The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05
\ uE ATKINSON PAMPHLETS
Excluded From the Manila Mafls-Pr0-
nounce.d SedItiGus-What Mr.. Atkfns
son says About the Matter

-
] Excludes From the Manila Maiis-Pfo-
nouncetd SedItfGus-What MI. Atkfn.
son Says About h Matter
Washington, May 2.-The postmas-
| ter general has directed the postmaster
at San Francisco to take out of the
mails for Manila three pamphlets is
sued by Edward Atkinson, of Boston,
vice president of the Anti-Imperialis-
tic League. This order does not apply
to the circulation of the pamphlets
in this country, but bars their dis
patch from this country to the Philip
pines, discomfort and wen mutiny
among the soldiers ein stated by the
department to be the design of these
publications. The schree pamphlets are
specially described and in no circum-
stances are they to be forwarded by
mail to the Philippines.
The three pamphlets copies Of which
have been prohibited in the mails for
the Philippines, are those which have
the following titles: Criminal Aggres-
sion by Whom? The Cost of a Nation
al Crime" and THE He'll of War and
It's Penalties"
These, unless something should de-
NclOp ~ A-ccSSlLdlt luTIEET action,
may be circulated through the mails
within this country. According to Mr.
Atkinson's own statement, as reported.
a large number of the pamphlets have
been sent out. The matter was brought
to the attention Of h postal officials
by the war department, whose authori-
ties We're greatly exercised, with a sug-
gestion that some action be taken. 1t
is thought hat there is little possibil-
iV of anU of thoSo nJh1ioot flows ra-+;~-
past the San Francisco office, but If a
few should, the military authorities in
the Philippines will promptly
them.
Postmaster General Emory Smith
made his statement to the Associated
Press today: These pamphlets actu-
ally incite to mutiny n it would be
utterly unjustifiable to permit their
circulation among the soldiers in the
Philippines. Their circulation is q
movement to induce the soldiers to
disobey orders and in effect to embar-
rass and resist the government in
whose service they are engaged. Not
only are they designed TO incite to mu-
tiny the American soldiers in those is
lands, but also to Torment and encour-
age insurrection on the part of the
Philippines themselves. I do not believe
there is any intention to prosecute Mr..
Atkinson as the matter To- stands.
The authority to do so, however, is
plain. He not only attacks the presi-
dent and the government in the most
.virulent language and disputes the ma
tional policy, but also calls on the
American troops to defy the govern
ment. Certainly his government is en-
powered to stop or check, as it sees fit,
the circulation of these seditious pub
locations"
Boston, May 2.-Hon. Edward Atkin-
son, vice president of the Anti-Impe-
rialist League of this city was shown
h Washington dispatch stating the
postmaster general had directed that
certain pamphlets prepared by Mr.. At
kinson be taken from the nails to Ma
Mia. Mr.. Atkinson said he had receiv-
ed no direct from
Washington about the matter. He ex-
planned that the documents were COM
pilations of facts and figures taken
from debates in the national house and
enate and calling attention to points
overlooked in debate.
by the action of the senate" Mr..
Atkinson continued, these compila-
tons were published as senate docu-
mentse and they are now public docu-
ments of the United States. Therefore,
n action taken toward keeping them
out of the mails would imply tina the
congressional record and official docu-
ments of the United States are insult
able to be sent to officers of the volun-
teer regiments now in Manila, whose
term of service has expired and whose
return to this country is demanded by
| officials of certain states who say that
the men are entitled to discharge.
1T is said hat the dispatch of these
pamphlets from this country to the
| Philippines is barred lest they should
create discomfort and even mutiny
l n n n o. tho cn16inrc. tbot Inir~ c+o+AI
by the department to be the design of
these publications.
There are two pamphlets only. The
first edition of the first, printed in No
| vember, was dedicated to President
Mckinley in support of his statement
that 'forcible annexation would be
| criminal aggression
The facts and figures given in that
pamphlet as a whole, were made the
frequent subject of debate in the house
of representatives and the senate dur
. ing the session and the pamphlet as a
whole was finally printed by order of
| the senate as senate document No. 81.
THE second pamphlet was issued
late in February when it appeared that
acts, of criminal aggression were be-
ing committed in the Philippine islands
In hat pamphlet certain facts and
statements were submitted to the at
tentiOn of the Senae and were the sub
ject Of debate, and that pamphlet
again, by order of the senate was print
ed as a senate document. I have a COPY
of No. 62 and have sent for a copy OF
the latter.
These pamphlets were, on April 24tf
and 25th addressed by me to Admira.
George Dewey, President Schurman
Professor Worcester, General H. G
! Otis, General Lawton, General Miller
and the correspondent Of a New Yorl
illustrated weekly in Manila. None 9th,
ers have, to my knowledge, been sen
to any one else. I desired to send Their
to other officers and for that purpos,
notified the department of my inten
ton n asked for a list that woult
give me the names. If it is unlawful
for a citizen Of the United States Il
communicate with other citizens il
Manila by. sending them documents il
a private edition which have beel
printed by order Of the United State
senate as public documents, I am con
tent to leave the matter at that exac
point, which requires no common
from me-"