The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-18
GROSS LIBELER," "
''ArrOgates More Power
Than the Kaiser"
DENIES VARIOUS ASSERTIONS.

Declares That, So Far as the World ls
Concerned, Its Proprietor May Go to
Jail, but Even In Jail II Cannot Be
Muzxled-Message to Congress Call
ing For the Prosecution of Mr.. Pu-
liter For Criminal Libel Denounced
az Asserting the Doctrine Of Lexe
Maiesty-"Mr. Roosevelt's Lanenta-
BILE Habit Of Inaccurate Statement"
Deplored.
New York, Dec. 1G.-Joseph Pulitzer,
proprietor of the New York World,
made reply today to the message sent
to congress by President Roosevelt In
regard to the Panama canal purchase.
AS regards the epithets "lying," "li-
belous," "wantOnly," "wickedly," sin
fanny" iniquity," applied by the presi-
dent to the doings Of Mr.. Pulitger's
newspaper, Mr.. Pulitzer calls the pres
ident "a reckless, unscrupulous dema-
gogue" and says he 'bulldozes Judges
''besmirches con -ess," assails the In
tegrity of courts and has "viiified the
honor Of citizens grossly libeled the
United States and maintained reign
, of terror" He says:
Mr.. Roosevelt is mistaken. He cannot
muzzle the World.
While no amount of billingsgate on his
part can alter our determination to treat
him with judicial impartiality and scru-
pulous fairness, we repeat what we have
already said, that the congress OF the
United States should make thorough
investigation of the whole Panama trans
action that the full truth may be known
to the American people.
1t is a most extraordinary circumstance
that Mr.. Roosevelt himself did not de-
mand such an inquiry. All his protesta-
tions of outraged virtue, all his torrents
of imprecatiOn and denunciation with the
amazing assertion that there is nothing
whatever in which this government is In
terested to investigate about this trans
action"
The World fully appreciates the impor-
tance and Significance of Mr.. Roosevelt 8
statement when he declares to congress
that the proprietor of the World "should
be prosecuted for libel by the govern
mental authorities" and that 1.-The attor-
ney general has under consideration the
form under which the proceedings against
Mr.. Pulitzer shall be brought"
This Ii the first time a president ever
asserted the doctrine of leze majesty or
proposed in the absence Of specific legis-
lation the criminal prosecution by the
government OF citizens who criticised the
conduct of the government or the conduct
of individuals who may have had busi-
ness dealings with the government.
Neither the king of Great Britain nor
the German emperor would venture to
arrogate such power to himself. John
Adams attempt to enforce the sedition
law destroyed the Federalist party in
America. Yet Mr.. Roosevelt in the alb
0f 0Hi0inllv all
the power OF the greatest government on
earth to cripple the freedom OF the press
on the pretext that the government itself
has been libeled-and he is the govern
ment.
1t is true that the World printed the
public reports concerning the Panama
canal affair which resulted from William
Nelson Cromwells appeal to the district
attorneys Office during the recent cam
paign to prevent the publication OF q
story which was said to be in the hands
OF the Democratic national committee.
II is true alse that when Mr. Roosevelt
made his attack upon Delavan Smith tho
World called attention to certain state
ments which Mr.. Roosevelt must have
known to be false or misleading and ap
pealed to congress to end all scandal BY
full and impartial investigation. Il
this be treason let Mr.. Roosevelt mak'
the most of It.
Mr.. RooseVelt's lamentable habit of in
accurate statement makes 1t impossibl,
to accept either his judgments or his con
clusIons. In his message he does no
state correctly even SO simple q matte
as the pretended causes OF his grievance.
He says, for example. that the WorlC
asserted that there was corruption by o.
on behalf OF the government OF the Unit
ed States" No such charge was mad
by this newspaper.
He says It was asserted that there wer
Improper dealings OF some kind between
agents of the government and outsd
persons" No such charge was made.
He says that "among those person
who. 1t was alleged. made huge profitA
were Mr.. Charles p. Taft. a brother o
Mr.. William II. Taft, then candidate TO
the presidency. and Mr.. Douglas Robin
son, my brother-in-law." No such charg
was made.
The World has never said that Charlie
p. Taft or Douglas Robinson made an
profits whatever. Mr.. Taft denied tina
he was concerned in the transaction 4
any way, which denial the World pub
llshed and accepted. II would have bee
equally glad Gktprlnt Mr.. R0binson's de
hlai could It u4fo succeeded In obtaining