Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-25
"TREAsONv AsININiTy.


1t is quite evident that the polite
ians at Washington mistake the Amer
lean people for children or fools. The
latest effort of Emperor" Hanna and
his Wall street contingent to silence
criticism of the un-American policy of
the administration is to threaten ac-
ton against prominent opponents of
the Imperial policy of the administra-
ton on the ground of-heaven save the
mark! -Treasoni
This shows an astounding Hannacrat-
ic ignorance of what constitutes the
crime of treason, or else, and what is
more likely, the administration, pre-
suming upon the supposed ignorance
of the people on that point, would 81
lence criticism of it's un-American poll
cies by such silly threats. Assuredly,
as the Republican Pittsburg Dispatch
puts it, 1.-THE President and members Of
his Cabinet know that opposition to
administration policies does not con-
stitute treason and that free speech is
one of the most sacred principles of the
American system"
Indeed, there is much more of trea-
son to the fundamental laws and princi-
pies underlying the government of the
United States in the un-American
schemes Of the administration than in
the criticism of those vicious policies
by honorable and patriotic Americans.
1t is as absurd as it is maliciously
false to claim that opposition in this
country to the administration impe-
rial policy is in any degree to blame
for the deplorable situation in the
Philippines, and even if it were, to
quote our good Republican contempt
rary of Pittsburg again, "the idea that
it could be reasonable is preposter-
GUS"
For the politicians of the admins
tration to hold that Senator Hoar, ex-
President Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie
and scores of other prominent and pa
triotic American citizens of the high
est standing are guilty of treason be-
cause they oppose the unconstitutional
and un-American policy of brute i'm
perialism and foreign militarism which
it is sought to engraft onto this coun-
try for the selfish purposes of million
aire spectators with a political pull,
is not only the height of roaring alb
surdity, but is piece of impudence
upon the part of trucking administra-
ton politicians that calls for rebuke.
1t is an insult to every free man in
America to claim that criticism of
these unwise and un-American policies
of the administration is treason, for it
is neither levying war against the ma
ton nor lending aid and comfort to the
nations enemies.
Even if it were, the Filip1nos have
not been officially recognized as our
enemies, nor has Congress declared
war against them; nor has Congress,
nor will it, endorse the imperial poll
icy. Better far were it for the admin
istration to devote its attention to en-
deayoring to fix the Presidents au-
thority under the existing state of af-
fairs that he may not exceed it in this
instance.
AS the matter now stands, the adj
ministration' critics stand closer to
the law and the Constitution and ex-
hibit more of the spirit of American pa
triotism than the Wall-street gov
erned imperialists in Washington. 1t
would be well, as stated, for these gen.
tlemen to make quite sure of their own
ground before going too far, and espe-
cially before they impudently question
the loyalty of honored American citi-
zens, regardless of party, whose pa
triotism has been proven and who de-
cline to subscribe to the Hannacratic
imperial doctrine that we have out
grown the Constitution.
Meanwhile the American people are
not just yet prepared to surrender
their rights of free thought and free
speech at the behest of Boss Hanna or
to admit that wholesome criticism of
the policies of Hannacratic politicians
is treason.
Ambassador Cboate's time is so