The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-07


States government has not the slight
est knowledge as to the particular in
diyiduals among whom the French
government distributed this sum. This
was the business OF the French gov
crnment. The mere supposition that
any American received from the
French government a rake off is too
absurd to be discussed. II is an abom
nible falsehood, and slander, not
against the American government.
but against the French government.
The News continues, saying that tho
presidents brother-in.law Is involved
in the scandal
Defends Brother-ln-Law.
The PRESIDENT S brother-in-law is
involved in no scandal. DeLavan
Smith and other people who repeat
ed this falsehood lied about the pres!-
dents brother-in-law; but why the
fac that Smith lied should he held to
involve Robinson in a scandal is diff.
ficult to understand. The scandal at,
fects 40 one but Smith; and his story
has been not merely scandalous but
Infamous. Robinson had not the
I slightest connection with the Panama
imatter. Neither did Charles Taft. Tho
News says Mr. Taft was member OF
| the syndicate AS far as | know
! there was no syndicate; there GER
! tainly was no syndicate in the United
States that had any dealings with
the government, and inasmuch as
there was no syndicate, Taft natural
ly could not belong to it"
Further along the president says:
"DeLavan Smith is conspicuous
defender against the laws of honesty
and truthfulness; but he does no,
stand alone. He occupies, for in
stance, the same evil eminence with
such men as Mr.. Lanan of the New
York Sun the editorials of whose
papers, from time to time sent to
ne, and o fthe editorials thus sent me
there is hardly one which does not
contain some wilful and deliberate
peryersion of trust.
THE fact is these particular news.
papers habitually and continually and
as a matter of business, practice
every form of mendacity known to
man, from the suppression of the
truth and the suggestion Of the false
to the lie direct. Those who write or
procure others to write these articles
are engaged in a practice of men
dacity for hire; and surely there can't
be a lower form of gaining liveli |
hood.
Can't Answer AL
Whether they are paid by outsiders |
to say what is false or whether thei: |
profit comes from the circulation of |
falsehoods is matter of small conse'
quence. 1t is utterly impossible TO
answer all ftheir fasehoods. They |
state what they either know is untrue
or could by the slightest inquiry find
out TO be untrue. ! doubt if they |
themselves remember their own false
hoods for more than very brief per-
iods and | doubt still more whether
any body else does. OF course now
and then | am willing to denounce "A
given falsehood, as, for instance, as
regarts this case of the indianapolis
News, or the case | have quoted of
The Ne wYork Sun, simply because it
lpears that some worthy people are
misled or puzzled by the direct
sham, lessness of the untruth. But
,rdinaryily / do not and cannot pay
need % these falsehoods. If | did, |
would not be able 10 do my work.
Such Men a Menace.
There is no higher and more hon
,rable calling than that of men con
lected with upright, fearless, and
truthful newspapers; no calling in
which a man can render greater ser
ice 10 his fellow countrymen. The
,est and ablest editors and writer's in
he daily press render service 10 the
ommlnity which can hardly be par. .
llele, by the service rendered by
he best and ablest men in public life,
IT men i'm business. But the con-
erse Of this proposition is also true,
he n ost corrupt inanciers and the
most corrupt politicians, are no great .
r menace to the country than news
aper men of the type | have above
iscus sed. Whether they belong TO
he yellow press or TO the purchased
ress. whatever may be the stimu-
sting cause of their slanderous men v
scity and whatever the cloak it may L
'ear. matters but little. "
In sny event they represent one of o
he potent forces for evil i'm the com "a
lunity. s
Yours very truly. n
THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 81
o William Dudley Foulke. Richmond
Indiana. Id