The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-18
MORE HOT STUFF
Pulitzer Comments SarcasticaIly
on Special Message.
SKINS TEDDY Alive

| Says He Is the Biggest Liar and
Meanest Demagogue That Has Ev-
er Been Elevated to High Position
by the Americans, But He Can't
Silence the World.
New York, Dec. 15.--The World
in the course of its answer to Pres
ident Roosevelt's reference to that
paper in his special message to
congress today says:
"rIr. Roosevelt Is mistaken. He
can not muzzle The World.
"While no amount of billingsgate
on his part can alter our determi-
nation to treat him with judicial
impartiality and scrupulous fairness,
we repeat what we have already
said, that the congress of the United
States should make a thorough in,
vestigation; that the full truth may
be known to the American people.
"The World fully appreciates the
compliment paid to it by Mr.. Roose-
welt in making it the subject of
special message to the congress OF
the United States.
"The World likewise appreciates
the Importance of Mr.. Roosevelt's
statement when he declares to con-
gress 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 whicn
the proceeding against Mr.. Pulitzer
shall be brought.
This Is the first time presi-
dent ever assorted the doctrine of
lese majestic or proposed, in the
absence of specific legislation, the
criminal prosecution by the govern
ment of citizens who criticized the
conduct of the government or the
conduct Of individuals who may have
had business dealings with the goy-
ernment. Neither the king Of Great
Britain nor the German emperor
would venture to arrogate such pow
er to himself. John Adams attempt
to enfocre the sedition law Destroy
ed the Federalist party in America.
Yet Mr.. Roosevelt, in the absence Of
law, proposes lse all the power
| ~ tho or}I
to cripple the freedom Of ie press
on the preteXt that the government
has been libeled-and he Is the gov
ernment.
ut is true that The World print
ed the public report concerning the
Panama canal affair which resulted
from William Nelson Cromwells ap-
peal to the district attorneys Office
during the recent campaign to pre-
vent the publication of a story which
was said to be in the hands Of the
Democratic national committee. It
was Mr.. Cromwell's own act which
raised the issue in the campaign.
"It Is true that when Mr.. Roose-
welt made attack upon Delavan
Smith The World called attention to
certain statements which Mr.. Roose.
velt must have known to be falss
or misleading and appealed to con-
gress to end all scandal by a full
and impartial investigation. If this
be treason, let Mr. Roosevelt make
the most of it.
"Mr Roosevelt's lamentable habit
of inaccurate statements makes rs
impossible to accept either his judg-
ments. or his conclusions. In his
message he does not state correctly
even so simple matter as the pre-
tended causes of his grievance. The
World has never said that Charles
P. Taft or Douglas Robinson made
any profits whatever Mr.. Taft de-
MED that he was concerned in the
transaction in any way, which de-
nial The World published and ac-
cepted. 1t would have been equally
glad 10 print Mr.. Robinson's denial
could it have succeeded in obtain
ing one from him as it frequently
attempted.
The World has no evidence that
he was associated with Mr.. Crom-
well and would accept his word TO
that effect, for Mr.. Robinson is an
estimable gentleman of high char
acter, whose reputation for veraci-
ty is infinitely better than that OF
his distinguished brother-in-law.
"If The World has libeled any,
body we hope it will be punished,
but We do not intend to be intimi-
dated by Mr. Roosevelts threats or
By Mr. Roosevelt's denunciations.
or by Mr.. Roosevelt's power.
"No other living man ever so
grossely libeled the United States as
does this president, who besmirches
congress, bulldozes judges. assails
the integrity Of courts, slanders pri-
vate citizens and who has shown
himself the most reckless, unscrupu-
lous demagogue whom the American
people ever trusted with great power
and authority.
eve say this not in anger but
in sincere sorrow. The World has
immeasurably more respect for the
Office Of president OF the United
States than Theodore Roosevelt has
ever shown during the wears in Which