Evening star., 1949-02-09
If This Be Treason

Our forefathers were familiar with the
old abuses of power by the sovereign in
trying men for treason. Accusation, con-
viction, punishment by unspeakable tor
ture and death-all in the name of treason
had for centuries been favorite device
of the all-powerful state to wipe off the
slate those who would not conform.
Thus, in our own Constitution, the crime
of treason came to be narrowly defined. It
is. one Of the most difficult of all crimes to
pfove. No American citizen has been exc
cuted by the Federal Government for trea-
son in the 100 years of our history, and
those years include Civil War. A few have
been convicted.
So the word treason" in this country
carries peculiarly degrading connotation
that we associate with no other offense.
The confessed traitor in our land is beyond
the pale; little can ever be said in his
defense. Not much thought seems to have
been given to the vast difference between
the meaning of treason in our country and
in countries such as Hungary, held behind
the iron curtain in the grip of police
state.
This may explain the curious readiness
with which explanations, such as torture
and the forced administering of mysterious
drugs, have been offered for Cardinal
Mindszentys confession" of treason. But
in offering such explanations 1t seems to
The Star that those who have been so
UNDERSTANDABLE outraged by the sham and
pretenSe of the trial unconsciously have
detracted from the stature of the cardinal
as man and prince of his church.
Even disregarding the circumstances in
which the trial was reported to the Ameri-
can people and overlooking the lost nuance
in translation of foreign words and
phrases. one finds great dignity in what
the cardinal said and courage in how he
said it as he stood before a court whose
verdict had been reached before the trial
began. But both dignity and courage loses
meaning when his words are attributed to
torture or drugs
On the right of last word, a man
stands here in front of the court in high
and responsible position weighed down
with charges.
stand here with the inheritance Of
half century, with definite education and
basic principles These basic principles
are built into the human soul as railway
lines are built upon the earth.
These basic principles are used to take
us in a straight direction as the rail takes
the train.
Now we and I stand in front of the
police authorities and the court Questions.
and answers enlishten' not only the au-
thorities but also the SOUL ~
For answers given to myself I thank
God that in the course Of my hfe'I did not
lose my good will: never wanted to get
into conf with the Jaws. IF circuha.e$$
stances 33N11xNnX control brought tteMsss
into conflict, here today have confessed
and regret it again.
assume that, thanks to God according
N: ssl ssE Il! 9sstEs o;!H5sh ;;!H5sh'
came to my lips
God give peace In these days.
Not for the future. or the distant future.
but In these days 3,
ask this peace for myschurch, my love .
for whiehI brought: here.tpo for the Hun. =
garian state toward which I showed my
own obedience and peace for my own
soul.
I ask the Lord to give the court the
wisdom that 1t can pass a sentence which
will guarantee q solution abroad and here.
Are these words writing from man by
torture, or pried from a mind incapaci-
tated by drugs? No. They are words from
man, one of thousands of men who in
many parts of the world today are being
rubbed out because they have convictions
and the strength of character to stand up
for them. They were spoken with the
humility OF man of God But in them
breathes the spirit of another great man
whose words have come down to us as part
of the American chronicle-"If this be
treason, make the most of it''