Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-29

LuZon from certain persons in this coun
try, mostly Organizes and supporters o
the policy announced in Bryan's Indian
apolis speech. Writing in November last
only few days before his death by 6
Filipino bullet, Gen. Lawton said to Johr
Barrett:
81 would to God that the truth of this whole
Philippine situation could be known to every
one in America as / know It.
"If the real history, Inspiration and conditions
OF this Instruction, and the influences, loca
and external, that now encourage the enemy
as well as the actual possibilities of these island:
East, could be understood ut home, we would
hear no more talk of unjust shooting of govern
ment' into the Fiiipinos, or of hauling down
our American flag in the Philippines.
IF the so called auti,imperialists would
honestly ascertain the truth on the ground and
not In distant america, they, whom
believe to be honest men and misinformed
would be convinced of the error of their state.
ments and conclusions and of the unfortunate
eff, CT of their publication here.
IF am shot by a Filipino bullet. it might as
well come from one of my own men, because
know from observation, confirmed by captured
pri> toner's, that the continuance of fighting Is
ch1ehv due to reports that are sent out from
America"
The sad prophecy was fulfilled. The
very next month Henry W. Lawton was
struck dead by Filipino bullet practic-
ally moulded, aimed and sped by those
here at home who were engaged in en-
couraging the insurgents in Luzon to
continue the fighting. Gen. Lawton's
impressive premonition was accurate; his
blood is on the hands of some of his
fellow countrymen.
Treason is defined by the constitution
of the United States as "levying war
against them [the United Statesl or ad-
herring to their enemies, giving them aid
and comfort " The revised statutes pro-
vide for this crime the maximum penalty
of death. The constitutional meaning OF
'enemies" has been held by the supreme
court to apply only to subjects of foreign
power in a state OF open hostility with us.
This distinction, however, is not quite
clear, for the same opinion, as rendered by
Justice Field, goes on to say that ITO con-
stitute a levying of war there must be an
assem- blage of persons with force and
arms to overthrow the government or
resist the laws" and "all " no aid in the
common object Of levying war against the
United States, in however a minute de-
gree, or however remote from the scene
of action, are guilty Of treason" But the
statute OF July II, 1865, regarding the in
element of lnsurrectlon, Is clear enough
"SECTIoS 5,3 avery person who ncites,
sets on foot, assists or engages in any rebellion
Instruction against the authority of the
United States, or the law thereof, gires aid
and comfort thereto, shall be punished by i'm.
prisonment not more than ten years, or by Il
line of not more than $4,000, or by both such
punishments; and shall, moreover, he incapable
of holding any Office under the United States ="
1t would be protitless to inquire further
into the technical aspects of Mr.. Bryan's
self involvement in real or constructive
treason, or his culpa bilty under the law
against giving aid or comfort to persons
engaged in instruction against the au-
thority Of the United States. We do not
believe that he was conscious of commit
a. I., -
the government " hen he gave the Luzon
insurgents the signal for continued re-
bellion by pledgng himself, If elected, to
use all the power of the office of the presi-
dent in their behalf. Mr.. Bryan did not
know at the time how far he was going
He was carried away, doubtless, by the
exuberance of his own rhetoric while at
tempting to build high and wide and
thick false issue to win certain votes for
himself, and at the same time to screen
temporarily the issue really paramount in
his mind. But it is not the less true that
by this great and irrepara bic mistake, Mr.
Bryan may have doomed to death God
knows how many American soldiers now
doing. As Lawton was doing, their duty
under au administr ration which is doing
its duty in Luzon.
Among the private papers of Aguinaldo
captured by Gen Funston and made pub
lie yesterday by the war depa tment, is
the letter of a poor and probably seuile
wretch named Leverson, " no wrote last
summer from Fort Hamilton to Apacible
calling him ''Dear Sir nd Brother" and
urging the Filipnos to "seize some Otfici
of rank i'll the service of the United states
and to try him by 4 war council and treat
him as a pirate, in order to emphasize the
fact that Gen Otis and all his troops
are pirates upon the territory of the
natives, and all ersons compromised in
this war are pirates" Vt l was not an
o d man." added Leverson, Il would will
lingly aid you ii your just defence; -
and he went Oh with words de-
signed to aid snd comfort the Insurgents,
advising them among other things to
make to the world statement Of alleged
atroc ties committed in cold blood by oar
soldiers on defence'ess women and chill
dren in the Philippines. "lf you can
prove that women have been violated, "
wrote Leverson, put that also in your
statement"
Leverson will perhaps escape prosecu-
ton and punishment, but that will lie
solely on account of his age and personal
insignifcance, and the suspicion which
his utlerances and previous rec rrd throw
upon his perfect mental responsib lity.
Vet that may have been tn very letter
which cost Us Lawton life
Such is the work which the Leversons
and the Akin ons and the Winslows and
the Seizures have been doing in Luzon
ever since President Mckinley, in pur-
suance Of his sworn duty, undertook to
enforce in that quarter the supremacy of
laws and the flag. If the measure of trea
soma BILE aid and comfort is found in its
practical results. all that these men have
accomplished is nothing in comparison
with the possible effect of Rryan's message
of cheer to the insurgents from Indiana D.
oils: Keep up your fight till am cleo, ed
and your cause is won "
A Niagara of words from the democratic
To Save Her Child