The San Francisco call., 1899-05-06
THE ATKINSON INCIDENT.

7 is we'll that the discussion OF national policy,
novel or otherwise shall be the lines OF reason
and conducted with calmness Edward Atkinson
IS one OF the most distinguished OF American pub
licists and with the single exception OF the late
David A Wells has been the most cOpous writer in
this country upon economic and public subjects He
has chosen to write and print statistics bearing upon
the commerce, climate and characteristics OF the
nd zone and draw therefrom conclusions the
wisdom OF large expenditures Of lie and III
the conquest and occupancy OF tropical territory
These publications he addressed to Admiral Dewey
Generals Otis, Lawton and Macarthur and to the
members OF the Philippine Commission now in
Manila. The civil officers OF the Government have
been ordered to exclude them from the mails, and it
has been done
No one IS prepared to defend the wisdom OF Mr.
Atkinson in sending his pamphlets to our highest
naval military and civil officers in the Philippines
They are all busy 1t is languid climate and in their
moments OF repose we have no doubt those grizzed
sons OF Mars are more interested in cool drink or
the study OF how to "shuck" some additional gar
ment made necessary in the temperate zone but not
convenuonaly nor physically required under YER
tical sun.
Perhaps it would have been better to let Nh At
klnsons pamphlets go and test the fidelity OF those
martial and civil officials by writing them that the
same on the index expurgatorius OF the Govern
ment and must not be read To take the matter out
OF the mails may seem like a suspicion OF mmaturity
on the part OF those uniformed gentlemen, and the
fear that they may be led asray by tables demonstrat
ing the loss OF revenue to the United States by abae
ment Of the tariff on sugar. Mr.. Atkinson has ad-
dressed himself quite impassioned table OF figures
on that and other subjects OF equally vivid interest
The administration should not permit itself to be mis-
understood in this matter. That there is danger OF
misunderstanding cannot be denied.
Divers views are held as to the Philippine policy
Official tolerance and hospitality to the expression OF
them all would seem to be the proper American
policy, consistent with the still prevalent ideas of what
American liberty means. In the period OF our Revo-
luton Burke. Fox and Pitt in the beginning OF that
struggle took sides with our iorefathers in revolt
against the and in Parliament clear to the end
OF the struggle continued to speak and vote on the
side OF the Americans and in sympathy with their
struggle for independence The speeches OF those
English statesmen used to be printed in our common
school readers patriotic pabulum for American
youth. We all gained from them not only love Of
liberty but high appreciation OF the freedom OF
speech and tolerance OF opinion maintained in Eng
land hundred and twenty-five years ago
FOR century and quarter it has been supposed
that we have gone on in this country improving upon
that freedom and tolerance Let not the act OF the
civil authorities in taking stamped matter out OF the
mails be taken symptom that we have not i'm
proved Let in authority do anything that will
warrant the belief that there is less freedom OF speech
and tolerance OF opinions in this republic than there
was in England under George III in Iz76
Let nothing be done that will justify the fear that
in escaping from British rule we escaped from more
liberty than we have established for ourselves
It will be seen clearly, and should be seen and un-
derstood at that every show OF arbitrary
or sign OF fear that policy will not bear criticism
and therefore comment must be suppressed gives
strength to the fear that designs OF imperialism and
militarsm cherished and that when they come it
will be not only to rough ride the rights OF subjects
IN the tropics but to abrdge the liberty OF citizens at
home.