The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-17
The FILIPINO Correspondence.

1t is something more than a coincidence
that the War Department should select, as
the time for making public the correspond
ence captured months ago in the Philip
pines the day the convention of anti-im-
perialists commenced its deliberations at
Indianapolis The letters given out for
publication are principally from foreigners,
but among them is one. only one, from an
American, a Mr. Leverson. of New Yo.k,
who says that be is a member of the Anti
Imperialistic League. In this letter Mr..
Leverson, who presents the appearance of
being mentally unbalanced, gave some Gu
rious advice to one C. Apsc.ble. He e-on-
mended the arrest by the Filipinos of
some high American official, VINO should be
brought before council of war ard tried
foE piracy The foreign Consu,s sLolld
be notified and requested 10 send repressn-
tatives in order that the legality of the
proceedings might BE- ensured. The gist OF
this remarkable communication lies in the
following extract:
i should ike 10 suggest plan TO you. II is
this. You should seize some official Of rank in the
service OF the United States and then inform the
foreign Rpnsuis mat he was 10 be brought before
council Of war for piracy, ard write 70 said
Corsuis TO have representatives. present ar such
council Of war 10 see that il Is legal
Piracy would be shown by conducting war IN
violation 81 the usages Of civilized war and the
proof would consist in the fact Of the consent to
killing the deisnceieas prisoners and non-combdt-
ants, men. women, ard children in cold blood.
and in robbery by Officers and soldiers from
combstauts.
II ] were not an old man of more than sixty
nine years ] would willingly aid you in your just
defence ] also suggest that 5be Filipino Congress
address an appeal 10 the people Of the United
States
The visionary character Of the author o.
this letter is manifest on its face; in his
wild idea OF what constitutes piracy, no
less than in the character of the tribunal
which should conduct legal trial of the
offence Piracy in its general 6efnition is
robbery on the high seas. though the
United States have by statute enlarged the
scope OF the offence so as to include muir
der and other crimes committed on bays
and inlets as well as on the high seas and
also similar crimes committed on shore by
crews of piratical vessels.
Piracy is a recognized criminal offence
that is regularly triabla by the courts, but
perhaps also in certain cases by courts
martial. The idea then that the acts com
planned OF as being committed by the mill
tsry forces Of the United States constitute
the crime Of piracy ig no less absurd than
that legal trial Of the offence could b.
had before d council of war" or that the
preseRce Of consular representatives could
legalize the proceeding
The letter is evidently the effusion of
an old man unIearned in the law. who
has become crazed with meditation on the
sdpposed wrongs inflicted by our soldiers
on the FillDinos. The letter reeites that
the writer is a member of a league of
which the lion. George S. Boutwell, is
president The suggestion of Identifying
SO eminent lawyer as Mr. Boutwell, with
so ridiculous scheme is unworthy Of the
least notice. Yet that seems to be the
only purpose of parading this crank let
ter before the public at this time
There is not an official of prominence
in the Government service whose mail is
not enriched with similar vagsries. But