The Irish standard., 1908-12-19
PULITZER AND PRESIDENT.

Of the New York World, for articles
which appeared in that paper demand
ing information about the forty mil
lion dollars paid by the government
III connection with the Panama Canal.
The epithets applied by Roosevelt to
Pulitzer in the message caused the
solons to laugh, and they thanked their
stars that they were not the victims
of his vituperation. A Washington
dispatch says:
"The senators and representatives
laughed aloud. some of them derisive-
ly at the castigation which the editor re-
ceived. and the labels placed upon him
of falsiher,' 'libeler and 'slanderer'
were unanimously voted as the most
vigorous terms ever employed in an
executive communication, even by the
wtelder of the big stick who has
never been known to choose soft
phrases when the short and ugly word
will be more effective for his pur-
poses.''
The New York World, in an editorial
written by Mr.. Pulitzer himself, re-
plies to the President in a vigorous,
fearless style, saying he cannot muz-
zle the World, and that the Congress
Of the United States should make
thorough investigation of the whole
Panama transaction in order that the
full truth may be known to the Ameri.
can people,
The editor of the World filings words
defiantly at the President and stis-
n'atizes him as 'the most reckless,
unscrupulous demagogue whom the
American peopfe:i ever trusted with
great power and authority" IF the
v orld has libeled anybody" continues
the editor, I'VE hope it will be punish
ed, but We do not intend to be intini-
dated by Mr.. Roosevelt's threats, or by
Mr. Roosevelt's denunciation, or by
MIR. Roosevelt's power" Then he says:
This is the first time a president
ever asserted the doctrine Of lese ma
jeste, or proposed. in the absence of
specific legislation, the criminal pros
ccution by the government Of citizens
who criticised the conduct of the gov
ernn1ent or the conduct Of individuals
who may have had business dealings
with the government. Neither the
king Of Great Britain nor the German
emperor would venture to arrozate
such power to himself. John Adams
attempt to enforce the sedition law
destroyed the Federalist party in
America. Yet Mr.. Roosevelt in the alb
sence Of law officially proposes to use
all the power Of the greatest govern
,nent on earth to cripple the freedom
Of the press on the pretext that the
government itself has been libeled-
and he is the government"
Mr.. Pulitzer asserts that he is
chronic invalid who has been away for
his health practically for two years;
that he never read a word or syllable
Of the Panama story. and that he had
nothing to do with it. He says Mr..
Roosevelt is perfectly aware Of these
facts, and that his anger is simply due
to the sharp attacks on him politically
by the World. For that perhaps 1 am
responsible" he says, that is, for
the general political criticisms Of Mr..
Roosevelt on public and political
grounds solely" and he concludes by
saying the World will continue to
crlticise him without a shadow of fear
If he had to edit the paper from Jail.
That shows that there is no back
down on Pulitzer's part.
The Irish Standard believes in the
freedom of the press in this country,
~ accordance with the article of the
constitution which says that Congress
shall make no law ''abridging the
freedom Of speech, or Of the press"
If the President has a grievance
against the New York World. let him
prosecute as an individual citizen and
rot in his official capacity as head Of
the government. He will get ample
protection and redress in the courts Of
the land at the hands Of q Judge and
& jury of his peers. Let him not
initiate the administration Of John
Adams and his sedition laws when ed
itors were prosecuted for false, scam
dalous or malicious writings. to bring
the government, Congress or the presi.
dent into contempt or disrepute -
Newspapers frequently say many
things for which they ought to be held
responsible. If the World has sland-
cred Roosevelt or his subordinates, it
deserves to be punished in the Ameri-
can way. and not according to the
ways in vogue in the effete monarchies
of Europe. Mr.. Pulitzer is a millionaire
who can afford IN nap d.~.uas - 40.