The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-03
OF REBELS
DEATH PENALTY RARELY IMPLICIT
ED ON TRAITORS NOWADAYS.
Cases of Arab Pasba, jefferson Davis
Queen RanavaIOna HI and other
i'm History.
Chicago Tribune.

AT the present time, as Emilio Aguinaldo
is likely to discover, there is nothing par
t~icularly dangerous about playing the part
of a rebel. A hundred years ago it was
different. Then a man or woman who re-
belled against established authority was
| fairly certain to have his or her head cut
off, and was likely to have other unpleas-
ant things happen. Now. so long, at least.
as one is careful TO rebel against a civil
lied and enlightened power, d captured reb-
ell is likely to be furnished with a hand
some residence on some salubrious and
beautiful island. paid a liberal allowance
by the government against which he has
rebelled, and asked to live a quiet and
healthful life, with nothing TO worry
about.
In all the law books the old definition OF
a rebel and the old punishment for rebel
lion remain, but. though the high trea-
son. be proved the death penalty is rarely
enforced.
A good example of the way in which reb-
els were treated only a century ago is
found in the story of Toussaint rOverture,
the famous negro slave, soldier and states
man, who founded the black republic of
Santo Domingo. In 1898. when the English
invaded the island, Toussaint, VIII was al
ready a trusted military leader among the
blacks, declared in favor Of France and
took the oath of allegiance to the French
republic. He took the field against the Eng
lish and drove both them and the Span
iards off the island. Then he was made
commander-in-chief Of the military forces
of the island. In 1901 TOussaint assumed
| control of the government. A Constitution
was drawn up making him President for
life. When this Constitution was sent TO
Napoleon he broke out into a fury and
sent an army of 80 1000 men, under General
Leclerc, with a fleet of more than sixty
war vessels TO subdue the black usurper.
But Toussaint was ar able soldier, and the
climate fought with him. Within a few
months 10000 of the French soldiers per-
ished of yellow fever, and the negro SOL
diers and slaves, rising in a general rebel
lion. put 10000 white people to death. FL
nally peace was restored, and Toussaint
was treacherously seized and imprisoned.
Then he was transported to France and
confined in "a cold and dismal dungeon,
where he suffered from lack of food and
sickness, dying at the end of ten months
Imprisonment OF and starva-
ton.
ARABI PASHA'S CASE.
Another more modern rebel is Arab
Pasha, the Egyptian, who defied for a
time the united power of England and
France. In 1881 Arab Pasha, at the head
Of the Egyptian army, became practically
the military dictator of Egypt, and in 1882
both British and French warships were
sent to Alexandria to overawe and defeat
the rebels, and 20 make a prisoner Of
Arab as their chief. For many weeks
Arab was able to hold off the enemy, but
finally he was overtaken and his forces
cut to pieces at Tel-El-Kebir. Arab was
captured by the British troops and placed
on trial on a charge of high treason. He
pleaded guilty, and was sentenced. with
the members of his staff, TO Punishment
TO the Island OF Ceylon. There he has
| lived ever since. "A welcome guest ar the
houses of the British authorities on the
island, and the recipient Of a large al
lowance from the British government.
When Arab gave up his sword and went
into exile he was only forty-two years
old. and was in appearance the typical
leader of a savage and fanatical people.
Now that he is past sixty his expression
has sottened, and he has become a vener-
able and gentle old man. Practically
every member OF his staff who went into
exile with him is dead. and his last wish
is to go home to Egypt and die in the
land of his fathers.
The United States has had 10 deal with
a number of rebels. One Of the first was
Daniel Shays, the leader Of a rebellious
force of Massachusetts men, who OBJ
Jected TO the collection OF large taxes aft
er the close Of the revolutionary war.
Shays organized a force OF two thousand
men, marched on and captured the town
OF Worcester, and finally demanded the
surrender of the United States arsenal at
Springfield. The United States officer in
command fired a number of cannon over
the mead of Shays's army, which broke
and ran. Shays and a number of the lead
ers were arrested and tried on charges
of high treason. Several OF them were con-
victed and sentenced 10 death, but these
sentences were never executed. Finally a
free pardon was granted TO all who had
taken part in the rebellion.
A little bit later the sO-called whisky in
surrectiOns broke out in Pennsylvania
These disturbances were OF so much i'm
portance that President Washington or
dered out 1900 troops and sent commits
sioners over the mountains 10 deal with the
rebels. There was some blOOdshed and
many cases of violence shown against the
officers who were sent by the national gov
eminent TO collect the tax on whisky and
other alcoholic products. No arrests were
made. however. and the rebels were not
punished in any way.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Jefferson Davis was the most important
and influential rebel with which this coun-
try was ever called upon 10 make terms.
Mr.. Davis was captured on May 10. 1866. by
a body of Federal cavalry. and was taken
10 Fortress Monroe. where he was kept in
confinement for two years. In May. 1Se6.
he was indicted for treason by a United
States grand jury sitting at Norfolk, Va.
A few days later he was brought before the
J court at Richmond. Va. on a writ OF ha-