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I have found myself researching that quote more than once. More than a few times in fact. It's a great quote and it's just so apropos these days. The general consensus is that Mark Twain is inappropriately credited with the quote though he almost certainly said it or something to the effect at some point in his life.

If you want truth to go round the world you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go round the world, it will fly: it is as light as a feather, and a breath will carry it. It is well said in the old proverb, a lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.

Gems from Spurgeon (1859) p. 74

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist preacher

Jonathan Swift wrote on this topic in “The Examiner” in 1710 although he did not mention shoes or boots.

Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it; so that when Men come to be undeceiv’d, it is too late; the Jest is over, and the Tale has had its Effect…

Falsehood will fly, as it were, on the wings of the wind, and carry its tales to every corner of the earth; whilst truth lags behind; her steps, though sure, are slow and solemn, and she has neither vigour nor activity enough to pursue and overtake her enemy…

Thomas Francklin-1787

Can waft a lie from Indus to the Pole.”

Lame Truth limps after too tardily to prevent the winged progress of her adversary.

English Poet, Alexander Pope. Lived 1688-1744

In 1820 an article about a complicated court case included a maxim that referred to truth pulling on boots. Thus, the statement moved closer to the popular modern adages with shoes and boots. The expression was placed between quotation marks, but no attribution was given:

The public mind has been too much inflamed in this transaction, by misrepresentations—these the examination have materially corrected, but the influence of the corrective, does not extend as far as the injury of the falsehood: “for falsehood will fly from Maine to Georgia, while truth is pulling her boots on.”

In 1821 William Tudor who was the editor of the important U.S. literary publication “The North American Review” wrote an article in which he credited an instance of the remark to the statesman Fisher Ames: 6

…recollecting Mr. Ames’ remark, that “a Lie would travel from Maine to Georgia while Truth was getting on his boots;”…

In 1834 “The New-England Magazine” printed an instance with a different vocabulary: 8

…error will run half over the world while truth is putting on his boots to pursue her…