Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-21
ROOSEvELT'S WORDS
PRESIDENTS uTTERANCES MA
LICIOUSLY MISSIONS TRUED
Ludicrous Attempt by Self-En-
throned Democratic Leader TO Make
Safe Man Appear as Dangerous to
the Country-PuIitzer's Letter.
lOhicnro Trihnne.l

Chicago Tribune.)
| The New York World is probably the
most enthusiastic Parker paper in the
country. To an extent ii is striking the
keynote of the Parker chorus in the
east Two of its editorials are to be
reprinted and circulated by the Demo
cratic committee as campaign d, Gu
ments. These two editorials are N the
| form of open letters addressed by Joseph
| Pulitzer, editor of the World to Theo-
dore Roosevelt. The first one 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 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 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 80, 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 OK
| August 23-is addressed TO Theodore
Roosevelt, Candidate for President of the
United States and the Western Hem
| isphere." The headlines ask if the Pres
ident is military megalomaniac." He
| is accused of a ''monomania" to be the
''grand lord protector of the two Amer
| icas.
A Gibbet of Folly.
This letter is interesting he
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 hy
| common sense, can on occasions, elevate
a man ordinarily so level headed as Jo-
seph Pulitzer.
| Rooseveh'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 usurpations, seriatim.
But it mquestionably omits much thar
would make its case stronger. For in
I
dent has increased the standing army
so that it has become a menace 10 the
| liberties of the citizens. (FOr, in fact,
during President Roosevelt's administra-
ton the army has been diminished, not
| increased.)
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 Roosevelts Administrations
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 he threatened, as it might
have proved against its favor ] Presi-
| lent Cleveland. (For in fact, lie 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 begun.)
I III
| Welt had used either corruption or force
to influence elections in any State, so
abasing the principle of local seif-gov-
| eminent. nor how he has depOsed re-
calcitrant governor, or dissolved hos
| tile State assembly after the fashion
of certain reconstruction Presidents.
| (For he has done none of these things)
IT does not show now he influenced
| judicial decisions, reversed decree of
| court. or suspended a judge who had
striven to limit the presidential usurpa-
| ton. This is always the first symptom
| of the dissolution of constitutional gov
ernment. (But President Roosevelt has
not been guilty of it,
| II does not show how, when the leg
| islature. maintaining its independence,
refused to divest itself of its authority
and bumbly 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 ring'eaders. As
| is well known, the terforizing of the
| legislature is the twin fererunner with
| the control of the Judiciary in the down
| fall Of free institutions.
Has Done None of This.
II does not show how the President
| annuHed the right Of free speech and i'm
posed vexatious censorship upon the
press The Worlds own articles are hY-
| 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. (I'or President Roose-
welt has not suspended the writ Of habeas
| corpus.D
Thus the record shows President
| Roosevelt has. in no single way, even
embryonically exceeded his constitutional
functions. lie has not turned his face
| In the direction Of a single one Of that
set of actions whereby tn. Vsurpers Of
| history have established themselves in
mower on the rui1s Of freedom. Ney-
ertheless. the World reiterates that, by
| his record. II can prove Iheodo-e R0ose-