The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-12-16
Declares President Has Carri'
ed Doctrine of Lese Majestic
Further Than Kaiser.
Says He Cannot Muzzle Ed
tOrial Policy.
SAYS COUNTRY Is HBELLED

New York, Dec. 16.-The World
In its answer to the presidents refer
ence to that paper In his special mes
sage, To congress, says:
MI Roosevelt is mistaken. He
cannot muzzle the World. While no
amount OF billIngsgate on his part
can alter our determination 10 treat
him with judicial lmpartlality and
scrupulous fairness. we repeat what
we have already said, that the con-
gress Of the United states should
make a thorough investigation of the
whole Panama transaction. that the
full truth may be known to the
American people.
The World appreciates the import
ance and Significance OF Rooseyeh's
statement when be declared TO con-
gress that the proprietor OF the
World should be prosecuted for hbei
by governmental authorities and that
the attorney general has under con-
sidera,lon the form under which the
proceedings against Pulitzer shall be
brought.
Doctrine Of Iesc Majesty.
This is the first time the presl-
dent ever asserted the doctrine OF
lese majesty. or proposed. In the alb
sence OF specific legislation. the
criminal prosecution by the govern
ment OF citizens who criticized the
conduct OF the government or the con
duct OF individuals who may have
had business dealings with the gov
eminent, Neither the king OF Great
Britain nor the German emperor
would venture TO arrogate such n
power 20 himself John Adams at
tempt TO enforce the sedltlon law de-
ftroyed the federaiist party In Ameri-
ca. Yet Roosevelt. In the absence Of
law. oficlally proposes TO Use all
the power OF the greatest govern
ment on earth TO cripple the freedom
OF the press on the pretext that the
government itself had been lIbeled.-
and he Is the government.
Cromwell 60 Blame.
cit Is true that the World printed
public reports concerning the Pana-
ma canal affaIr which resulted from
William Nelson Cromwel's appeal
20 the district attorneys Office dur
ing the recent campaign 20 prevent
the publication Of the story which
was said 10 be IA the hands OF the
Democratic national committee. IL
was Cromwells own action which
raised this issue in the campaign.
at Is true also that when Roose-
welt made his attack upon Delavan
Smith the World called attention TO
certain statements which Roosevelt
must have known to be false or mis-
leading and appealed to him to end
all the scandal by full and impartial
Investigation. II this be treason, let
Roosevelt make the most OF H."
Has n had Habit.
"Roseyelt's lamentable habit OF
inaccurate statements makes II Inn
possible TO accept his judgments or
his conclusions. In his message he
does not state correctly. even so sim
pie a matter as the causes of his
grievance.
"The World has never said that
Charles z. Taft or Douglas Robinson
made any profit whatever. Taft de-
mid that nj was concerned In the
transaction in any way. which denial
the World published and accepted.
II would have been equally glad to
print Robinsons denial could II have
succeeded In obtaining one from
him, as II frequently attempted The
World has no evidence that he was
associated with Cromwell and would
accept hts word to that effect, for
Robinson is an estimable gentleman
OF high character. whose reputation
for veraclty is indefinitely better than
that Of his distinguished brother-in-
law.
We hope II will be punished, but we
do not intend to be inundated by
Roosevelts threats or by Roosevelt's
denunciation or by Roosevelt's
power.
Roosevelt Iibels U. $.
mo otter living man ever so
grossly libeled the United States as
does this president who besmirches
congress. bulldozes judges. assails
the Integrity of the courts. ISLANDERS
private citizens, and who has shown
himself the most reckless, I'M
scrupulous 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
mensely more respect for the office
OF president of the United States than
Theodore Roosevelt has ever shown