The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-05
Aid and Comfort.


conscientious supporter of Bryan; and
it asks the Sun this question:
What shall be said OF newspaper that
imputes it [treason to distinguished
statesman, candidate of one Of the two
great political parties for the highest Office
in the gift of the American people?"
We have already replied that we are
not imputing technical treason to Mr..
Bryan. He has not committed the
overt act to which the Constitution re
quires that two witnesses must swear
in order to establish the crime. We
do not believe that he was conscious
of the nature of his offending when be
sent his message of hope and patience
to the insurgents in Luzon, practically
melting them to continued resistance
to the flag and laws of the United
States until the election shall deter
mine whether he, Mr.. Bryan, is to be
President after March 4, 1901. The
penalty for treason is death. Certainly
we do not desire that Mr.. Bryan should
be put on trial for his life. Not even
Jefferson Davis underwent that exper-
fence. Even Aaron Burr, when tried,
was acquitted.
What we have been inquiring is how
near Bryan is getting to treason.
The Virginon- Pilot is old enough to
know that crimes against the existence
of the government shade from high
treason overly committed, down
through various grades of minor turpi-
tude all classed in ordinary parlance as
OF reasonable character but not all
coming strictly within the technical
definition OF treason according to the
law books and the opinions of the
Courts. People speak even of "trea-
sonable sentiments" although who
can be convicted and punished for q
mere sentiment? We invite the at
tention of our Norfolk contemporary to
one of the minor grades OF crime against
the existence of the Government, as
set forth in Section 1884 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States:
"SECTIoN 5,334-Every person who in
cites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any
rebellion or instruction against the author
ity Of the United States or the laws thereof,
or gives aid and comfort thereto, shall be
punished by imprisonment not more than
ten years. or by fine of not more than ten
thousand dollars ;or by both of such punish
ments, and shall, moreover be incapable of
holding any office under the United States"
This section makes no exceptions in
favor OF persons who are distinguished
statesmen, or even candidates of one Of
the Two great political parties for the
highest office in the gift of the people.
We shall now in our turn ask the Vir-
gtnian-Pilot two or three questions:
Does it believe that under this Sec
ton 1894 Mr.. Bryan's indianapolis
pledge of assistance to the cause of the
Luzon insurgents gave aid and comfort
to persons engaged in rebellion or in
surrection against the authority of the
United States?
If it holds the contrary, on the
ground that Mr.. Bryan's Indianapolis
pledge did not constitute an Indictment
to the Luzon insurgents to continue
their insurrection against the authority
of the United States, what answer does
the Virginian-Pilot make to Lawton's
testimony, sealed with his own life
blood, that "Lhe continuance of fighting
is chiefly due to reports that are sent
out from America"
But perhaps our contemporary holds
Mr.. Bryan guiltless under Section
1894 on the other ground that we pos
sess no legitimate authority in the Phil
ippines, and that these persons in arms
against our flag there are not rebels,
but patriots fighting on their own soil.
If that is the Virginian Pilots rea-
soning, what answer does it make to
the indisputable fact that the treaty
which transferred the Philippines to our
sovereignty and established the author
ity OF the United States government in
those islands was ratified with Mr.. Bry-
ans direct approval and by his per-
sonal advice to the Democratic Sena-
tors who voted for rati6cationp-New
York Sun.