The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-10-09
THE MANNER OF MAN
ROOSEVELT is

Speaking for the president in 1904,
Mr. Root, who thoroughly appreciated
the effect and meaning of his words.
declared that Mr. Hearst shared the
guilt of the assassin in that he first
assassinated the character of the vc-
tim and had so led up TO murder. To
assassinate character, in the opinion
of Mr.. Root. was a crime bearing close
relation to the shedding Of innocent
blood and, because Mr.. Hearst had
committed this Offense deliberately,
Mr. Root, speaking for President
Roosevelt, declared that Mr.. Hearst
was entirely unworthy Of respect or
credit. Is it not a bit singular that
President Roosevelt now accepts the
word OF Mr.. Hearst unsupported as
conclusive Of the guilt Of another and
on the faith of Mr. Hearst's word
alone that Mr.. Roosevelt should de-
clare Governor Haskell guilty OF an
odious crime without waiting TO hear
the defendant in his own behalf?
Is it strange that Mr.. Hearst's in
fOrmant should be found to speak on
"hearsay alone" and that the accused
should deny his guilt but call in vain
for proofs on which these two have
joined in accusing him? Upon failing
to find proof, the president of the
United States now says: Il will not
insist on the charge" Is this the
conduct of a man with even common
decency?
But this conduct is characteristic
of Mr.. Roosevelt. In 1904 he accused
Judge Parker of falsehood, and when
the truth Of Judge Parker had been
indicated in court Mr.. Roosevelt
made no effort to correct the state
ment it was charitable to believe he
had made in error. Years have gone
by and he has said nothing; Judge
Parker's character has been vindicat-
ed by affidayits and confessions; what
of Mr.. Rooseyelt's character?
A postal official old in honorable
service and gray in years. was accus-
ed by the president of theft In vain
did Mr.. Tyner ask the president to re-
tract words which might easily ipf1u-
ence even that scant measure of JUS
tice. The prosecuting officer of the
government declared that he found no
evidence against Mr. Tyner and the
case was dropped for this reason, as
stated on record The aged wife of
the defendant appealed to the presi-
dent to retraCt a charge that had
been proven without foundation, but
the president refused to do so and
has made no amends to the man or his
family to this day
Men on trial for their lives in a
western state were denounced as gull
ty by the president and the charge
remained, although the possible effect
of the charge on the jury was repeat
eddy pointed out to the president-the
jury after long and patient hearing in
which the wealth and influence of the
government were actively used to
prosecute, declared the defendants
mot guilty" but the president has
never retracted his charge or sought
TO make amends.
The president declares that the
guilt of Foraker cannot hurt Taft:
we are equally certain that the allag-
ed guilt of Haskell will not hurt Brv-
an. But the attitude of the president
IS an insult TO every American. and
constitutes an open defiance to law
and order. No man has the right to
speak as Mr.. Roosevelt speaks. but
when the president of the United
States so speaks he Outrages Justice
and so degrades his high Office as to
call for condemnation throughout the
country. Mr.. Taft would not so speak
to win the presidency-he should he
ashamed to profit and should be held
responsible for the efforts of such an
auxiliary in his behalf
The fact that corruption existed IN
high places under the government has
long been known to the president. but
the knowledge has been used to brow
beat those implicated into obedience
if proofs existed they have not bean
oHered IN court. If only suspicious
existed the president has neither the
moral nor the legal right to use tho
language he has frequently offered tho
world to the shame of America Pres.
ldent Roosevelt has never acted nm
TO Grants motto, Let no guilty man
escape"
Allowing the charge that puiIt ev.
listed in high places, the suspicion Of
completely lies against the renublicar
DdTTE and tho Y,yD-.------..