotho
In the nature of regrets than OF C N
plants, but as summed up by cabire
officer. there has been no disposition t
attach blame 10 individuals, but rather t
note radical differences of opinion.