The San Francisco call., 1899-05-20
WHAT IS TREASON ??

THE question again becomes pertinent. The
constitution defines treason. but in such way
as to leave the freedom OF discussion untouched
American citizens have always been free discuss
public policies, because it is only by such discussion
that the foundations OF the Government be main
taned When the Spanish undertaken to
remove the obstacles presented by Spanish
ereignty to the desire OF millions OF people be free
no one dreamed OF any change in the institutions
purposes OF this republic
The struggle for independence in Cuba began in
1906 The national platforms OF 1896 dealt with it
from a strictly and praseworthy American stand
point. The Republican platform said From the
hour of achieving their own independence the peo-
pie OF the United States have regarded with sympathy
the struggles OF the other American peoples to free
themselves from European domination We watch
with deep and abiding interest the heroic battle OF
the Cuban patriots against cruelty and oppression and
our best hopes go for the ull OF their de-
termned contest for liberty"
The Populist national convention declared "We
tender to the patriotic people OF Cuba deepest
sympathy in their heroic struggle for political free
dom and independence, and we believe the time has
come when the United States, the great republic OF
the world should recognize that Cuba is, and of right
ought to be, free and independent state"
The Democratic platform said: I'VE extend our.
sympathy the people OF Cuba in their heroic strug
gle for liberty and independence"
Those expressions represented the sentiments OF the
whole people. They were uttered in spirit of devo-
ton to Our own institutions, and in certain sense
were boastfu OF our own position as the citizens OF
country in which Government derives its just
powers from the consent Of the governed The very
language OF some of those platform pledges was
taken from the heroic declaration OF Thomas Paine
when he ended the inercesson of the colonies at the
feet OF George III by that bold speech These colo
nes are and of right ought to be- free and indepen-
dent States
There is no room for disputing that the American
people intended those platform pledges to apply
everywhere in the East Indies as well as in the West,
and any proposition to limit their application to one
place and apply the monarchca principles of i1npe
rialism in another place would have been hotly re-
sisted and beaten in any of the three national con-
ventions.
Surely it is a startling fact that our inperalists are
now daily denouncing the spirit OF those platforms
treason and those who adhere to those pledges
as TRAITORS!
We have preferred to abide by the American policy
and stand for that highest Americanism which ami
mated all political parties in 1906 II to stand fast
i'll that Spirit and purpose is treason by what term
can characterize the expressions of the i'm
perialists?
One of them declares the Federal constitution out
grown and no longer worth discussing Mr. Reid,
one OF the negotiators OF the Paris treaty says 1T
is time to begin teaching the American people the
absurdity OF that clause in the Declaration of indie
pendence which derives all the just powers OF govern
ment from the consent of the governed" The Rev.
DR.. P. S Benson says: "As to that hallowed docu-
ment that declares that all governments derive their
Just powers from the consent OF the governed that
IS to be literally construed there never was greater
lie pamed off by the devil upon credulous world y
The list OF these mperalistc expressions can be in
definitely extended The form varies but little Their
spirit IS one OF active revolt against the restraints
and limitations of the Federal constitution and of
most contempuous reputation of the principles OF
the Declaration OF independence One is Justly
amazed at the large number OF men who take this
position. They ask the country to indorse them, to
affirm their views and they denounce opposition as
unpariotc and reasonable All this brings in sight
very disquleting situation II the patriotic decara.