The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-23
AM odious Form Of treason.

The remission of the pains and PEN
alties formerly attached to high trea-
son seems to have dulled the popular
sense OF its Nervousness. The time was
when an alliance between a citizen and
the enemies OF his country caused all
men to look upon him as a pariah and
TO shun him as one infected with
deadly disease. 1t Is thought to be a
rather smart thing In these days: one of
the easy methods OF achieving that
cheap notoriety that Is the paradise Of
little souls. We cannot and do not wish
to revive the old punishments for high
treason. but 1t would be great gain
to the world TO revive the odium in
which II was once held. Thus II is al
most inconceivabie that men should
have engaged In actual sympathetic and
encouraging correspondence with per-
sons in arms against their government
and still remain on'speaking terms with
HONORABLE, and patriotic people. It ar
CUES tagging moral sense that much
needs stimulation unless we are to lose
In national character and repute.
We are not. be 1t understood. denying
either the right of private opinion or OF
public criticism. We do not admire the
taste or envy the patriotism OF the cit
izen who, when his country Is actually
engaged in death struggle with her
foe. stops to debate nice points In ethics
about the origin or merits of the con-
troversy. Much more admirable Is the
man who follows the grand old maxim,
MY country May she always be right.
but right or wrong. my countryr' This
right OF opinion and OF criticism does
not carry with It. however. the right to
make friendly overtures and enter into
correspondence with an armed foe.
This is a particularly mean and odlous
form Of treason. II Is worse than the
crime Of the deserter. for he risks his
life as well as his honor. II IL cowardly.
creeping. a stroke from behind the wall.
bullet fired from the refuge OF sane
tuary. II should stamp every man who
descends to II with universal and ever
lasting contempt IL should be so alb
horred even by those who sympathize
with him In his opinion that he would
find himself deserted save for the So
ciety OF other criminals.
For example. a citizen OF the United
states may believe that his government
Is at fault In dealing with the FIJI
plno rebels We do not respect his
intelligence highly. bR, we grant him
liberty OF opinion. MS then In order
FOR him TO attempt 10 change that gov
eynments policy. He has a right 10 pro-
tos; agains, t. % urge an opposite
course. But the moment that he enters
into communication with the enemy.
sends or receives messages from any
Filipino, lends encouragement 20 those
offering armed resistance TO the author
isy 81 the Uhltsd states. ne Is guilty
% ,reasen, That dcspleshls and loath-
some wesd applies 70 him IN all It's fui-
ness 81 TeprohailOn. lie ~ no longer
striving after what he mistakenly deems
reform. bat has renowned his country
and should nor b. ahle 20 claim It's
protection or 60 enjoy sta shelter.
There Is a nice polat o. honor Involved
in this which not few OF eur ANTI
iuperlaiists' have ignored. The rca.
son OF Il is that /, IS not the policy OF
the government which they hate. but
the party which has carried out that
policy. with the rancor ana the reck-
iessness % the partisan. they are ready
% consent 90 any alliances for the sake
% party advantage. And 50 they cross
easily the line which separates patriot
ism from treason. These mean souls
deserve the exeorssiou Of all honora-
bic men. Their crime is Infinitely
worse than open resistance. They are
like those who sit in safety and plan
crimes for Others to commit in order