Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-05-17
FREE spEEcH NOT TREASON.
The American People 40 not Approx,
or Mcklnlsy's '"Ben-V"Ient
Assimilation"


Assimilation"
President Mckinley wanted the
Fiipinos 80 ardently that he paid
Spain S20,0CO,O,O for them, His pur-
pose was, as he himself assured the
world 10y u proclamation, benevolent
ly to assimIla5e hen. Vi course he
could do nothing else, because there
is h provision i'll the stat utes OF the
United States against making them
or any body else slaves. Benevolent
assimilation III effect takes the form
OF buichery. \ dead Filipino is d
benevoIertly assiiIllated Filipino
There are fellow cit z9ns of William
Mckinley who do not like the situa-
ton, al have no hesitancy in maxi
ing their opinion public. We are as
surcd that the cabinet are seriously
considering what in the old Roman
and imperial days was called lese
maj .sly. We are assured turtle r
that what the President has dei led
to do with the people who oppose is
not yet known, bat it will not he sur
prisIng il warning in the shape OF Il
mt ssage will reulInd free critics that
there IL II serions law against treason
which will Ue ell forced If Lhere is any
FUR her attempt 10 tamper with the
men at the front. Free disc ,Issiun Of
Villa u Mex uley's use of American
millions to purchase b'Own men at
the aIItip,' des is described as alam-
perInR with The men ut the front"
We may feel reas pnably sure that the
Presl Ien', sM OIL as he Is 10 support
the cOnstIlu ION, hoping. as he does
that he may he rec .ecte Chi t MIs.
lstrate II year hence, will not be I'M
mindful II certain provisions III the
law. Que is that Consres shall pass
no law abridging frea speech, another
Is ii lucid definition of TREASON. which
shall consist only 1T le,ymg war
against the United States or of adj
herring 10 her enemies, giving them
aid and comfort. Incidentally, there
are o"Icr provis ons that the Presi.
dent must observe. He cannot clan
cltiznns OF the United States who 90
not agree with him INTO Fort L.fa,
ellie or any other stronghold of the
United Stat, but he must proceed,
unless he suspend the writ of la
beas corpus, I'D due accordance with
the law. No conviction for treason
can be had UNI, IS TN the testimony of
TWO Witnesses To the tame overt act,
and 1t will hardly he contended that
de c'aratIoD that it was IL monstrou,
ms axe to pay 5000 20 On for lO,UnU..
Quot people and "a them tor targets
Is reasonable act.
Criticisms of President Mckinley
Is not treason. 1t is not even a stat
utory offence for while at common
law 1T is IN often 81 to libel the Gov.
ernment constItu tioDal systems have
ignored this provision rs incor sistent
with the genius OF free institutions.
MIR. Mckinley is shrewuer than
John Adams who served but a single
term rs Chief Mag istrate. The il.
itlal triumph of Democracy in the
Republic grew out OF the tyrapnons
abs'lrdlty OF the federals of John
Adan's time, who insisted upon the
passage and the rgoIou4 enforce.
ment of drastic alien and sedition
laws, since then it has not been pouu.
lar to talk as MckInlcy's friends are
now talking. IL the administration
should assume tina, the citizen of fine
. United Statcs who will not duu,blv
aS'eht I" all that is going Tor ward IN
the Philippines shall be- subject To
marsh treatment there will he such
benevolent assimilation Of the Nc.
h'nloy administration next wear as
Will destroy it. Mckinley will me
spnred further worry about expansion
and imperialism. For him the ranv
season will set in with venueance
and instead Of dining with comsor,