The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-18


cannot muzzle the World.
'While no amount of billlnsgate
on his part can alter our determina-
ton to treat him with judicial i'm
partiality and scrupulous fairness;
we repeat 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.
"The World fully appreciates the
compliment paid to it by Roosevelt
in making it the subject Of special
message to the congress Of the Unit
ed States.
"The World likewise appreciates
the Importance Of Mr.. Roosevelt's S
statement when he declares to the
congress that the proprietor Of the
World should be prosecuted for libel
by the governmental authorities, and
that 'the attorney general has under
consideration the form under which
the proceedings against Mr.. Pulizer
shall be brought
"This is the first time a presldeat
ever asserted the doctrine Of lese ma
ieste or proposed, in the absence Of
specific legislation, the criminal pro-
secution by the government Of cltlz-
ems who criticised the conduct Of the
government or the conduct of indivl-
duals who may have had business
dealings with the government. Neith-
er the king Of Great Britain nor the
German Emperor would venture 70
arrogate such power to himself. John
Adams's attempt to enforce the sedl-
ton law destroyed the Federalist par
ty in America. Yet Mr.. Roosevelt, in
the absence of law, officially propos-
es to use all the power Of the great
est government on earth to cripple
the freedom Of the press on the pre-
text that the government itself has
been ibelled-and he is the govern
ment.
"It is true that the World printed
the public reports concerning the
Panama canal affair which resulted
from William Nelson Cromwell's ap-
peal to the district attorneys office
during the recent campaign to pre-
vent the publication Of story which
was said to be in the hands Of the
Democratic national committee. It
was Mr.. Cromwell's own action which
raised the issue in the campaign.
cit is true also that when Mr..
Roosevelt made his attack upon Dela-
van Smith the World called attention
to certain statements which Mr..
Roosevelt must have known to be
false or misleading, 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. Roosevelt's lamentable habit
of inaccurate statements make it i'm
possible to accept either his Judg-
ments or his conclusions. In his mes
sage 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
and Douglas Robinson made any pro-
fits whatever. Mr.. Taft denied that
he was concerned in the transaction
in any way, which denial the World
published and accepted. 1t would
have been equally glad to print Mr.
Robinson's denial could it have sue
ceeded in obtaining one from him. as
il frequently attempted. The World
Mss no evidence that ne was associat-
ed with Mr.. Cromwell, and would ac-
eept his word to that eE,ct, for Mr..
Erbinson is ar estimab1e gentleman
# nleh character, whose reputation
FIR veracity is infinitei' h>tter than
that o. his distinguish ! D"otier-in-
law.
eff the World has libelled anybody
we hope it will be punished, but we
do not intend to be intimidated by
Mr.. Roosevelt's threats or by Mr..
Roosevelt's denunciation, or by Mr..
Roosevelt's power.
"No other living man ever so gross
ly libelled the United States as does
this president, who besmirshes the
congress, bulldozes judges, assails the
integrity Of courts, ISLANDERS private
citizens. and who has shown himself