The state herald., 1901-02-08
Lese Maieste.

n law specifying the crimes of Lese-
MaJeste. The punishment was death'
Augustus was the first to extend the
list CT offenses that were "Lese-Ma-
Jeste,' and under his successors tur-
ther extensions were made. III Tic
relative of a subject was executed, the
subject must exhibit delight else he
would be held accountable under THIS
law. One suspected of sentiment not
In harmony with the throne must DC
particular as to the expression OF his
eye. even a sigh might be the undoihg
OF compassionate person.
Recently We have heard of "Lese-
Majeste" In the United States Of Am
erica. Men who have dared criticise
a republican administration have been
subjected to suspicion under this
Jaw Men who have protested
against policy of Imperialism, who
have objected to a violation of the
cons' tuition, who have insisted that
the chief magistrate does not repre-
sent the legislative and the judicial as
well as the executive branch of the
government, men who have refused to
applaud every act of administration
agents, have been branded as traitors
by the administration press, and
pointed out as disloyal by the admin
istr$tlon orators.
fortunately, however, the admins
tfat!on press and the administration
orators have not framed the law OF
treSson in this republic. The consti-
luton, framed by the men who found
ed the republic, provides that treason
small consist only in levying war
against the United States or in ad-
he'ing to their enemies, giving them
AID and comfort.
II Is as much the duty of n good ciri-
zen to protest when his country is
about to engage upon policy of wrong
as IL Is for him to take up arms in de-
Tending his country from an army of
invasion.
Edmund Burke, Pitt. and other Eng
lishmen of their time. We're regarded
in the light of traitors by some, and
yet today no names occupy higher
places in the worlds history than the
names of those Englishmen who dared
protest against wrong and speak in
behalf of truth when the American
cnlonists were struggling for the prln-
ciples of government by the consent OF
the governed
No man protested more bitterly
against the war with Mexico than
Thomas Corwin. and even Abraham
Lincoln repeatedly added his protest
against that war. and yet the names of
Corwin and Lincoln are among the H.
lustrious OF Americas dead.
The difference between a monarchy
/ and rPnnhlf1 10 In rnt, -
tie people must acquiese in the mon
arch's will, but in a republic the pub
lie officers are supposed to acquiese In
the peoples will. 'The king can do
no wrong" so long as he does exactly
MS he pleases. The public officer In n
republic can do no wrong so long as
he adheres to the constitution and
the law. When he violates that con-
stitution and when trangresses that
law, he Is in error and II Is Just as
much the peoples duty TO criticise him
then as II is their duty TO commend
him when he sustains the constitution
and upholds the law.
Men who insist that this nation in
Its dealings with its new dependencies,
shall be governed by the same prin-
ciples which the founders OF this gov
ernment claimed for themselves: men
who Insist that the Declaration OF Ia
dependence was written for all time
and provides n rule by which all mCn
should be guided. men who insist that
the prohibitions in the constitution
must prohibit, that the limitations In
the constitution must limit, and that
public officers and public bodies whose
I lGfanRA AananAE
tuition cannot ignore II and assume au-
thority and power not given by Il;
mon who Insist that this government
is too great and too strong 10 enter
upon an era OF oppression TO the weak
and the helpless. men who insist tina;
honesty is the best policy foI nations
as well as individuals; men who in
sist that liberty was designed for tao
brown man as well as for the whl'a
man and the black man-these men
are not made OF the stuff OF which
traitors are constructed.
No government has anything to fear
from citizens who adhere 10 the PRIV
ciples upon which the government was
founded and through which II has
prospcrod. No nation has anything to
fear from citizens who Insist that the
nation must be true to its own trndl-
lions and faithful 10 It's own profess
sions. No nation has anything 10 fear
from citizens who are willing TO 20
down 20 political defeat IN defense oi
what they believe TO be the truth. No
nation has anything to fear from elti-
zens who can bring TO the support of
their cause the Declaration OF Indepen-
dcncc. the constitution Of the United
states and the declarations Of every
great American In every great poitl-
cal party from the period OF Washing.
ton TO the present day.
II II n pleasant duty TO correct mis-
take made In the first number. II was
stated that The commoner entered the
feld with nn issue OF thirty thousand.
After the plates were made the nddi.
tionnl subscriptions and news siard
orders were sufficient 10 Justify nm H..
Sue OF nfty thousand, Since thea
twenty-five thousand more have been
printed. making n total Of seventy Ave
thousand copies OF number one. VOL.
ume one.
The parcels post has been Indefinite
" n'lAS'u' H'nAi"t ilhttr ~ pfesls
dent ~ an express company with thu
aa n basis u IL not diiiicul, TO reason
from cause TO effect.
II some genius will insent a green.
back with nm Interest coupon attached
u is believed that Mr. Secretary Gaze
will soon be- able to look II In the face
without growing faint.
whau the gas was turned nm IA,