The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-12-24

ted by Sending to Congress
a Special Message About the
Panama Scandal"
Atlanta Journal
The history OF the executive office
Of the United States does not furnish
= parallel for the disgraceful scene
which President Roosevelt has pre-
cipiated by sending to congress n
special message in which he assalis
an American newspaper, its editor
and a multitude OF correspondents
and contributors with a storm OF
low mvective and cheap billinsgate
which Outrival the sOrdid contentious
Of n fishwife.
The contempt which he has brought
upon himself and the exalted posi-
ton he occupies is only emphasized
by the fippant merrlment when
greets his passionate effuslon when 1t
is read to the House and Senate,
which bursts into IIOmeric laughter
at the thought Ola fresh distribution
OF RooseyeIt's tags OF mendacIty, III
which the editor OF one OF the great
representative newspapers OF the
country is placed in the category
with "thieves," and "blackmailers,
and threatened with an action Tor
criminal libel.
He INDUCES III an excess OF vltupera-
ton, which ON its very face argues a
poverty Of resource in the essential
qualities OF defensive argument ana
the same time degrades the high OF
flee to which he has been chosen ny
the American people to a level which
has never been even dreamed OF be
fore i'm the history OF the country.
His personal assault, by name,
upon the afflicted proprietor OF the
New York World who is known to
spend most of his time on the hlgf
seas in search OF health and was
specifically known to have had no
personal participation i'll the recent
demands for an investigation OF the
Panama scandal, utilities all the
righteous Indignation he expresses
AGAINST the alleged reflections upon
his brOther-in-law and other prom
neut citizens OF the country whose
names have come out in the course
OF the discussion. He instantly be
comes a greater offender against al
the canons OF decency and good taste
than those whom he has chosen tC
casti@ate i'll special message &c
Congress.
Incidentally. it should be remarked
that the World has made no charges
on its own account. against tht
Presidents brOther-in law or Mr.
Taft's brother; that it las promptly
printed the disclaimer 2Iven out by
Mr.. Charles Taft that he vas involved
in the matter. and would have done
the same for Mr.. Robinson if the
latter had chosen to make one-i
man. according to the World. whose
reputation for veracity is infinitely
better than that of his distinguished
brOther-in-law.
The President OF the United State
need not entertain the thought Tor
sinnle moment that he can use hi
hinh office to shackle the freedom O
the press. The New York World ha
people of this country i'll calling t.
the attention ofCOngress the charge
which have been made SO frequentl.
of n scandal in the Panama deal. |
has simply demanded that the peopl
shall have the benefit of IL full ant
free investigation. and in its deman
it is backed up by the America
people themselves.
This demand has become NOR
imperative and insistent than ever
The intemperatep passion into whlc
he has thrown himself, at the YER
moment when he pretends to be az
sisting Congress in a judicial lnvesGa
ton of the question at issue, mus
strike the most causual observer a
being in exceedingly bad taste, t
put it mildly.
He has made himself the butt {
ridicule: he has confirmed the charge
that he seeks to conduct the eNecutlv
office of representatives government
after the manner OF an easter
despotism: he has Inundated til
American people and shamed theI
in the eyes of the world abroad.
Hehas made this inquiry imperative
but nothing that may develop ca
wipe out the reproach he has brougf
upon the exalted office he occupies.
parhans the nraSidpnt-plect miol