Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-26

ton being mainly devoted to criticism
Iof those American citizens who do not
or cannot. from Conscientious motives
and a just regard for American ideas
and republican institutions. approve Of
our persistent efforts to subjugate from
seven to ten millions of people whose
long cherished ideas of freedom led
them to maintain a war against Spain,
and who have for two years past re-
sented with arms the effort Of our Cow
eminent to bring them under another
yoke, equally Objectionable to them.
| In his article of yesterday Major Nor
ton disclaims having intended denuncia-
i ton of all those who dissent from the
policy of the Administration in this re-
gard, and asserts that his previous let
ter was only leveled against those who
by written or dn other definite ways,
have lent aid and comfort and supports
| to those "in rebellion.
1t is first in order to ascertain the
purport of Major Norton's original Ian
guage, and accordingly these extracts
are taken from his letter TO the Intelli-'
/ gencer of Saturday:
THE recent boldness and activity of the,
Filipino rebels is attributed by the Amer
lean officers and soldiers to the sympathy
and encouragement given them oy many
citizens of the United States, and for
every life now sacrificed, and every sol
dier manned and wounded in the effort TO
establish peace and maintain the honor
ar III erslfr of lie 7n11f
| Philippine Islands, these unpatriot.c rebel
sympathizers must be held directly re-
! sponsible.'
And AGAIN.
1--WE are at war with the Filipinos, no
| matter how the war originated. Or who
was responsible for its Inauguration. and
to give aid and comfort to an armed en-
envy is by the laws or nations designated
as treason, and any American who prl-
| vately or publicly aids and abets the en-
| emies of the United States is guilty OF
treason, and should be dealt with accord
ingiy. We have already sacrificed too
many valuable lives to this reasonable
sentimentalism, and it is time the lines
| should be drawn between loyalty and dis
loyalty; BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE
IN FAVOR OF SUSTAINING OUR Az
! FOES AND THOSE WHO WOULD APP
PARENTLY REJOICE AT ITS EXTER-
| M1NATlON."
A little later on.
1T is an exhibition of rank Copperhead-
ism and disloyalty, and would not be toll
| nation on the race of the earth. Aguin-
aldo himself employs more effective
methods than mere criticism in dealing
with those inhabitants of Luzon who de-
sert his cause, or who wish to acknoWl-
edge American sovereignty, and live in
peace.
And in another place.
1T is plain that those American citi-
zens who are opposing their government
| in the effort to restore public order in the
, miN OF their crime; but if they do they
| certainly deserve the same punishment
| that the rebel chieftain inflicts on thc3e
| who desert his standard"
| 1t will be observed that in these ex-
| tracts. which are full and fairly made,
| Major Norton makes no distinction as
| Between those who disapprove of the
policy of the Government in inaugural
ing and maintaining war in the Phil
| ippines and those who, opposing that
war, give expression to their views.
either orally or by letter He denounces,
| in plain language, chose Americans
| who are opposing their government"
/ and asserts that they do not realize
the enormity of their crime and going
much farther, asserts that those Amer
lean citizens certainly deserve the
same punishment that the rebel chief
tain inflicts upon those who desert mis-
standard" In plain English, therefore,
over Major Norton's own initials ard
/ in fipa,, 01 NV
him for publication in newspaper,
that gentleman upon last Saturday ad
vocated the death of chose American
citizens" who cannot agree with the
administration in its Philippine war
fare, further characteriZing such dissent
from the existing government as RANK
apprehension and disloyalty," of a
brand which. would MOI be tolerated
by the authorities Of any civilized ma
tic on the face of the earth. These be
strong words, and, unreplied to, would
stand as the carefully prepared belies
of one who holds that President Nc
liinley is infallible and therefore can
DO no wrong, and that all American
citizens are bound. under penalty OF
the charge of being traitors" to
follow blindly and without question
wherever the man who happens to
be in the White House may choose to
lead without Congressional sanction.
Fortunately American citizens are still
freemen, and don't have to do anything
of the sort, and they will resent to the
uttermost such imputations as those
hurled at hem by Major Thomas H.
Norton, Governor Theodore Roosevelt
and "W. II. R."
In yesterdays Intelligencer Major
Norton modifies his position very ma
terially, just as Governor Roosevelt
modified his ill-considered ST. Paul
speech. The Major now says, after ex-
pressing his surprise" at the dissent
| by the Register from his expressed
views, that:
My denunciation and criticism was not
| directed at any of my fellow citizens.
| all of whom have a perfect right guaran-
teed to them by the constitution to discuss
| all public questions affecting the national
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