River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-22
ROOSEVELTS WORDS
PRESIDENTS UTTERANCES MA
LICIOUSLY MISCONST RUED.
Ludicrous Attempt by Self-En-
throned Democratic Leader to Make
Safe Man Appear as Dangerous to
the Country Letter.
Chicago Tribune.)

(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 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 one occupied
a 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 30, 1904. But as
that document did not seem to brighten
anybody to Parker, the hot blood Of
strong desire denied mounted to the
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 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-frst, 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
a man ordinarily so level headed as JO
seph Pulitzer.
Roosevelts 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 Presl-
dent has increased the standing army
so that it has become a menace to the
liberties of the citizens. (FOr, i'll fact,
during President ROosevelts administra-
ton the army has been diminished, not
increased.)
It 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 facta there
has been no war of any sort during
President RooseveIt's administrator
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 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
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
II
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 none of these things)
It does not show how he Influenced
judicial decisions, reversed decree of
court or suspended judge who had
N
tion. This is always the first symptom
of the dissolution of constitutional gov
eminent. (But President Roosevelt has
not been guilty Of it,
It does not show how, when the leg
islature maintaining its independence,
refused to divest itself of it's authority
and humbly 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 forerunner with
the control of the Judiciary in the down
fall of free institutions.
Hae Done None of This.
If does not show how the President
annulled the right of free speech and i'm
posed a vexatiOus censorship upon the
press. The Worlds own articles are Ev
ing proof that he has done none of this.
1t does not show how, like the great
est of our residents, he has, under the
plea of national duress, suspended the
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
embrvonicaIly exceeded his constitutional
functions. He has not turned his face
in the direction of a single one of that
SET of actions whereby the usurpers of
history have established themselves in
mower on the ruins of freedom. New
artheless the World reiterates that, by