Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-07
IN THE PlLLORY.
The President Has Shown Himself to
BE Il Eluudcrer.

The President Has Shown Himself to
Be a b~lundcrer.
One of the leading newspapers of the
country, referring to the disclosures
made by Senator Tillman respecting
his conspiracy with the PRESIDENT
says Of Mr.. Roosevelt that he has been
finally caught in the trap of his own
duplicity and Gagged there for the re-
gretful gaze of a mortified nation.'
Another great newSpaper-and Il Re
publican newspaper, too-declares that
'too much has been made public in
connection with the Tillman exposures
ito please those who wish to retain es-
TEEN for the occupants of honorable
positions in the public service and
suggests that "the public can be best
served and the dignity of the presi-
Dental office best sustained by the So
Der performance of it's duties and non
interference with other branches of the
government" In regard to the presi-
dents denunciation of William T..
Chandler, the same paper the Balti-
more Americanl says in an editorial:
while it is as patriotic to assume
that the executive is always right and
every one else wrong, it would seem to
be the part of wisdom not to strain that
sentiment too much. Heretofore there
have been some wise and %virtuous peo-
pie in the land besides the presidents,
and it is possible that there are still Il
few scattered over the country
The president has shown himself to
be a blunderer, if no worse, and it is
clear from such expressions of public
opinion as we have quoted that he has
at last forfeited the confidence and re-
spect of Republicans and Democrats
alike. 1t is evident, moreover, that
even While dealing with him senator's
have been obliged to use the same pre-
cautions against fraud and duplicity
which prudent men use in dealing with
known tricksters by securing docu-
mentary evidence of the nature of the
transactions in anticipation of bad
faith. This documentary evidence sus-
tains the charge of duplicity made by
Senator Tillman, which is in substance
that Roosevelt with the design of ap-
pearing to be the real author Of rate
legislation secretly trafficked at the
same time with both factions of the
Republicans and with the Democrats
and that after receiving the support Of
the latter he betrayed them and his
Republican allies and sought to de-
ceive the country by means of false ac-
cusations against William E. Chandler,
whom he had authorized to treat in his
behalf with Senators Bailey and Till
man. Fortunate indeed it was for Till
man and Bailey that they used the pre-
caution now ascribed also to Republic
an senator's "lest there should be traps
for them"
The president says, There was not
the slightest opportunity for any hon
est misconception of my attitude" But
the evidence shows that there was I'M
pie ground for suspicion, though posi-
bly, the very existence Of that well
grounded suspicion shows that there
was no real misconception either of his
attitude or his character. The suSpi-
cion was justified by his past life and
was verified by the result of the trans
action.
The president has been convicted of
prevarication, and he has told us in
his sermons what to think Of a liar.
1.-THE liar" he says, sis no better than
a thief" And again: eff any one lies,
If he has the habit of untruthfulness,
you cannot deal with him because there
is nothing to depend on" 'Truth tell
ing is a virtue upon which we should
insist not only in the schools and at
home, but in business and in politics
just as much" "The business man or
politician who does not tell the truth
cheats, and for the cheat we should
have no use in any walk of life
These are some of the aphorisms utter
ed by Roosevelt. They are not the
children of his own brain, but have
been appropriated by him as the devil
quotes Scripture to serve his purposes.
They are as true as if he had never
uttered them and unfortunately find
application in the present case to the
great grief Of honest men.