The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1904-09-22
RoosEvEL1's WORDS
PRESIDENTS uTTERANcEs MA
LiCiouSLY MISSIONS rRUED.
Ludierous Attempt by a seit-En-
throned Democratic Leader to Make
safe Man Appear as Dangerous to
the country-Pniitzer's Letter.



most enthusiastic Parker paper in the
country. To an extent It is striking the
keynote Of the Parker chorus In the
east Two of its editorials are TO be
reprinted and circulated by the Demo
crauc committee as campaign docu-
ments These two editorials are In the
form OF open letters addressed by Joseph
Pulitzer, editor OF the World, to Theo-
dore Roosevelt. The first ono occupied
page-the second nearly two pages.
The third may take up three pages.
In the words of Mr.. Pulitzer. ''The
paramount issue of this campaign is not,
as You would have II, free trade or free
silver. but YOU YOURSELF-Theo-
dors Roosevelt. This issue is forced
upon the country by your unusual tenn
permanent and talent-your own strong.
able, ambitious, resourceful. militant,
passionate personality, your versatile and
surprising genius"
This issue was framed by the World
In its first letter, July 30. 1904. But as
that document did not seem TO brighten
anybody to Parker. the hot blood of
strong desire denied mounted 10 the
brain of Mr.. Pulitzer, and his emotions
ravished his Judgment. His second let
ter-the one two pages long, printed on
August 23-is addressed to Theodore
Roosevelt, Candidate for President OF the
United States and the Western Hem
isphere." The headlines ask II the Pres
ident is military megalomaniac." He
Is accused OF 'monomania" to be the
grand lord protector OF the two Amer
icas.
A Gibbet of Folly.
This letter is interesting be-
cause the World is generally recognized
as the chief Parker spokesman; second.
as an exhibition of that gibbet of folly
to which partisan zeal. untempered by
common sense, can on occasions. elevate
man ordinarily so level headed as Jo-
seph Pulitzer.
Roosevelt's record, contends the World,
clearly indicates that his return to pow
err would be vested with the ruin OF
our free institutions. 1t proceeds to
examine all his despotic procedures and
unconstitutional usnrpations. seriatim.
But it unquestionably omits much that
would make its case stronger. For In
stance, it does not show how the Presi-
dent has increased the standing army
so that II has become a menace to the
liberties of the citizens. (For. In fact,
during President Roosevelt's administra-
ton the army has been diminished, not
increased9
1t does not prove how the ambitious.
costly. and bloody wars conducted during
the present administration were begun,
not as the constitution provides, by an
act Of Congress, but at the imperial die
tation of the ruler. (For, in fact, there
has been no war of any sort during
President Roosevelt's Administrations
Ar-aw. foe p~cr~
II does not even show how the Presi-
dent has brought the country to the
verge of desperate war. which was
prevented only by the retreat of the
country which he threatened, as II might
have proved against its favored Pred-
dent Cleveland. (For. in fact. the Pres
ident has Mt no time brought the country
near war. His efforts and those Of his
Secretary of State have been consist
entity directed toward the peace of the
world, and the circumscribing OF the area
OF hostilities once wars have begun.)
1t does not show how President Roose-
welt had used either corruption or force
to influence elections in any State, so
abasing the principle of local self-gov-
eminent, nor how he has dcposed re-
calcitrant governor. or dissolved a hos
tile State assembly after the fashion
of certain reconstruction Presidents.
(For he has done none of these things)
II does not show how h. influenced
judicial decisions. reversed a decree OF
court, or suspended judge who had
striven to limit the presidential usurpa-
ton. This is always the first symptom
of the dissolution of constitutional gov
eminent. (But President Roosevelt has
not been guilty of it,
1t does not show how, when the leg
islature, maintaining its independence,
refused to divest itself OF its authority
and humbly accept the advice" of the
man on horseback. he filed the halls of
the lawmakers with bayonets. overawed
the tribunes of the people, dissolved the
sitting, imprisoned the ringleaders. AS
is well known, the terrorizing of the
legislature Is the twin forerunner with
the control of the judiciary in the down
fall of free institutions.
HIS Done None of This.
1t does not show how the President
annulled the right of free speech and i'm
posed vexatious censorship upon the
press. The Worlds own articles are hv-
ing proof that he has done none of this.
1t does not show how, like the great
est of our presidents, ne has, under the
pea OF nnuOnnl duress, suspended tne
writ of habeas corpus-the very spirit
OF civil liberty. (for President Roose-
welt has not suspended the writ OF habeas
corpus.)
Thus the record shows President
Roosevelt has. in no single way, even
embryonically exceeded his constitutional
functions. He has not turned his face
in the direction of n single one of that
set of actions whereby the usurpers OF
history have established themselves in
power on the ruins OF freedom. New
crtheless, the World reiterates that, by
his record. 1t can prove Theodore Roose-
welt to be a man dangerous TO the lib
critics of his country. How can this
proof be wrought?
In a simple way. BY passing over
in silent contempt his record as thor
oughly constitutional and patriotic Pres
~ Of fhafr 70