The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-03
THE PENALTY STATED
IMPRISONMENT FOR TEN YEARS
OR \ HEAVY FINE.
WHAT ACTION IF ANY UNDETERMINED
The Government Thinks Mr.. Atkinson did not
Realize the Gravity Of his Offence IN
Sending out An'-Expan-
SIGN Circulars.

Washington, May 2.-The absentees
| from todays Cabinet meeting were Sec
lretarys Gage. Long. Alger and Wilson.
One of the subjects of discussion was
| the circulars which were mailed to the
| troops at Manila criticising the Phillp-
pine policy of the Government ana ad-
vising volunteers whose terms of service
| is about to expire not to re-enllSt.
member of the Cabinet in speaking of
the matter said that Mr. Edward At
| kinson, of Boston. who is bel1eved to
have been largely instrumental i'll the
preparation and sending out of these CIR
culars was unquestionably guilty OF as
sisting an insurrection against the aus
| tbority of the United States, and was
| subject to Il term of imprisonment or a
heavy fine or both. The law. which.
lit is said. has been violated is section
1884 of the Revised Statutes which is as
| follows:
Every person who incites. SETS on
foot. assists. or engages i'll any rebellion
| or insurrection against the authority OF
the United States. or the laws thereof,
| or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be
Furnished by Imprisonment not more
than 10 years, or by Il fine of not more
THAN ten thousand dollars. or by both of
such punishments: and shall, moreover.
| he incapable of holding any office under
/ the IIlited States.
| What action, if any, will be taken
| in the matter has not been determined.
| but it is said that the Government is dis
posed to regard the acts of Mr.. Atkin-
son as those of Il person without any
proper conception of the gravity of the
offence committed and the Government
may not at this time, take action against
Mr.. Atkinson and his assistants.
The Postmaster General stated at the
Cabinet meeting that he had ordered
the circulars stopped at San Francisco.
Members of the Administration regard
Mr.. Atkinson's alleged action as sedi-
tious and disgraceful and it is not inn
probable that, if repeated, prompt and
energetic action will be taken.
HIS PAMPHLETS ARE SEDITIONS
Washington, May 2.-The Postmaster
| General has directed the postmaster at
San Francisco to take out of the mails
| for Manila three pamphlets issued by
| Edward Atkinson. of Boston. vlce-presl-
dent of the Anti-Imperialistic League.
/
| ton of the pamphlets by mail III this
country. but bars their dispatch from
this country to the Philippines, discon-
tent and even mutiny among the soldiers
beiny stated by the Department to be
the design Of these publications. The
three pamphlets are specifically de-
scrIoed and i'll no circumstances are
they TO he forwarded by mail to the
Philippines.
The three pamphlets, copies of which
have been prohibited i'll the mails for
the Philippines, are those which have
the following titles:
Criminal Aggression. by Whom!
"'The Cost of IL National Crime. and
THE He'll of War and its Penalties
These, unless something should de-
velop to necessitate further action may
he circulated through the mails within
| this country. According to Mr.. Atkin-
sons own statement, as reported. Il large
number of the pamphlets have been sent
out. The matter was brought to the at
tention of the postal officials by the War
DeDartment whose authorities were
greatly exercised with IL suggestion that
SGme action be taken. 1t is thought
that there is little possibility of any of
these publications getting past the San
Francisco office. but if a few should,
the military authorities in the Philip
pines will promptly suppress them.
Postmaster General Emory Smith
made this statement to the Associated
Press today:
Not only are they designed to ncite
to mutiny the American soldiers in those
lislands but also to foment and encour-
age insurrection on the part of the Fill
pinos themselves Such seditious litera
ture as that now eStOpred might have
an effect on the forces we now are deal
| ing with that would be incalculably TO
their advantage and certainly would
tend to stimulate and strengthen their
already weakening opposition. The law
covering the case is ample. What action
might be taker-and the offense is of the
gravest characters not to he discuss
ed | do not believe there is any inten-
ton to prosecute Mr. Atkinson as the
matter now stands The authority to do
so however, is plain. He not only at
ltacks the President and the Government
in the most viruent language and dis
putes the National policy, but also calls
on the American troops to defy the Gov
ernment. Certainly this Government is
empowered to stop or check. as it sees
tit, the circulation of these seditious pub
ilciations.'