The Nation at War (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1918. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX D A LETTER FROM COLONEL ROOSEVELT Used by permission "May 22, 1918. "my Dear Senator Poindexter: "The following article from me appeared in The Kansas City Star on May 7, 1918: "'Sedition, a Free Press and Personal Rule. "'The legislation now being enacted by Congress should deal drastically with sedition. It should also guarantee the right of the press and people to speak the truth freely of all their public servants, including the President, and to criticise them in the severest terms of truth whenever they come short in their public duty. Finally, Congress should grant the Executive the amplest powers to act as an Executive and should hold him to stern accountability for failure so to act; but it should itself do the actual lawmaking and should clearly define the lines and limits of action and should retain and use the fullest powers of investigation into and supervision over such action. "'Sedition is a form of treason. It is an offence against the country, not against the President. At this time to oppose the draft or sending our armies to Europe, to uphold Germany, to attack our Allies, to oppose raising the money necessary to carry on the war, are at least forms of moral sedition, while to act as a German spy or to encourage German spies, to use money or intrigue in the corrupt service of Germany, to tamper with our war manufactures and to encourage our soldiers to desert or to fail in their duty, and all similar actions, are forms of undoubtedly illegal sedition. For some of these offences death should be summarily inflicted. For all the punishment should be severe. ""The Administration has been gravely remiss in dealing with such acts. "'Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country wh...