Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-01
SOME CRITICISMS
AUTHOR ROOSEVELT SCORES
SOME OF THE PRESIDENTS,
A Missouri Editor Reads Up the Presidents
Books. and Concludes a Good Precedent
Is Found for Critcisins the Chief Masis
trate Whenever Occasion Offers.

The Columbia (Mo.) Herald, one of the
ablest democratic newspapers in the
country, has been reading the books
written by Theodore Roosevelt. Natur-
ally Roosevelt's life of Thomas H.
Benton" interests Missou,ian. Editor
Williams OF the Herald says that while
abroad the two NEST talked-of Americans
that came to his notice were Missourians
Benton and the mule. Editor Will
liams has been reading Roosevelt's
"Life OF Benton" and has made some
copious lextracts therefrom.
1t wiz be remembered that about a
year agf republican organs were filled
with violent criticisms of men who dared
to speak slightingly of president, and
CRITICISMS of president were likened to
anarchy. Indeed, the assassination of
William Mckinley was attributed to the
newspapers and speakers who criticised
Mr.. Mckinley and his policies, and these
same republican organs demanded
federal law limiting ee speech and free
press. These facts are recalled for the
purpose of emphasizing some of the ex.
tracts the Columbia Herald has made
from Roosevelt's "Life OF Thomas II.
Benton"
Speaking OF Thomas Jefferson, Author
Roosevelt said "The scholarly. timid
and shifty doctrinaire. Was
the father Of notification and therefore
of secession. n Cheap pseudo.
classicism that he borrowed from the
French revolutionists. Con.
stitutiQnaily unable to put a proper
value On truthfulness.'
Of Martin Van Buren,, Author Roose.
welt said: Faithfully served the mann.
mon .of unrighteousness. n
Succeeds because of and not in spite OF
his mers3 shortcomings ,.s.,ss.,
This is what Author Roosevelt wrote
concerning Franklin Pierce: ga small
politician, Of low capacity and mean sur
rounding, proud to act as the servile
tool OF men worse than himself"
When Author Roosevelt wrote of James
X. Polk this is what he said Except
ing Tyler, the very smallest of the small
presidents between Jackson and Lin.
coln."
OF President Monroe. Author Roosc-
velt wrote as follows: "Colorless, high
bred gentleman of no especial ability,
but we'll fitted to act as presidential
fgurehead.
But Author Rooseveit's opinion OF
John Tyler is especially interesting. He
said: "He has been called a mediocre
man but this is unwarranted flattery.
He was politician of monumental lit.
tleness. X His chief mental and
moral attributes were peevishness, fret
full obstinacy, inconsistency, inca .,acity
to make up his mind, together with
inordinate vanity"
II we remember Alright similar esti-
mates OF presidents made by other gen.
tlemen were denounced as anarchy"
and "abuse of the freedom of speech" by
the writer of the above estimates OF
presidents. And if memory is not play
ing us false we recall number of re-
marks to the effect that such "attacks"
on a president were responsible for
"anarchy" and that those who made
them should be held responsible along
with the assassin for any crime COM
mi,ted because of their "infuence upon
weak and irresponsible minds" Is it
patriotism to defame president after
death and anarchy to criticise him while
living?
A comparison OF Author Roosevelt's
words with President Roosevelt's words
will bring to light May interesting
things.