Arizona republican., 1899-02-04
VERY NEAR TREASON
Anti -ImDeri1IiSfS Tre0ding
 on Dangerous Ground.
They Have Been melting inc TiIipincS Against Inc United States for Which TheY are Liable fO Fine and Imprisonment.

Washington, Feb. 2.-Certaln S0- called anti-imperialists are skirting the borders Of high treason. The chap ter of the United States statutes upon that subject begins:
 Section 5331. Every person owing allegiance to the United States wnc levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort, within the United States CT elsewhere, is guilty of treason"
 A little further along there is a1- other section broader and more com prehensiVe. It embraces guilty know ledge as well as acts.
 That there is in this country a com bination which almost deserves the name of conspiracy against the au- thOrity of the United States evidence is rapidly accommodating. ConspiratOrs go about their plans with a bbldness that shows little appreciation Of the laws. The acts of AguinaldO and of his representative in Washington AgOnciilO, have recently reached the danger line of enmity toward the United States. Yet it is known that Americans of high station and of great wealth have advised and encourage d Agoncillo and, through him. his mas ter Aguinaldo.
 To constitute a reasonable oHelse it is sufficient that ar American citizen have secret knowledge of this plotting with AgOncillo. The law reads:
 Section 5333. Every person owing allegiance to the United States. and having knowledge of the commission of any treason against them. who con- ceaIS, and does not, as soon as may he disclose and make known the same to the president or to some judge of the United States or to the governor Or to some judge or justice of a part cu,a state, is guilty of misprisOn Of treas 1n and shall be imprisoned not more than seven years and fined not more than $1 ,0O0."-
 A third section is especially appIi- cable to the present critical situat on. It is this:
 Section, 5334. Every person who incites, sets on foot, assists CT en- gages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof gives aid or comfort thereto shal be punished by Imprisonment not more than ten years or by a fine Of not more than 10000, or by both of such punish ments; and. shall, moreover, be in capable of holding any office under the United States
 AgoncillO's position $ easily defined. It is one Of two things. Either the au- thority of the United States or that of Spain still exists over the Philippines. If the former is the correct status. then is here as the representa- tive of a rebellion against the United States, and every American giving aid and comfort to his cause is guilty of treason If Spanish authority still holds in the Philippines, then the status of Agoncillo is that Of a Spanish spy, representing a country with which the United States is still, oonst- actively, at war. Any assistance or encourage ment given to him is aid and c0mf3rt to an enemy of the United States clear ly within the law.
 These are legal propositions. They are laid down by very high authority. The government fully appreciates the of them. But, in the belief that Agoncillo is misguided, and thus far has been unable to do much dam age, the policy of the president is to ignore him, and to deal with the ut most leniency
 There is ground for suspicion that certain Americans who are opposing the treaty have furnished money to AguinaldO's representative. There is reason to believe that certain United States senators have assisted in the writing of the documents which Az 0ncillo has attempted to file at the department of state, and has promptly given to the newspapers for pGblic2- ton. If it be claimed that the al eged Philippine republic req ly exists. | -hen this course of it's representative, |
 
 lments Cf such character constitutes 3nc of the gravest OHenses in dipl0- | macy. It would warrant his immedi- i lte expulsion from the country. The 1 government tolerates him because ot he conviction that the FiIipinos don't ! 1now better, and because Of the Ge- sire to avoid friction. But the presi- lent and his cabinet and those se1a ors and representatives who have | ully considered these things rea-iz9 hat they border on the traitoTOu5.