The times., 1899-05-03
Mr. Atkinson Shut Off From
Aiding the Enemy.
Imperative Action Taken by the
Postmaster General.
All Anti-Impcrialist League Circu-
lars Destined to the Philip
pines to BE Withheld.

emanating from Edward Atkinson's Anti
Imperialistic League.
I This order was sent before the Cab
| met meeting yesterday. although the Post
master General declined to state just
what time ii was sent. 1t has been ap-
proved, however by the President and the
Cabinet. In speaking of the order yester-
day. Mr.. Smith severely condemned At
kinson and his associates who have been
active in propagating principles which are
not approved by the Administration. Ac-
cording to the Postmaster General, Atkin-
son and his friends may be well satisfied
| that they have not already been arrested
on charge Of treason, as, according to the
! legal advisers of the President, they are
liable TO arrest on such charge. Treason
I is an ugly word, but the ADMINISTRATION
feels 1t can safely be applied to those who
attempt to incite the soldiers now fighting
in Manila to rebellion and mutiny. That
Atkinson has not already been arrested is
due, not to any feeling of fear on the part
| of the administration. but because it does
not wish to dignity his actions and utter
ances by prosecuting him for them. Post
master General Smith said: What would
be thought of a Government too weak or
| too impotent to protect itself against the
| attacks of persons like Atkinson? No worse
case of sedition and treason occurred dur
ing the Civil War than that OF this man,
who attempts to stir up our soldiers, fight
| ing for our country, to mutiny, advising
them to cease fighting and to disobey the
! commands of their superior officers. AS a
| lawyer said 10 me, The only person at
fault in this matter is the Attorney Gen.
eral for not long ago arresting these peo-
| pie for treason The Government can no
longer countenance such efforts on the part
! of its citizens. Atkinson can circulate
these documents in the United States all
| but in the Philippines, where they might
possibly incite some few soldiers to riot
ing or mutiny, they cannot circulate
| through the mails. What would be thought
| by the world of government which per-
mits such documents to be circulated
through its own agency? / believe the
Government would have been justified long
| ago in arresting and prosecuting these
men for treason"
And executing them?" was asked.
mo; / am nos prepared to say that"
he replied.
Continuing. Mr.. Smith said there was no
formal order issued, but merely telegram
notifying the postmaster at San Francisco
not to forward any of these pamphlets to
Manila. The method OF ascertaining the
character of the pamphlets was left to his
own discretion. Some of them might slip
through the mails in plain envelopes, but
the Government had a right to open mail
matter under certain conditions, and even
If some of them reached Manila, General
Otis had abundant power to prevent their
| being delivered to the soldiers. Mr.. Smith
declined to say on what statute this action
was based. and also refused to acknowledge
directly that il was taken as a war meas
ure. There is nothing in the postal
statutes dealing with such case, but as
measure OF protection the legal advisers
OF the Government have no doubt of the
right OF the Postmaster General to make
the above order. No trouble is anticipat-
ed with Atkinson and his associates over
the action OF the Postmaster General. If
| they attempt 10 take the matter into the
courts they will find themselves confronted
with charge much more serious than
they have yet met, and the Government
has no doubt of a conviction. No notice
has been sent to Atkinson of the stoppage
of his mail matter, and he will probably
be given none by the department The
| Administration is acting now on the old
| adage that "a word to the wise is suf-
| fcient' and anticipates no further trouble
| from this source.
History of the Law.
The history of the enactment of laws
against treason by the United States dates
back to 1898. when war between England
and France was declared
Public sympathy in this country sided
largely with France and in spite of the
most strenuous efforts on the part of the
Administration, il seemed for a while that
we would become involved in a war with
Great Britain. Our treaty of alliance with
France. which we had negotiated in Feb
ruary. 177S, was found extremely embar-
RAISING by reason of the actions of NJ.
Genet, who had arrived as a Minister to
this country from France, acting under
the provisions OF the treaty of alliance
claiming the right to organize privateering
expeditions and enlist our people in aid of
France. Jefferson and Randolph advised
Washington that the Government with
which the treaty of alliance was nego-
tiated having fallen. we were no longer
bound by il, but in the meanwhile France
was capturing and condemning our vessels
as prizes Of war. The United States, in
the summer of 1897, sent three Commits
sioners to France to treat upon the matter
and arrange for the abrogation of the
treaty and for the negotiation of a new
one to take its place. Talleyrand, how
ever refused to see them publicly as the
representatives Of this country. and would
only through the
means OF his secret agents, and treated
them with scant courtesy, so much so
that they returned home. They represent
ed the condition of affairs to the home
Government, the treaty was abrogated.
preparation for war with France begun,
and Washington was made Commander
in-Chief of the Army.
In 1898, and after the return of our
Ministers from France, DR.. Logan, a be-
neyolent old Quaker. of Philadelphia sail
ed for France as self-appeinted ambas-
sador of peace. On his return he brought
back the report that the new President
of the French Directory had expressed the
warmest friendship for the United States.
and would receive any Minister sent from
this country in manner BETTING the dig
nifty and Independence of our nation Act
ing, however. as DIR. Logan did, without
any authority from this Government, and,
in fact, almost in secrecy, upon his re-
turn. instead of welcome, as he expected.
the Secretary Of State received him with
absolute frigidity, and refused to exam
inc the letters he had brought with him
from abroad. and when he called on
Washington he was received no less cold
ly, and the President strongly condemned
his mission.
The actions of DR.. Logan were laid be-
fore the next Congress. and that body.
on the Goth day of January, 1893, passed
a law making 1t a high misdemeanor for
anyone TO thereafter act in such a manner