Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-22
DUTY OF ALIENS In U.S..
Federal Judges Concise Statement of Their Obliga-
tons and Responsibilities While We Are at War

last week, in peace, may be treason
when war comes. Remember, when
war comes, no man can serve two
masters. AS of old the message
comes, Choose you this day whom
We will serve"
There is no such thing as half
treason. Any treason is all treason.
And let no foreign-born man who
is to-day in the United States COM
fort himself that, because he has
not become a naturalized citizen, he
owes no allegiance to the United
States and that he cannot be pun
ished for treason to the United states.
That is not the case, and 1T is well
for us all--whether native born, nat
uralized or unnaturaliZed-to under
stand just where we each stand with
relation to the government in the
crime of treason. The highest duty
of any government is self-protection,
Therefore treason against govern
ment because it strikes at the life
of the government, is the highest
form of crime. Let me state to you
the law:
/. Whoever, owing allegiance to
the United States, levies war against
them or adheres to their enemies,
giving them aid and comfort within
the United States or elsewhere, Is
guilty of treason.
2. Whoever is convicted of treason
shall suffer death; or at the dis
cretion of the court shall be i'm
prisoned not less than five years and
fined not less than $4,000, to be
levied on and collected out of any
or all his property, real and personal,
of which he was the owner at the
time of committing such treason, any
sale or conveyance to the contrary
Notwithstanding; and every person
so convicted of treason shall more
over be incapable of holding any
office under the United States.
And everyone who owes allegiance
to the government can be guilty of
treason; the native born man be-
cause he was born here; the nat
uraliZed man because he took an
oath of allegiance; the unnaturalized
or alien man because he lives here
for the time being. Everyone knows
the native born and the naturalized
man can be guilty of treason, but let
me read you from the book itself
what the Supreme Court at Washing
ton says about the alien who stays in
the country in time of war: THE
alien, whilst domiciled in the coun-
try, owes a local and temporary al
legiance, which continues during the
period OF his residence" says that
court, and it follows this by quoting
and adopting the broad principle
stated by Daniel Webster when Sec
retary of State:
Independently of residence with
intention to continue such residence,
independently of any domiciliation,
Independently of the taking any oath
of allegiance or of renouncing any
former allegiance, it Is well known
that, by the public law, an alien or
a stranger born, for so long a time
as he continues within the dominions
of foreign government, owes obedi-
ence to the laws of that goVernme ent,
and may be punished for treason or
other crimes as a native born sub
ject might be, unless his case Is
varied by some treaty stipulation"
My advice, therefore, to every for
eign-born man and woman who is
staying in the United States to-day
is to keep clear of any disloyalty;
keep clear of anyone who counsels
or advises it. Indeed, anyone, native,
naturaliZed or allen, who knows of
such disloyal plans, purposes or
schemes is already on dangerous
ground, although he may not him
self have done Wing; for as your
friend l should tell you that there is
not only streason which consists of
overt acts, but there is a lesser trea-
son which consists in knowing of
treason by others against the United
States and not making 1t known.
Let me make that very plain. for
1t may save some people trouble. If
man or woman knows of treason
against the United States and keeps
it to himself, it is like receiving
stolen goods So 1t is with treason;
for TO comet al treason is to commit
treason. Now, here is what the law
provides about this lesser treason, or
"misprision of treason" as 1t is called.
and it applies to all persons living
in the United States, whether native
born, naturalized or not naturalized,
for they all owe allegiance.
8. Whoever owing allegiance to
the United States, and having knowl-
edge of the commission of any trea-
son against them, conceals. and does
not, as soon as may be. disclose and
make known the sameoto the Presl-
dent or to some judge of the United
States, or to the Governor or to some
Judge or Justice of particular state.
Is guilty of misprision of treason and
shall be imprisoned not more than