Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-23
"rreason" ID Inc PhlIIpplns $.


The United States Philippine Com
mission has enacted law against
treason in the islands, and here are
some of its provisions:
SEQ EVERY person, owing ale
glance to the United States or the
government of the Philippine Islands,
and having knowledge Of any treason
against them OF either nf them, who
conceals, and does not as soon DIS. may
be. disclose and make known the same
TO the provincial governor In the
Province 10 which ne resides or to the
OWL governor of the Islands, or tn soma
judge of a court OF record, is guilty of
misprison of treason, and shall be i'm
prisoned not more than seven years ana
be lined not more than one Thousand
dollars.
Sec 8. Every person who shall utter
seditious words or speeches, write, pub
lish, or circulate, scurrilous libels
against the government OF the United
States o. the insular government of the
Philippine Islands or which tend to
disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in
executing his office, or which tend to
instigate others to cabal or meet
together for unlawful purposes, or which
suggest or incite rebellious conspIracies
or riots or which terd to stir IN the
people against the lawful authorities OF
to disturb the peace Of the community,
the safety and order of the government
or who shall knowingly conceal such
evil practices, shall be punished by u
line not exceeding two thousand dollars
or by imprisonment not exceeding two
years, or both in the discretion of the
court.
SEQ. g. All persons who shall meet
together for the purpose of forming, or
who shall form any secret society OF who
| shall after the passage of this Act con
tinue membership in society already
| formed having for it's object in whole o.
in part, the promotion Of treason, re-
heilion or sedition. or the PRONUNCIATION
Of any political opinion or policy, shall
be punished by fine not exceeding ore
thousand dollars or by imprisonment
not exceeding one year, or both.
| Sec. 10. Until 1t has been officially
proclaimed that state of war or in
surrection against the authority oil
sovereignty of the United States nc
longer exists in the Philippine Islands
it shall be unlawful for any person tt
advocate orally or by writing or print
ing Or like methods, the Independence
Of the Philippine islands OF theil
separation from the United State:
whether by peaceable or forcible means
or to print, publish or circulate any
handful. newspaper, or other puhlica
tion, advocating such Independence o.
separation.
Any person violating the provision.
of this section shall be punished by 1
fine of not exceeding two Thousand
dollars and imprisonment not exceeding
one year.
So it is crime, punishable by fin,
and Imprisonment, to even PEACEFUL.
discuss the Independence OF the Philip
pine Islands or their separation from
the United States. Any Citizen of thu
islands who entertains the opinion
that the happiness and prosperity o
his people will be best promotsd b.
independence and seif-governnent, ant
ventures to express that opinion, thereb.
becomes traitor to this country an,
subject to the punishment of fine an,
Imprisonment
In the course of bis passionate de
nunciation OF similar oppression by tn
government of Great Britain, director
against the patriotic people of th
American Colonies, Patrick Henri
detiantly said: tli this be treason
make the most Of it," Should som
modern Patrick Henry among th
Philippine people utter similar de
fiance, woa;d he be arrested an
punished for treason?
If 30, it would be interesting to not
the sequel.