Mountain advocate., 1916-10-27
COl.ROOsEvE[T's.
SPEECH 1t
LOUISVILLE
Speech Of Theodore Roosevelt at
Louisville, n.y.. Wednesday
Evening. October 18Th
Splendid Audience Hear Remarkable
Address Following Parade and Re-
publican Demonstration for Charles
e. Hughes.

4
out. that the doctrine now is often ad-
vanced as to the improperly OF criti-
eising the President. without any re.
gard as TO whether the criticism is Or
is not just. has no warrant either IN
history or on grounds OF public moral
lily. Andrew Jackson in a message to
the Senate on April 18th. 1894. put the
case exactly as it should be put. He
said
The President is accountable At
the bar OF public opinion for every
act of his administration Subject
only to the restraints of truth and
justice. the tree people of the United
States have the undoubted right As
individuals or collectively. orally or
in writing. at such times and in
such language and form as they
may think proper. to discuss his of.
fetal conduct and express and pro
mitigate their opinions concerning
it."
This lays down the law that should
be followed There must be truth aud
justice in all that is said OF the Presi.
dent. or OF any one else: but less than
any one other man in the nation has
he the right 10 claim immunity from
any criticism that is both just and
truthful critlcise President Wilson
because mis- deeds have belied his
words and his words have belied one
another
Mr. Wilson's promise before cleo
ton. both those made in his own
speeches. and those made in the plat
form. have been 50 well-nigh invaria-
bly, broken, thar the breaking OF them
has become subject for jest even
among his own friends. One OF Mr..
Wilson's prominent Democratic sup
porters in Congress stated with re
freshing frankuess the exact truth
about Mr. Wilson's prediction prom
Uses. and those made ON his behalf.
when in answer to some charge Of In
consistency. he responded by saying
that our platform was made TO get
into Office On-and we have won" You
will find this remark on page +Sls OF
the Congressional Record. the Third
Session OF the b2nd Congress. II is
impossible 10 study Mr.. Wilson's pre-
election promises and postelection
performances: it is impossible 10 com
pare the Numerically opposed atti-
tudes he has assumed at different
times on almost every public ques-
ton: il is impossible 10 compare what
he SAYS in one set OF speeches with
what he says in another set, without
feeling that what this congressional
support Of his said OF his platform
applies also to his speeches.
Now, do not regard such action on
the part OF MIR. Wilson and his follow
ers, and the cynical trankness with
which they ayow il, as a matter for
Jest | doubt If II is possible more
effectively to undermine public moral
ity in this country than by sccustom'
ing the people 10 regard promises
made in politics with cynical amuse-
ment as intended only for purposes Of
deception A high minded man regards
promise made on the stump by
candidate for office, promise intend
ed 10 secure the support OF those 10
whom II is made, as pledge which
IL is as imperatiyely necessary TO re-
deem as If il were made in private life
TO a private Individual: and its subse-
Quent reputation in one case can
only be Justified by conditions sub
stantially like those which would jus
tify il in the other case. An honorable
man will scorn an untruth on the
stump just as much as on the stump.
An honorable man will break prom
Use made publicly in a political cam
paign just as reluctantly as he will
break promise made TO another man
In private life. An honorable man
keeps faith i'm public life no less than
In private life.
President Wilson's speeches are
models OF adroit indirect suggestion
and avoidance of downright statement,
But the other day at Omaha he seems
TO have committed himself 10 the
statement that he was willing to
fight" but was waiting for something
worth fighting for" for something
which would put all the corpuscles
OF his blood into shouting shape" II
would be interesting to know exactly
what outrage on American citizens, or
on the rights OF humanity anywhere,
which would make him cross the line
between being willing to light" and
too proud TO fight" He certainly did
not regard the treacherous murder OF
Boyd and Adair. and this United
States. as something worth fighting
for" He did not even write note
about H. The murder OF 1884 men.
women and children on the Lusitsnia
aid not put all the corpuscles OF his
blood into shouting shape" His cor
puscles did not shout; they did not
even whisper; apparently all they did
Was TO suggest to him that II WAS =
happy occasion for his classic remark
about being too proud TO hsht." ! am
tempted 10 think that Mr.. Wilson did
himself an injustice when he go that
- IVES willing 70 estt" elder fss