Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-09
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Griggs and Atkinson.


Griggs and Atkinson.
It appears that before excluding
Mr.. Atkinson's anti-imp erialist PAM
phlets from the Manila mails the post
master general consulted the attorney
general, and that the latter not only
told him that he was justified in doing
what he proposed but that Mr.. Atkin-
son was liable to prosecution and
punishment under section 1884 of the
statutes of the United States, which
reads:
EVERY person who incites, sets on foot,
assists, or engages in any rebellion or In
surrection against the authority of the
United States, or the laws thereof, or gives
aid or comfort thereto, shall be punished by
imprisonment not more than ten years, or
by fine of not more than $40 COG, or by both
of such punishments; and shall, moreover.
be incapable of holding any office under the
United States"
That section" said the attorney
general to the postmaster. general,
fully covers the case OF Mr.. Atkin-
son. He and his assistants are I'M
doubtedly guilty of assisting an insur-
rection against the government.
There is no question in my mind that
Mr.. Atkinson could be indicted for
for breaking the laws of. his country,
convicted and given heavy sentence.
lnasmuch as no harm has been done,
we will probably treat Mr.. Atkinson
as baby, recognizing that he is not
responsible and that he is accomp-
fishing nothing serious This is not
consistent position. II Mr.. Atkinson
Is undoubtedly guilty of assisting an
insurectjon against the government"
and there is no question that he can
be indicted, convicted and given a
heavy sentence ''for breaking the
laws OF his country" it is not true
that he has done no harm. He has
done harm, or it is impossible that he
is undoubtedly guilty" of breaking
the laws Of his country" The asser-
lions antagonize each other, and if
one is true the other is false. To break
the laws of ones country is an offense,
an offense is always harm, and
granting that Mr.. Atkinson has done
the harm OF violating the law, the at
torney-general is himself doing vio-
lence to the law and to his oath of
Office in refraining from instituting
an action against him. Griggs accus-
es himself when, after positively af-
f1rming Atkinson's guilt, he disclaims
intention to bring the subject of his
accusation to punishment.
The Attorey-general's statement
will deceive nobody. Intended to
frighten anti-imperialists, it will fail
OF that effect He knows and every
Intelligent man knows that section
1884 is not applicable to Mr.. Atkinson.
and that it would not apply to the
volunteer soldiers in the
Philippines if they should 90
over to the side of Aguinaldo and
help him fight his battles. The law
Is inapplicable for the sufficient rea-
son that the Filipinos are not in .re-
oelllon against the authority of the
United States, or the laws thereof
They have never been citizens or sub.
Jects of the United States or owed or
acknowledged allegiance to it, and
therefore they cannot be in rebellion
against its authority; and as the laws
OF the United States have never been
established or operative in the islands,
they are not in rebellion against it's
laws. Furthermore, the government
OF the United States has never de-
clared them to be rebels, nor has the
war which the administration is wap-
Ing against them been authorized by
congress, which alone, under the con-
stltutlon, may declare war. There ia
consequently no rebellion in the Phil.
1pp1nes, hence those who give aid and
comfort to the armed and fighting ma
tives are not melting or assisting re-
bell1on. They are simply actuated by
humane motives and prompted by
the spirit which animated the heroes
OF the American revolution, doing a
good turn for brave people who are
resisting hostile invasion and waging
battle in the cause of freedom. Griggs
would speedily have Atkinson indict-
ed If he believed he could convict him.
He knows that he cannot, and that
the trial, instead of discriminating the
accused, would expose to the world
the illegality OF the war and the pres.
ident's culpability. Telegraph.
Surplus in Name Only.
By counting as ''reYenue" $4,000
ono nhtai nad hu tho alo af IL