Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-12-23
BONAPARTE STILL CONSIDER
ING.


Acknowledgement Bonaparte an
nounees that the Department of JUS
tice still has under consideration ac-
tions for criminal libel against those
editors President Roosevelt regards as
having "libeled the government"
The libels, if there were any, were
not against the people of the United
States, for whom the government
merely stands They were against
certain individuals, Charles Taft, bro
Their of President-elect Taft, Doug
lass Robinson, bPother-in-law OF
President Roosevelt, Cromwell, the
promoterD0f the Panama Canal deal,
and others to whom the courts of the
HAND are all open under the ordinary
procedure of law if they have been
libeled, criminally or otherwise.
1t is very far strained construction
that President Roosevelt puts upon
'the government" When did the
Presidents brother-in-law, the presi-
dent elects step-brother, promoter
Cromwell, ct al, become the govern
ment" of the United States. No won
der Attorney-Gene Bonaparte is
still considering the best manner
in which to bring the libel suits. The
Attorney General recently had a very
severe set back in certain Florida
peOnage cases. He doubtless does
not aspire to have another Judge dis
miss a case brought by him with
equal contempt for the Attorney-Gen-
erals legal methods.
The time for the crime of ''lese ma
jeste" has not yet come in this coun-
try. The divinity that doth hedge
about" the president does not yet ex-
tend to his brother-in-law, the presi-
dent-eleets half-brother, and their al
legged companions in business deal.
The country knows that. The country
is not yet prepared to believe that it
is the duty of the government to
prosecute libel cases for private in
dividuals, no matter if they may
have been grossly wronged. If Presi-
dent Roosevelt's mischieyous ideas
had full swing no criticism of public
acts would be tolerated To criticise
or condemn or impeach or suspect the
acts of a member of the official fam
lily, or any one of near kin, would be,
if crob n proood,,ro &c DOOeavaI+
desires were possible, the signal to
turn loose all the power of the gov
eminent to prosecute, harrass, annoy,
damage and punish those guilty
of having denounced improper public
acts or directed attention to their
suspicious character.
It will be an evil day for the Amer
lean people when such an idea as
this is allowed to secure a foothold,
when the press and public must fall
PROSTATE before off1cialdom and its
family and business connections, and
close its eyes and ears to their do
ings for fear of governmental prose-
NutAOiios vi pei SCSulIOllSy III 4IDGA.
Even in Germany they don't go quite
that far Even Russian conditions
could be no worse.
If Messrs Taft, Robinson, Crom-
we'll, ct. al. have been libeled they
have the same recourse in the courts
that other citizens have The govern
ment, as an institution representing
the entire people of the United States,
has absolutely nothing to do with it,
Such incidents as this will make
thoughtful mon everywhere hail the
coming of Mar.:h 4, next and the adj
vent of an administration headed by
a calm, conse Native, judicial and
highly trained mind The country is
not apt to hear of any government
prosecutions for libel under the Taft
administration. Attorney General
Bonaparte will doubtless keep con
sidering" until that time and the in
cident will then be closed save as it
remains a reminder of the necessity
for a closer restraint upon the exc
cutive than has been maintained dur
ing the 1,ast seven ye3rs.