The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-28
cOmpels Col. Norton to Reply to Vic
ious Attacks OF Democratic Paper.
DIRECT QUESTION WAS PUT.
To Which the Editor of the Demo-
cratic Journal Refused to Make
Reply-The Bryanite Party Funda.
mentally Wrong on all the Great
Questions That Concern the Ameri-
can People. 4,
rO lhc EdIior Of the .1n,elllgencer.

me In Its columns, and having ndroitly
sought to .misrepresent and falsely my
position, and make 1t appear that I am
a narrow minded. ilibera, dogmatlc,
hIde-bound partisan who would "cru-
city free speech and deny my fellow
citizens the same liberty OF thought
and action that l claim for myself,
was compelled In self defense to make
reply and endeavor to remove the false
impression thus sought TO be created
This controversy originated from II the
publication by me Of a letter to the In
telligencer crlticising and denouncing
the conduct Of certain misguided 'cItI-
zens who. according to the testimony
Of our military commanders, have
been instigating the Filipino insurrec-
tos to renew their attacks on our army
and resist the authority Of our govern
ment to restore peace and order and in
stitute civil government In the Phil
ippine Islands. In commenting on this
subject which was suggested by the
fresh outbreak OF hostilities resulting
In the death Of some OF our brave ofIi-
GERS and soldiers. of the regular army,
declared 1t was an act of disloyalty to
give. much encouragement to the armed
enemies OF the United States, and that
any American citizen who did so was
not In his proper place dwelling In this
country and protected by our laws,
but ought to be in front of the guns of
our soldiers fighting With his natural
allies.
Regret Force Must be Used.
There are no doubt many good people
who deeply regret that we are compell-
ed to use force in maintaining our law
full and constitutional rights to exercise
sovereignty over the territory ceded to
us by Spain and OF which we are now
in actual possession, and no one dis
putes their right to express their oppo-
stion to war. nor the right to vote In
accordance with the dictates OF their
conscience. but I repeat that any cItl-
zen. or any political organization en-
b
representatives OF government or
people with whom we are at war and
consplres with them to attack our mil
itary forces with the intent to prolong
hostlltles or encompass our defeat.
such. person or persons are not only the
enemies OF their country. but II un-
derstand the meaning Of the word they
are guilty OF treason.
1t was for making this assertion the
Register took me to task and declares |
did 1t solely to make political capital
for the party TO which 1 belong. l did
not. had no Intention Of provoking a
political controversy.5and in proof of 1t
yesterday addressed the editor OF that
paper the following letter:
Letter to Register.
To the Editor Of the Register.
d, S1R:-Having fully explained In the
columns OF the Intelligenccr that the
Views Imputed to me In your recent ed
itorial articles wholly misrepresented
my position, and were devoid OF truth
In every respect, and having also fur.
nished proofs to sustain the charge l
made that certain citizens OF this coun-
try were holding reasonable cores
pondence with the armed enemies OF
the United States. l must decline n fur
Their discussion Of the subject until sou
comply With my request to inform the
public whether you justify or condemn
the acts or such persons In urging the
Filipino insurrectos to continued re-
sistance. l do not propose you shall
+ eyllp n UirpCt answer IN thty
and Indulge your well-known spphistic-
al talents by suppressing the testimony
submitted to sustain the charge OF
diSloyalty on the part Of individuals or
political organizations who engage In
such correspondence with our public on
emies. am not debating any other sub
ject, and desire an explicit and cnte-
Sorical answer to this question, so that
may know whether there exists any
difference of opinion between us as TO
the moral and legal responsibility of
American citizens who incitn the fol-
lowers OF Aguinnldo to make war on
our army now occupying the Philip
pine Islands and attempting to estnb-
fish stable government there in pur-
suance of a policy approved by the cx-
ecutive and legislative branches of our
own government.
Kindly publish this note II you choose
to make reply.
Yours very RESPECTFULLY.
T. H. NORTON.
Wheeling, W. Va. September 20.
Ends the Discussion.
This letter was published by the
Register. but an answer was not forth
coming. the editor claiming It was Sin
no wise Incumbent upon the Register to
answer my heterogeneous until met
the Issue raised" as there was no
other issue this ends the discussion so
far as am concerned
But as the Register has conceded that
l am entitled to my views and have
the right to express them publicly or
privately, / now avail myself OF that
privilege TO say that. while I am not a
politician. and have nothing to gain and
very little to lose except my pride of
country In case the policy Of the Demo-
cratic party Is successful in the coming
election and we are forced to surrender
to the defiant Aguinaldo. am prepared
to state my opinion briefly MS follows:
l firmly and conscicntiously believe
that on all questions now agitatIng the
public mind tina: the lenders and adj
hercnts OF the Democratic party. are
) fundamentally wrong: wrong on his
tory: wrong on tradition: wrong on the
constitution; wrong on the tariff:
wrong on the principles of government,
and eterHally and oatrageoasiy wrong
in attempting to array labor against
capital. the cmploye against the en-