The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-23
Ro0sEvELTs WORDS
PRESIDENTS uTTERANcss MA.
LiclousLY MISSIONS TRUED.
Lndicrou. Attempt by a seif-En-
throned Democratic Lende to Wake
n safe Man Appear a. Dangerous to
the country-Pulitzer's Letter.
Chicago Tribune.)

(ChicagO Tribune.)
The New York World is. probably the
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 aud circulated by the Demo-
cratic committee as campaign docu-
ments. These two editorials are in the
form of open letters addressed by Joseph
Pulitzer, editor of the World. to Tlleo-
dore Roosevelt The first one occupied
a lagc--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 it. free trade or free
silver, but YOU YOURSELF-Theo-
dore Roosevelt. This issue is forced
upon the country by your unusual tenn
permanent and talent-your 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 to 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
isphcre.' The headlines ask if the Pres
idcnt is a military mesalomaniac." He
is accused of a ''monomania" to be the
grand lord protector" of the two Amer
icas.
A Gibbct of Folly.
This letter is interesting-irst, 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, untcmpered by
common sense, can OIL occasions, elevate
a 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
cur free institutions. 1t proceeds to
examine all his despotic procedures and
unconstitutional usurpations, 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 it has become n menace to the
liberties of the citizens. (For, in fact,
during President Roosevelt's administrn-
ton the army has been diminished, not
increased.)
1t does not prove how the ambitious,
costly. and bloody wars conducted during
the present administration We're begun,
not as the constitution provides, by an
act of Congress, but at the imperial die
tation of the ruler. (For, in facty there
has been no war of any sort during
President Roosevelt's administration.)
Always for Peace.
1t does not even show how the Presi-
dent has brought the country to the
verge of a desperate war, which was
prevented only by the retreat of the
country which ne threatened, as it might
have proved against it's favored Presi-
dent Cleveland. (For. in fact. the Pres
ident has at no time brought the country
near a war. His efforts and those Of his
Secretary of State have been consist
emily directed toward the peace of the
world, and the circumscribing of the area
Of hostilities once wars have besun.)
1t does not show how President Roose-
Welt had used either corruption or force
to influence elections in any State, Sc
abasing the principle of local self-gov-
eminent, nor how he has deposed a re-
calcitrant governor, or dissolved a hos,
tile State assembly after the fashion
of certain reconstruction Presidents.
(For he has done o of these things
1t does not show how he influenced
judicial decisions, reversed a decree of
court, or suspended n 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'D
It does not show how, when the leg.
islature, maintaining its independence,
refused to divest itself Of it's authority
and humblv accept the "advice" Of the
man on horseback, he filled the halls OF
the lawmakers with bayonets, overawed
the tribunes of the people, dissolved the
sitting, imprisoned the ringleaders. AS
is we'll known. the terrorizing Of the
legislature. is the twin f%orerunner with
1.-THE control of the judiciary in the down
fall suf free institutions.
Has Done None of This.
1t does not show how the President
annnlled the right of free speech and i'm.
posed a veNatious censorship upon the
press. The Worlds own articles are liv.
ing proof that he has done none of this
1t does not show how, like the great.
est of our PRESIDENTS, he has, under the
plea of national duress, suspended the
writ of habeas corpus-the very spirit
OF civil liberty. CFor President Roose.
welt has not suspended the writ of habeas
corpus.)
Thus the reco-d shows President
Roosevelt has. i'll no single way, even
e~mbryonically exceeded his constitutional
functions. He has not turned his face
in the direction of Il single one OF that
set of actions whereby the usurpers OF
history have established themselves in
power on the ruins of freedom. New.
ertheless, the World reiterates that, by
his record, it 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 ovel
in silent contempt his record as a thor.
oughly constitutional and patriotic Pres.
ident; by picking out of their contexts
some of the things he has said-takinp
one paragraph from one speech, anothe,
paragraph from a different speech; by
| 4ak,np ono Spntnnce from n noropront