Show THE TilE MILITARY SPY SYSTEM We Ye are arc extremely glad to learn that the charges I against Captain Lewis Bayly H It II X N. British X Naval nl attar he at nt Washington ashin ton of obtaining professional information concerning American merican naval secrets illegitimately ille me have hae proved pio to be unfounded The accused accused ac- ac ac iC- gentleman it appears emerges es from the unpleasant unpleasant un un- pleasant incident unscathed and with honor bonor That being the time case we ai are e inclined to ask with the Washington Post if it is not about time for this Government to set an example by bJ abolishing the practice of maintaining military militar and naval attaches in connection with our om embassies and legations abroad and refusing to rec receive ive such functionaries from other countries As As tb the Post lost justly remarks all information of ofa ofa ofa a military or na naval al cHaracter that tUat nations are willing willing will will- ing to g ve out c can n be ue had hal on application to the proper departments of govern government merit without keeping keep i ing officers permanently pei in ill residence nce to receive it What hat they are not willing to communicate cate can only b be acquired acquit by bJ means which often bave have been been justified justi justi- fied fled on grounds of military necessity but which ne nevertheless cannot be called either nice or honor honor- able A military or naval who is a man of probity and self respect may have bave to choose between be be- tween een l s sense of honesty and his professional standi standing g based hazed Upon the success or otherwise of his mission A naturally honorable ble person cannot well nut act the spy sp without w degradation of character no nor nor- cati can he lie bribe nibe citizens of the nation to which he is accredited accredited ac ac- ac- ac cl credited dite to b betray ra r their theil country's trust without assuming as us- suming a dire moral responsibility i for their crime Yet Vet if the military or n naval att che do not lOt resort to SUC such l devices he lie is hardly liable to obtain any y knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge dg calculated to justify the expense of his liis main maintenance tem nce in iti foreign parts part The whole system is open to s suspicion spi D and the sooner the United Stat States s c ceases as s to adhere dh re to it the better better perhaps oJ r |