The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-05-25
A MUCK MESSAGE.
The President penounces the Judi
ciary.-"A Miscarriage of JUS
tice.

Washington Correspondence
The trusts escape through hollow
made by the istration-congress
recommended to change the Federal
statutes to cover the official mistakes.
President Roosevelt is undoubtedly a
close student of Machilvelh. the foun-
der of the modern school of diplomacy.
His special message to congress re-
specting the opinion of Judge Hum
phrey upsetting his contention in the
case against the beef packers, coming
on the heels OF his confiscation scheme
show that he is now tring to fan into
a flame the hostility of certain classes,
not only against another class of So
ciety, but also against the courts. II
he can so far increase the hatred OF
the people toward the Federal courts,
that they would support him in any
violation OF the constitution, laws, and
treaties of the United States, there
would no longer be any barrier be-
tween the president and the perma-
nent and hereditary dictatorship a.
which he seems to be aiming. The
court may or may not have been
wrong in that case.
The constitution provides that no
person shall be compelled to give evil
a LII 9. -
ten been held in pursuance Of this
provision, that where evidence has
been obtained upon the assurance, ex-
press or necessarily implied, that 1t
will not be used against the witness,
he is entitled to immunity under the
wise provision of the contribution,
made for the protection of individuals
liberty. We understand the courts
opinion in the case of the beef pack
ers to be no more than this old rule
Iof law. There is a probability. IN
deed, that the case against the pack
ers was prepared with a full knoWleI
&c of this rule, and in anticipation of
Judge Humphreys action in pursu-
ance of it; and that it was so pre-
pared-that Mr.. Garfield was induced
to obtain confdentially for the gov
eminent the information on which the
prosecution was based-in order that q
miscarriage of Justice would inevi-
tably be the result, while our Michav-
Ielian student in the White House
would gain the opportunity 10 go in
Ieruption just before the coal strike.
On Saturday, April IA, he delivered
his speech on confiscation and muck
rule; on Thursday, April 10. ne sent
to congress his attacks on the courts,
which, If we're we'll founded, would be
the finest muck rake performance ev-
Ier witnessed. After denouncing the
faction of the courts as a miscarriage
Iof Justice the president adds: This
Interpretation of the will of congress
as expressed in legislation is such as
ito make that will absolutely abortive;' -
and again: Il can hardly believe that
the ruling will be followed by other
judges" meaning the supreme court
OF the United Statesh If this is a
threat, or merely a gratuitous insult
! to a coordinate branch of the gov
eminent? 1t may be both in one. OF
icourse. this threat and insult will be
despised b. the supreme court. But
can congress afford TO let the incident
pass without rebukiDg The offender
/ Can it afford to allow the president to
inject into its messages to them, and
to spread upon the pages of the jour
nails, such muck as this? Such charges
against the court and other insinua-
tons, as this muck message contains:
The president has no right to say
such things In his official capacity
Tehy are distinctly libelous in char
acter.
The president might properly have
called TO the attention of congress the
desirabnity of new legislation in view
of the courts decision; but to hold VI
a judge to popular eXecration, and tC
insinuate that other judges. who would
be called upon TO review the case or
approval. would be put into the same
Ipilory if they dared to sustain the
ruling of the lower court; and to have
spread upon the journals of congress
in a message from the president. I.
furnishing the worst of possible ex.
ample for the people OF this time
This message deserves TO so down IL
history as the only genuine muck.
message" ever sent to congress by az
Amcri s9n president.