Is it treason to seek independence for your country? Or perhaps more to the point, since failing to win independence will always be viewed as treason, is it wrong? The leaders of the American Revolution certainly were aware that they would be charged with treason if their efforts failed. In the case of Roger David Casement, hanged by the English for his support of Irish revolution, the point was eloquently raised first by Bernard Shaw who argued that the same actions taken in the Balkans were heroic, and in his own "last words" to the court after his conviction. Casement's speech raised an excellent point of morals and politics, that as an Irishman he should only be tried by his Irish peers in an Irish court - his loyalty was to his native land, not to England. The British who, after all, hanged a US citizen some 30 years later on the basis only that he owed loyalty to England based on carrying a British passport, weren't having any of it. This truth remains: If you would overthrow the government, you'd etter win.
History wasn't kind to the Soviet Union on this day. Although the Soviets wouldn't attack Poland until later in the month, when Germany did it was with a specific secret agreement between Poland's stronger neighbors. A young man from Chicago wrested the world chess title from the Soviets after 35 years. And in an incident still clouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, KAL flight 007 was lost, and the Russians did it. Early reports differed dramatically from later ones, the original tapes from the flight recorders have never been available to investigators, no significant wreckage was found at the expected location, and the US congressman on board, Larry McDonald of Georgia, was the chairman of the John Birch Society.
In keeping with my general delight in coincidence, we have another conspiracy, it also led to charges of treason, and one of the conspirators was an Irishman named Harman Blennerhassett who lived in the grand feudal style on his own island in the Ohio River. Blennerhassett was also acquitted this day, along with James Wilkinson (governor of the Louisiana Territory and in the pay of Spain), and the main player, Aaron Burr.
1666 - Thomas Farynor, baker to King Charles II in Pudding Lane, London, went to bed at 10 pm without dousing the fire in his oven. The embers were warm enough to cause a major historical event.
1807 - After plotting to attack Mexico and setup his own empire in western US territory, former US vice president Aaron Burr was acquitted in a sensational treason trial at Richmond, Virginia, Chief Justice John Marshall presiding. Marshall ruled that acts of treason must be attested by two witnesses.
1904 - Helen Keller graduated from Radcliffe College, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree cum Laude.
1939 - German army, navy, and air forces invade Poland from East Prussia and Slovakia. A non-aggression pact signed with Russia on 23 August determined the eventual partition of Polish territory.
1972 - Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the USSR to become World Champion of chess. The Soviets had held the title for 35 years, Spassky had held it since 1969 and went home in disgrace. Fischer was the first American champion. Cuba, Czechoslovakia, and Germany have also each had one chess champion since the competition began in 1886, the other eight were all Soviets.
1983 - Korean Airlines flight 007, en route from New York City to Seoul after a refueling stop at Anchorage, Alaska, crossed the Kamchatka Peninsula and was approaching Sakhalin Island when it was shot down by a Soviet SU-15 fighter. The 269 passengers and crew were lost, no significant wreckage was recovered.
Revolution Day, Libya - Commemorates the 1969 coup by military officers led by Mu'ammar alQadhafi, ending the reign of King Idris I. The primary secular holiday in Libya, a week of parades and rallies. Folk troupes, horsemen, musicians, and military groups are bussed into Tripoli for the show.
1864
- Roger David Casement, British diplomat, Irish politician - Born
at Sandycove, County Dublin, Ireland. Entered the consular service in
1892 and was assigned to Portuguese East Africa/Mozambique (1895-98),
Angola (1898-1900), and Congo Free State (1901-04); remained in England
for two years for health reasons, and was then sent to Brazil (1906-11).
His revelations about the treatment of native workers in the rubber plantations
of Congo Free State resulted in the end of Belgian King Leopold's personal
rule there. While in Brazil he investigated the treatment of native workers
in the Putumayo River region of Peru by a British trading company for
which he was knighted in 1912 and the trading company was dissolved the
next year. Retired to Ireland in 1912, and despite his Protestant background
supported the Roman Catholic Irish nationalists. Went to New York City
in May 1914 to raise suport for a rebellion, after war broke out went
to Berlin in November hoping for German support. Germany was unwilling
to risk an invasion but did offer 20,000 rifles, Irish POWs in Germany
were unwilling to take up arms for his cause. Returned to Ireland by German
submarine 12 April 1916 and attempted to prevent the unsuccessful Easter
Uprising, was arrested 24 April, taken to London and convicted of treason
at the Old Bailey on 29 June. His diaries detailing homosexual activities
were quietly circulated, his appeal was denied, and he was hanged at Pentonville
Prison on 3 August 1916. In 1965 his remains were returned to Ireland
and given a state funeral.
Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but
they may start a winning game.
- Goethe
Chess teaches you to control the initial excitement you feel when you
see something that looks good and it trains you to think objectively when
you're in trouble.
- Stanley Kubrick
In life, as in chess, forethought wins.
- Charles Roberts Buxton
On the human chessboard, all moves are possible.
- Miriam Schiff
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