The river press., 1904-10-19
RoostvELT's WORDS
PRESIDENTS uTTERANCEs MA.
LICIOUsLY MlscON8 TRuED.
Laadacrous Attempt by Self-En-
throned Dem ecratic Leader to Make
safe Man Appear as dangerous to
the Country Letter.
Chicago ,rribune.)

! the COuntry-PMlitZor'sL Letter.
Chicago Tyibpne.)
The New York World is probably the
Elost enthusiastic Parker pap5r i'll the
country. To an extent it is striking the
Keynote of the Parker chorus in the
cast: Two of its editorials are to be
reprinted and circulated by the Demo-
cratic committee as campaign docu-
uaentg These two editorials are in the
form Of open letters addressed by Joseph
Pulitzer. editor Of the World. to Theo-
,lore Roosevelt. The first one occupied
pagc-the second nearly two pages
Tho third may take up three pages.
In The words of Mr.. Pulitzer. 1.-The
paramount Issue of this campaign is not
as you would have it. free trade or free
silver. hut YOU YOURSELF-Thco-
dnre Roosevelt. This issue is forced
upon the country by your unusual tenn
per.,Went 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 frghten
anybody to Parker. the hot blood If
strong desire denied mounted to the
brain Of Mr. Pulitzer. and his emotions
! ravished his Judgment. His second let
! tcr-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 if the Pres
idcnt is Il military megalomaniac." He
is accused of ''nlonomania" to be the
grand lord protector Of the two Amer
icas.
A Gibbet Of Folly.
This letter is interesting-frst, be-
| cause the World is generally recognized
as The chief Parker spokesman; second,
as all exhibition of that gibbet Of folly
to which partisan zeal, unte1npered by
common sense, can Oh occasions, elevate
! man ordinarily SO level headed as Jo-
seph Pulitzer.
ROoscvelt's record. contends the World,
clearly indicates that his return to pow
G. would be vested with the ruin Of
| cur free institutions. 1t proceeds to
! examine all his despotic procedures and
| unconstitutional usnrpations, seratim.
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 u menace to the
| liberties of the citizens. QNor. in fact,
during President Roosevelts 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 We're begun,
not as the constitution provides. by an
act of Congress. but at the imperial die
tntion of the ruler. (For. in factx there
has been no war Of any sort during
President Roosevelts administration.l
! Always for Peace.
| 1t does not even show how the Prcsi
dent has brought the country to the
verge of Il desperate war. which was
prevented only by the retreat of the
country which he threatened, as it might
have proved against it's favored Presi-
E,lrNt Cleveland. (For in fact. the Pres
iucnt has at no time brought the country
near Il war. Ills efforts and those OF his
| Secretary of State have been consist
entity directed toward the peace of the
world. and the cirr,Imscribing of the area
Of hostilities once wars have begun.)
! 1t does not show how President Roosc-
welt had used either corruption or force
| to influence elections in any State, so
aba sing the principle OF local self-gov-
| emnrnt, nor how he has deposcd II re-
| calcitrant governor. or dissolved a hos
| tile State assembly after the fashion
| OF certain reconstruction Presidents.
| ('or he has done none OF these things.)
| 1t does not show how he influenced
judicial decisions. reversed decree Of
| rl,,1 t,,.1r ,.r1,p had
| strivcn to limit the presidential usurpa
ton. This is always the first symptom
| OF the dissolution of constitutional gov
crmcnt. (But President Roosevelt has
not been guilty Of IT'D
| II does not show how. when the leg
islatnrc. maintaining it's Independence.
| refused to livcst itself Of its authority
and lumbly accept the "adyice' of the
man on horseback. he filled the halls OF
the lawmakers with bayoncts ovevawed
the tribunes of the people. dissolved the
sitting. imprisoned the ringleaders AS
is wcll known. the tcrrorizing of the
legislature is the twin rorcrunner with
the control of the judiciary in the down
| fall of free institutions.
| Has Done None Of This.
! 1t does not show how the President
| annulleu the right OF free speech and lm-
posed Il vcxatiouS censorship upon the
press. The Worlds own articles are liv-
ing proof that he has done nouc Of this.
1t does not show how. like the great
est of our .'residcnts. he has. under the
| plea OF national durcss. suspended the
writ of habeas corpus-the very spirit
of civil liberty. 0'or President Roose-
welt has not suspended the writ of habeas
corpuS.I
Thus the record shows President
Roosevelt has. in no single way. even
cmhryonically, exceeded his constitutional
| functions. He has not turned his face
! in the direction of a single one Of thar
! set OF actions whereby the usurpers OF
history have established themselves in
power Oh the ruins of freedom. New
crthcless. the World reitcrates that, by
his record. it can prove Theodore Roose-
| Welt to be u man dangerous to the lib
critics OF his country. How can this
! 1yuof he wrought: