Teddy Roosevelt in the KC Star
Sedition, A Free Press, and Personal Rule, May 7, 1918
On my mind, 03032024: In just a few days, the leadership offered to the world by our American experiment in freedom, justice, and liberty is turned on its head. I believe it continues to be true that DJT breaks everything he touches. Alas, those surrounding him appear constitutionally unable (paradoxical pun intended) to speak out against or resist the destructive path down which DJT leads our Nation.
During the period 1917-1919, for reasons too complex to discuss here https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67811/67811-h/67811-h.htm , former President Teddy Roosevelt submitted over one hundred editorials to the Kansas City Star newspaper on the matter of the war in Europe. On May 7, 1918, Roosevelt wrote this editorial that is worth revisiting in our current moment. The editorial, titled “Sedition, a Free Press, and Personal Rule,” includes, in part, this passage, “Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country where the people are themselves free. Our Government is the servant of the people…The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else.”
While Teddy Roosevelt’s entire life contains much to criticize, his insights into the essence of American politics are often spot on. He brings a truth from the past that needs to be recalled today.
