The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-03
ATKINSON'S SIDE.
His Pamphlets Contained Naught But
Copies of Public Documents,
He Saws.

Boston, May 3.-Edward Atkinson
discussing the action Of the postmaster
general regarding his pamphlets says:
1T is said that the dispatch of these
pamphlets for this country to the
Philippine islands is barred lest they
should create discomfort and even
Inutiny among the soldiers; that being
stated by the department to be the
design of these publications.
There are two pamphlets only. Inc
first edition of the first, printed in NO
vember was dedicated to President NC
Kinley in support of his statement
that -forcible annexation would be GRIM
inaI aggression The facts and ngureS
given in that pamphlet were made the
frequent subject in the house of repre-
sentatiVes and the senate during tne
session and the pamphlet as a WhoIe
was finally printed by order of the SEN
ate as senate document No. 81.
The second pamphlet was issued late
in February, when it appeared that acts
of criminal aggression were beng COM
nitted in the Philippine islands. In
that pamphlet certain facts and state
ments were submitted to the attentlon
of the senate and were the suolect oL
debate and that pamphlet again, by or
der of the senate, was printed as SEN
ate document. I have a copy OF NO
81 and have sent for a copy of the lat
''These pamphlets were, on April "a
and %, addressed by me to Admlral
George Dewey, President Schurman;
Prof Worcester, General Otis, General
I,awton. and the correspondent of a
New York illustrated weekly in Ma
Mia. None others have to my KNOW
edge been sent to anyone else. L de-
sired to send them to other officers and
for that purpose notified the war de
partment of my intention and asked for
a list that would give the names. II II
is unlawful for citizen of the United
States to communicate with other citi-
zens in Manila by sending them docu-
ments in a private edition which nave
been printed by order of the Unlteq
documents |
am content to leave the matter at that
exact point which requires no comment
from me.
Il would, however, call the attention
of the postmaster general to the neces-
sity of requiring that all newspapers
lately printed here and elsewhere which
contain the latest speech of Senator
Hoar. given at the Republican club in
Boston, in which he used this express
siVe phrase: can see no difference in
the lynching of a southern postmaster
and lynching a people because they
think "a government derives its just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed. and got those ideas from the con-
StitutiOn of the United StateS,' be taken
from the mails.
If this attempt to forbid free speech
and free mails to the people of this
country has been made, which 1 can
not believe, think the people will de-
eide themselves what to do about it."
THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW:
Washington, May S.-The three
prohibited in the mails for the Philip
pines, are those with the following
titles:
Criminal Aggression by Whom?"
1.-THE Cost of a National Crime, and
1.-THE He'll of War and Its Penalties
These, unless something should de-
velop to necesSitate further action may
be circulated through the mails within
this country. According to Mr.. Atkin-
sons own statement as reported, a
large number of pamphlets have been
sent out. The matter was brought to
the war department whose authorities
were greatly exercised with a SuggeS-
| tion that some action be taken. 1t is
i thought there is little possibilities of any
! of these publications getting past San
! Francisco, but if any do, the militia au-
| thorities in Manila will promptly sup
press them. Postmaster General Smith
made this statement to the Associated
Press:
| ''These pamphlets actually incite to
mutiny and it would be utterly unjusti-
| fla BILE to permit their circulation anon e
| the soldiers in the Philippines. Their
! circulation is a movement to induce the
| soldiers to disobey orders and in effect
| to embarrass and resist the government
| in whose services they are engaged
| Their circulation, except in the mails
| for the Philippines, is nit interfered
| they are destined for Soldiers fighting
| our battles, but in this country the
| efforts to incite to mutiny could have
no result. Not only are they designed
| to incite to mutiny the American SOL
| diers in those islands, but also to foment
| and encourage insurrection on the part
| OF the Ffltpinos themselves. Such Sc
| ditious literature as now estopped might
| have an effect on the forces we now are