Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-18
THE PRESIDENT AND THE WORLD
Remarkable Controversy Over the
Panama Canal Deal.


been made against him and his ad-
ministration in connection with the
Panama canal DEAL The principal re-
sponsibility for the charges, is on the
New York World, and large portion
of the message is devoted to that pa
per, which the president denounced in
the most bitter and Incorporate Ian
guage. The message Is probably the
most remarkable Of the many remark
able papers the president has sent to
congress. The World Is denounced as
most unscrupulous liar and the pres
dent recommends that Mr.. Pulitzer, the
proprietor, be prosecuted and imprison-
ed for criminal libel. With the mes
sage the president sends most Of the
records in connection with the Panama
deal; but does not give the names Of any
Americans who received any portion Of
the $40,000,000 that was paid over on
account Of the same. There was
amusement in both the house and sem
ate over the reading Of the message,
senators and representatives on both
sides Of both houses, laughing in de-
rision at the Incorporate language used
by the president. 1t is said the Ian
guage was the most intemperate and
unseemly that has ever been used In
the history Of the country, and that
never has a message been received with
so much disrespect
The New York World, Wednesday,
makes an extended reply to the presi-
dents message, and in the course Of
it's reply says:
MIR. Roosevelt is mistaken. He
cannot muzzle the World.
While no amount Of billingsgate
on his part can alter our determine
ton to treat him with judicial impair
TALLY and scrupulous fairness, we re-
peat what we have already said, that
the congress of the United States
should make thorough investigation
Of the whole Panama transaction, that
the full truth may be known to the
American people.
1.-The World fully appreciates the
compliment paid to 1t by Mr.. Roose-
velt in making it the subject Of spe-
cial message TO the congress of the
United States
1.-The World likewise appreciates the
Importance of Mr.. RooseVelt's state
ment when he declares to congress that
the proprietor of the World should be
prosecuted for libel by the government
al authorities, and that the attorney
general has under consideration the
form under which the proceedings
against Mr.. Pulitzer shall be brought
This Is the first time president
ever asserted that doctrine Of lese
maJeste, or proposed. in the absence Of
specific legislation, the criminal prose-
cution by the government Of citizens
who criticised the conduct Of the gov
ernment or the conduct Of individuals
who may have had business dealings
with the gopsrnHFeat. Neither thelung
of Great Britain or the German en-
peror would venture to arrogate such
power to himself. John Adams at
tempt to enforce the sedition law de-
stroyed the Federalist party in Amer
lea. Yet Mr. Roosevelt in the absence
Of law officially proposes to use all the
power Of the greatest government on
earth to cripple the freedom Of the
press on the pretext that the govern
ment itself has been libeled-and he is
the government.
1T is true that the World printed
the public reports concerning the Pan
anna canal affair which resulted from
William Nelson Cromwelps appeal to
the district attorneys Office during the
recent campaign to prevent the publi-
catiCn of a story which was said to be
in the hands Of the Democratic nation
al committee. 1t was Mr.. Cromwell's
own action which raised the issue In
the campaign.
1T Is true also that when Mr. Roose-
welt made his attack upon Delavan
Smith, the World called attention to
certain statements which Mr.. Roosevelt
must have known to be false or mis-
leading and appealed to congress to
end all scandal by full and impartial
investigation. If this be treason, let
Mr.. Roosevelt make the most Of it.
"Mr. Roosevelts lamentable habit of
inaccurate statements make 1t impos-
sible to accept either his judgments or
his conclusions. In his message he
does not state correctly even so simple
a matter as the pretended causes Of his
grievance. The World has never said
that Charles P. Taft, or Douglas Rob-
inson made any profits whatever. Mr.
Taft denied that he was concerned In
the transaction in any way, which de-
NAL the World published and accept
ed. It would have been equally glad to
print Mr. Robinson's denial could 1t
have succeeded in obtaining one from
him, as 1t frequently attempted. The
World has no evidence that he was as
sociated with Mr. Cromwell, and would
accept his word to that effect; for Mr..
Robinson is an estimable gentleman Of
high character, whose reputation for
veracity is infinitely better than that
of his distinguished brother-in-law.
IF the World has libeled anybody we
hope it will be punished, but we no not
intend to be intimidated by Mr.. Roose-
velt's threats or by Mr.. Roosevelt's
denunciation, or by Mr.. Roosevelt's
power
NO other living man ever so grossly
libeled the United States as does this
president who besmirches congress,
bulldozes judges, assails the integrity
of courts, slanders private citizens, and
who has shown himself the most reck-
less, unscrupulous demagogue whom
the American people ever trusted with
great power and authority.
I'VE say this not in anger but in
sincere sorrow The World has I'M
measurably more respect for the Of
flee Of president Of the United States
than Theodore Roosevelt has even
shown during the years in which he
has maintained a reign Of terror and
l.. 80 I,NAl