Arizona republican., 1903-04-13
The New York Sun and BelIairs.

The New York Sun and BelIairs.
 Our esteemed contemporary. the New York Sun. enjoys a unique distinction in American journalism When it gives special prominence to any subject In it's editorial columns. that subject is certain to be taken up and discussed by the Suns contemporaries throughou, the country. This must explain why Captain Edgar G. Bellairs, late corre- spondent Of the Associated Press in the Philippines, and prior to that in Cuba, has all at once become such a prom nent parsonage. Bellairs himself is an obscure person of at least doubtful antecedents, and what he has said or done would not, ordinarily, interest the public to any extent. Had the Sun not chosen to elevate him to prominence, il would not have occurred to the country that Bellairs' record or his book, "As It Is in the Philippines, deserved more than passing attention. Other news paper correspondents have found fault with affairs in the Philippines, and their criticisms have been quietly ignored. Nobody has expected that Governor Taft, his predecessors, or his successors, could avoid making mis- takes. and in the final analysis all that Befairs says of Taft does not consti tute a very serious indictment-that is to say, if Bellairs' statements of fact l,a cd ir-Sf Sra faT17 . of opinion and hearsay.
 The Sun considered it vitally neces- sary, however, to impe2ch Bellairs; and, upon proof satisfactory to itself, it pronounces Beuairs an ex-convict and a swindler. It reproduces from the -rogues' gallery Q picture, twelve years old, of Charles Ballentine', which is an excellent portrait of Bellairs today. The Sun shows that Belia1rs, as Bal lentine, served five years Of a seven- year term in the Florida penitentiary for forgery. Bellairs denies the record imputed to him by the Sun, and has given to The Republican a statement Of his whereabouts and occupation lIS peElOu III NIllGIl IL IS dIleSGO he was in prison. He has given the names of persons of prominence Who can, he says, substantiate his alibi. The statement was given to this paper with a request that it be held as con- hdential for the present. We do TO, know whether it is true or false. Possibly all that the Sun says of Bel lairs is fact, although no evidence has been advanced to show that the man has been swindler or other than an upright citizen since the expiration or his alleged term of imprisonment, eight years ago. While lying is always abominable, if Bellairs lies in denying the Suns charges it should De remem- bered that very few men have the moral courage to admit a prison rec ord. and the fact may remain that dur ing the last eight years the accused mans life has been exemplary.
 But of what earthly consequence is it to the public whether Bellairs is now an honest man or scoundreI As the New York Times suggested the other day, the question of real interest is Has Bellairs, during his newspapec service in Cuba and the Philippines, told the truth about General Leonard Wood and Governor William Howarl Taft ? This question is susceptible of settlement quite apart from the testi- mony of Bellairs himself The numer- ous and interesting editorials in the Sun on the Bellairs incident all sound the same note in major or minor key namely, disparagement of Leonard Woodland whether Be1lairs or Wood is the real object of attack our readers may be able to determine for them selves after reading the subjoined editorial taken from the Sun of April $:
 BELLAIRS, WOOD AND TAFT.
 "A despatch from Phoenix yesterday to the New York Herald represented 'Bellairs' as having just learned from New York that scandalous stories were afioat here concerning his record. The former war correspondent, author and promoter of military fame, and pre- ent corporation president and developer Of the natural resources of Arizon;t tranquilly expressed surprise that any body should dream of attacking hls personal reputation. He could nol imagine what the unpleasant reports might be. He professes with appar- ent sincerity says the Herald's corre- spondent, absolute ignorance of any charges that may have been preferred against him that would affect his in tegrity in any wise" Bellairs remarked serenely:
 "'I would like very much to know what the charges referred to may ba, that I may then more definitely answer If they refer tc any actions of mine in