Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-16
Guest Of Honor at Miami
University, Ohio.
Gives Address on Topics Of
Vital National importance.
The Expansion Of Our County, Chinese
ExcIusIon...The Evils Of Divorce.

Oxford, Ohio, June 15.,-The feature
Of the S1st Commencement Of Miami
University here. today. WIS the address
of Secretary Of War William II. Taft.
1t was delivered in Il tent erected on
the campus among the forest trees.
In his speech, Sec. Taft referred to
the enormous material expansion or
this country" and to its standing
among the nations beyond that which
could be accorded by them to one
which could be accorded by them to
one which had no insular possessions
and confined itself within the seas.
He continued:
"The powerful influences which 1t
has exerted to bring about peace be-
tween the Russian and Japanese ma
tons. is itself an evidence. The person.
atty of the President has had much to
do with the Willingness of the powers
to allow him to intervene. Confidence
in his impartiality and integrity have
doubtless aided our national prestige
in securing this end devoutly to be
wished"
On the application of the Chlnese ex-
clusiOn law, the secretary said:
"Is it just that for the purpose of ex-
Guiding or preventing perhaps 100
Chinese coolies from slipping into this
country against the law we should SUBJ
jcct an e1Aal number of Chinese mer-
chants and students of high character
to an examination of such an fnquisi-
torial, humiliating. insulting and phys
ically uncomfortable character as to
discourage altogether the coming OF
merchants and students?"
Then he said: zone of the great
commercial prizes Of the world Is the
trade with the 400000.000 Chinese.
Ought we to throw away the advan-
tage which we have by reason of Chi
nese natural friendship for us and to
continue to enforce an unjustly severe
law and thus create in the Chinese
mind disposition to boycott American
trade and to drive our merchants from
Chinese shores, simply because we are
afraid that we may sometime lose the
approval of certain unreasonable and
extreme popular leaders of California
and other coast states? Does the ques-
ton not answer itself? Is it not the
duty of members of Congress and of
the executive to disregard the unreal
sonable demands of portion of the
communication deeply prejudiced upon
this subject in the Far West and in
sist on extending justice and courtesy
to a people from whom we are deriving
and are likely to derive such immense
benefit in the way of international
trade"
Sec. Taft then directed attention to a
spect to which he declared the Amer
lean people ought to act. These in
cluded the increase in divorce and the
Inadequate salaries paid to government
officials.
Regarding divorce, Sec. Taft said:
'Last year there were 612 divorces
out of every 10000 marriages. If this
continues to grow what will become of
that which is. today, the foundation of
our civilization and our state, the
home and family? Ought there not be
some radical measure by which to pre-
vent the loscncss with which the mar
rage bond is tied and the ease with
which it may be dissolved? Now if it
We're given to Congress to pass uni
form laws Of marriage and divorce we
tOulu I've CtItstiIl iISt, tIldl TIC IIidJoi =
ity in the Congress Of the Union would
see to IL that conservative restrictions
upon the law of divorce would be en-
acted and that for no light reason
should there be separation of those
joined together in matrimOny under
the law; and secondly we could be GER
tain that. administered as the divorce
law would be by judges of the federal
courts. subject as they all would be to
the general supervision of the supreme
court of the United States. that there
would be uniform administration of
the law in the courts"
In discussing what he pointed out
were the inadequate salaries paid gov
ernmcnt officials. the secretary asked
the question whether it is not the irony
of Inconsistency that we who are en-
gagged in praising the purity and the
simplicity of the Democracy, should
adopt a policy by which only million
aires can govern u.s."
The other events Of the day in
cluded the unveiling Of the portrait Of
John w. Heron, the oldest graduate
and trustee. by Gov. Myron T. Her.
rick, and the comforting of degrees up
on "A graduates. Mr.. Heron is the
fathcr-in-law of Sec. Taft The Rev.
Guy Potter Benton, president of the
university, presided at the exercises.