The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-16
"No Other Living Man Ever So Grossly LibelIed Country as This UnscrupulouS
 Demagogue, ..
REIGN OF TERROR PRODUCED
stinging Reply to President s Message Urging Congress to Act Against Publisher
 for Criminal
 Libel.

New York Dec lb-The World m inc course of its answer to President Koosevelts reference to that paper in his special message to congress today, says:
 MT Roosevelt is mistaken. He can nQt muz2le the World
 While no amount Of Billingsgate on his part can alter our determination to treat him with judicial impartlality and scrupulous fairness, we repeat what we have already said that the congress of of the United States should make thorough investigation of the whole Panama transaction, that the full truth may he known to the American people. "The World fully appreciates the compliment paid to t by MT. Roose- welt in making 1t the subject of spe- cial message to the congress of the United States.
 "The World likewise appreciates the Importance and significance of Mir. Roosevclt's statement when he declares to congress that the proprietor of the World should be prosecuted for libel by the governmental authorities. and that the attorney general has under con sderaton the form under which the proceedings against MT. Pulitzer shall be brought
 "Thls Is inc first time President ever asserted the doctrine of lese ma iesty or proposed, in the absence of specific legislation, the criminal prose- cution by the government of citizens who criticised the conduct of the gov ernment or the conduct of Individuals who may have had business dealings with the government Neither the king ot Great Britain nor the German em- peror would venture to arrogate such power to himself John Adams' attempt to enforce the sedltion law destroyed the federallst party in America. Yet I Mir Roosevelt in tho absence of law of- ficlally proposes to nse all the power of the greatest government on earth to eripnlr, the freedom of the press on the pretext that the government itself has beerl liheled and he is the government.
 Tt Ie true that the World printed tho public reports concerning the Panama csnal affair which resulted from Will | llaAn Nelson Gromve's appeal to the dR-trIct attorney's office during the TO- cent campaign to prevent the ruhliea- 'tidn of story which was said to he in the hands of the demosratie national committee. It was Mir Gromwell's own action which raised tho issue in the campaign
 "Tt is true also that when Mir Roose- 7,elt made hs attack on Dolavan smith tho World called attention to certain statements which MT Roosevelt must have known to ho false or misleading, erd apnealed to congress to end all scandal hy full and impartial 'nvesti- gatfon If this he the req son, lot MT, Roosevelt make tho most of It,
 MT Roosevelts lamentablo habit Of inaccurate statement makes t imnos rihle to accept either hls Judgments or hls conclusions In his message he does not state correctly, even SD sim plv a matter as the pretended causes of his grievance,
 The World has never said that Charles P Taft or Douglas Robinson made any profits whatever. MT, Taft denied that he was concerned in the transaction in any way which denial inc World published and accepted It ,ronld have been equally glad to rrint Mir. Robinsons denial could lt have succeeded fin obtaining one from him. as fl frequently attempted, The World has no evidence that he wa7 associated with MT. Cromwell. and would accept his word to that effect, for Mir. Robinson is an estmable gen tleman of high character whose ropp tation for Veracity Is infinitely better than that of his distinguished brother. in law
 of the World has libelled anybody we hope it will be punished, but we do not intend to he lntmidated by Mir Roosevelts threats, or by Mr Roosevelfs donunelation, or by Mir Rooseyelt's power.
 "No other living man ever SO gross ly libeled the United States as does this president who bosmirches con. eress, bulldozes judges, assais the in tegrity of courts, islanders private cltt' zens, and who has shown himself the most reckless unscrupuIous demag' ogue whom the American people eyel trusted with great power and author. ity.
 We say this not in anger but ir
 sincere sorrow The World has i'm
 measurabIy moro respect for the office
 of president of the United States thar
 Theodore Roosevelt has ever showr
 durng the years In which he hat
 rlaintaned Q reign of terror and vIli.
 fled the honor and honesty of hotl
 public officials and private citizens
 who opposed his policies or thwartot 4 him in his purposes.
 So far as the World is concerned
 lts proprietor may go to jail, Dr Mir
 Roosevelt succeeds, as he threatens
 but aten in jail the World will mol