The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-29
The LIcKsptTTte SYNDICATE.


There are a. few people in the coun-
try who are constrained by the jobs
they hold, or by a cengenital desire to
play the sycophant, to insist that the
offense Of lese- ajeste shall be ac-
knowIedged in this country; to declare
that divinity hedges the office Of the
president such as to insure him against
criticism; and that failure to fall at
his feet and beslaver them with full
some adulation is the mark of an in
CRATE and a traitor.
To this class belongs the Minneapolis
Tribune, which was guilty yesterday
of an editorial that would have won
high favor had it appeared in the court
gazette of Germany. In violence, in
bad taste and in that weakness which
passion engenders and so mercilessly
displays it was a lamentable produc-
ton; and no sincere friend of the presi-
dent can view it's publication without
regret. The gist of it is that every
man who does not hold the president
divine and raise a chorus in his praise
whatever he may do is an inchoate
murderer and an accessory to crini-
nal assault upon him. &c..
This very, silly line of defense was
worked tosideath1Ileng7 ago by others
who found, themselves. or their favor
ties bare OF. defense. It is worn thread
bare. The rags, of the, average Repub-
lican organ as it sees the probability
of Roosevelt's election declining more
rapidly than any stock in the
market is. quite ineligible. Its
inability to refute or ignore the
clear proof that, for the setback which
prosperity has received the policy Of
this administration is in part respon-
sible, tempts to profane revilings. But
the judgment of the public will not be
dimmed or reversed because of that
There is no divinity that doth hedge
a president. THE wanton malignity
that follows a man IN that high station
with personal and unfounded acclsa-
tons is as horrible as the fawnings of
those who would defend it from fair
criticism are disgusting. The acts and
policies of every executive in this coun-
try, like those of his party, are open to
investigation and just Judgment. In
no other manner could we weigh men
and parties and decide between them
for the future welfare of the country.
That judgment the sober minded, in
telligent, unbiased men of the coun-
try are constantly. making; and they
will not be silenced or turned aside in
their pursuit Of the truth by the charge
that they cannot suggest that presi-
dent has made a mistake without con-
spring for his assassination.
There has been much watery and
hysterical talk like that of the Tribune
at one time and another about the in
huences that impel unbalanced minds
to crime. We admit the larger in
formation possessed by the Tribune
with the mental processes of degen-
crates; but, subject to that, we are
inclined tosthinls- that if passionate ig-
norance ever feels itself encouraged to
crime it would be by precisely such
exculpation and justification in adj
vance of the fact as that which the
Tribune presents to US. In either case,
as preliminary defense of crime or
a howl of angry disappointment at the
waning prestige of Mr.. Roosevelt, it's
frenzied words would have been sup
pressed by cooler judgment.
For both the president and his un-
wise defenders they are tantamount
to a confession of error that admits no
defense. Nor will any such pellets of
abusive folly ever prevent the people
of this country from forming and ex-
pressing fair and honest opinion con-
corning their rulers. 1.-The newspaper
assassination syndicate is the creation
of a disordered brain or a stomach
overwhelmed with bile; but the news
paper lickspittle syndicate Is an un-
pleasant reality. Happily its mem
bership. aside from the Tribune, does
not appear to be large.
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