The evening times., 1899-03-31
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP


NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Is Hoar TraitOr.-The latest and
most amazing defence of Aguinaldo and
the Filipino insurgents who are resisting
the authority of the United States. from
the pen of Senator George F.. Hoar of Mas
sachusetts, places that gentleman in the
attitude of a traitor to his country ac-
cording to the prevailing opinion in Wash
ington.. 1t is pointed out that Mr.. Hoar is
as much of a traitor to the United States
as though he had joined the ranks Of the
Filipino rebels in person. He Is certainly
rendering Aguinaldo more assistance than
he could if he were actually a member of
his army. In the latter event he would
probably prove to be an encumbrance and
might lose his head. as he is too old and
fat to run very fast. However, the value
of Mr.. Hoar's services to the Filipino in
surgents is not up for consideration at this
time The point made against Mr.. Hoar
is that he has become a traitor to his coun-
try and should be dealt with accordingly.
Mr. Hoar,' said an official of the De-
partment of Justice today, '.prides himself
upon being a great constitutional lawyer.
l would most respectfully invite his atten-
ton to the clause in the Constitution re-
ldtlDB 10 the WOTu he Will Hud
that a traitor is any person who takes up
arms to resist the authority of the United
States or who directly or indirectly gives
aid and comfort to the enem les of the
United States. 1t further and very proper
ly provides that the penalty shall be death.
In my judgment, Mr.. Hoar can be convict
ed of traitorous conduct and utterances.
Whether the Government will take any ac-
tion in the matter / am not prepared to
of ii would ha q MI MT
thing to be compelled to execute such an
old and venerable Senator as Mr.. Hoar for
high treason; public safety hardly requires
such a harsh course but perhaps after Mr.
Hoar has read the Constitution over a
few more times he will convict himself of
treason and then go out quickly and emu
late the example of one Judas That would
be very satisfactory ending of the case
and it would relieve the Administration of
| any embarrassment
1T seems TO me that Mr.. Hoar ahould
either do this or go out to the Philippines
and join the brave people struggling for
their liberty and incidentally making war
| against this country"
James Hamilton Lewis.-Former
| Representative Lewis of Washington,
| whose political career was brought to a
| close with the expiration of the Fifty
| fifth Congress, has just returned from
| trip to Cuba. In a brief interview today
| Mr.. Lewis discussed number of SUBJ
| jects. Speaking of the Belmont Bryan
controversy, he said:
! My friend SulZer has achieved fame by
accepting invitations to the so and the 81
| dinner as well. l go him one better
for | have accepted invitations to all three
of the Jefferson dinners in New York and
expect to make speeches at ALL When Sui
zer shall have been elected Vice President
by the way, | have his personal promise
that l am TO be the Postmaster General
II is too bad, however that the Democrat
ic party should go 10 pieces because of the
difference between $40 and ST. Yet such
threatens to be the case, for the differ
ences are certainly irreconcilable"
Conditions in Cuba. he said. are alarm
ing and America will have much trouble
to establish an. orderly system there.
There is treachery among the Cubans, be
says, and he quotes the case of an assistant
health officer in Havana who has heaped
abuse on President Mckinley and circu-
lated the report among the Cubans that
the President has bribed them. In the
Philippines also he sees much to cause con-
cern. THE situation in Samoa also Is an
alarming one he declared. If America
and England should act in concert there
and decide upon taking the island. we must
look for trouble from Germany The Ger
mans would welcome war. for it would give
them the opportunity to cement the divi-
sions of their Empire and unite against the
world. The Germans are a determined
people and they will brook nothing which
10 them seems unjust" ~
The samoan TroubIe.-A prominent
member of the diplomatic circle was shown
a copy of the dispatch printed in another
column of The Evening Times today from
Berlin quoting leading newspaper pub
lished at the German capital as warning
the United States and England that Ger
many is not Spain and that there was a
limit TO German patience. The diplomat in
question smiled broadly. He said:
The Idea of Germanys tackling the
United States and Great Britain single
handed is simply preposterous. 1t would
be just as insane as Spains making war
against this country. An editor who wrote
such stuff seriously ought to be suppress
ed. The trouble at Samoa is no doubt
quite serious, and may require considera-
BILE skill TO straighten out But no sane
person can imagine for moment that
Germany is anxious TO have fight with
America and England combined or either
one separately, for that matter. Great ma
tions do not go 10 war in this age over
| trifes. There is no reason why the United
| States and Germany should not continue
| on the best of terms with each other. Their
interests do not seriously conflict. Sensa-
tional reports of friction between the
United States and Germany should be dis
counted. Europe may be getting ready
for big war as many people seem to think
and if ii should come the United States
might be eventually dragged into it, but
1 iS Ealy to- cfa hot,