New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-02-12
American Shortsightedness

1t may safely be said that the sentl-
ment for the release Of these political
prisoners in America who have been
convicted for holding and advocating
social and political opinions contrary
or believed to be injurious to the coun-
try's war activities is far and wide
spread among the population OF the
country. It centralizes in the League
for the Amnesty of Political Prisoners
with headquarters in New York, which
is carrying on an active propaganda
to make the government OF the United
States follow the example OF most Euro
pean countries as to freedom Of opinion.
Amnesty to political prisoners has
been granted in Germany as in the
cases Of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa
Luxembourg, Austria, for Victor Adler
who assassinated Count Stuergkh, former
Austrian Prime minister, Hungary,
Russia and Bulgaria. Italy has freed
most OF her anti-militarists. France
will probably soon take similar action,
and England is expected to pursue a
liberal policy Only America seems to
remain adamant.
In manifesto circulated by the
League mentioned the following ques-
ton is put before the people OF the
United States: "Why is it that America,
which claims to represent everything
that is liberal and progressive, which
entered the war to make the world
safe for democracy, has inflicted such
ferocious sentences on political offenders?
In no other civilized country it con-
tinues, sis the political prisoner treated
with so little liberality and understand
ing. It is a shame and a disgrace that
America, a country which, as President
Wilson has pointed out in his book
The New Freedom, originated in a
kick, should be so merciless to the
:'kickers' Of our own time. There is a
world Of difference between criminal
and man who holds his principles
dearer than his liberty and who is
willing to surrender his liberty, if need
I be, in behalf Of what be believes to be
| the truth. We want to see this differ
ence recognized and asserted in America :
The manifesto then goes on to cite
some instances Of political offenders.
We quote the following:
"a phase OF the treatment which
America accords to political exiles is
shown by the case Of the Hindus. Nine
teen were convicted in San Francisco,
California, few months ago for "vio-
lation Of neutrality laws In 1917 ,
before America entered the war, these
Hindus had shipped arms to India in
an attempt to establish an independent
form of government similar to that
Of the United States. Following their
conviction in San Francisco, Agnes
Smedley, an American girl, whose an
cestry dates back to the American
Revolutionary war, and Sailendra Nath
Chose, highly educated young Hindu,
were arrested in New York City. They
were charged under the Espionage Act
with writing letters to President Wilson
and Allied Foreign Ambassadors asking
that India be granted her freedom, and
for the publication Of a book which
stated that Japan should make an
alliance with India rather than with
Great Britain in case Of a revolution in
India. Chose has been held in the
/ Tombs prison, New York City, under
prohibitive bail $4,000 for ten
months Z
| 1t has long been custom Of other
governments to pardon political prison
.ers upon cessation Of hostilities and the
proclamation Of peace. Working class
organizations are discussing this ques-
ton and are demanding the release. Of
political prisoners. Among the papers
advocating the same policy are the