The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-18
MADE FOUR SPEECHES.
Vice President Fairbanks Guest of
irish Fellowship Club.


figure in the st. Patrick's day celebra-
tion under the auspices of the Irish
Fellowship club, made in various parts
of the city four addresses and attend
ed a luncheon and a banquet.
AT O'Clock this morning a strong
delegation tof the club called to meet
the vice president at the Auditorium
Annex An impromptu reception was
held lasting 80 minutes. Then enter
ing an automobile the vice president
was taken to st. Ignatius college on
West Twelfth street, where he deliv-
cred brief address to the students,
the members of the faculty and large
number of invited guests.
The vice president spoke as follows:
Il am gratified to meet your under
such happy auspices and to thank you
for your cordial welcome. There Is
nothing more congenial to me than the
atmosphere which pervades a univer-
sity like this.
Il wish to congratulate you MEM
bers of the faculty, for the splendid
work you are doing in fitting this large
student body for the responsibility of
life and he duties of citizenship. There
is no more important work than this in
which you are engaged. knowledge is
indeed power, and those who are filling
the souls of young men with noble am
bitiOn and instilling their minds with
knowledge are increasing the nations
power.
I'VE are all proud that we are Ameri-
cans. There never was an hour in all
of our matchless history when it meant
more to be an American that it does
today. We must each and all discharge
our duties and responsibilities to our
country and our countrymen. 1t is il
the highest degree important that
American citizens should be conducted.
We are fortunate in many things.
our splendid schools, colleges and uni
versities. They are every year turn
ing out A vast Amy of young men ana
young women to enter all Of the fields
of usefulness and to contribute their
full share toward the advancement of
the intellectual and moral welfare OF
our people.
In the final analysis the stability of
our institutions does not depend so
much upon virtue of constitutions and
statutes as upon education and NOR.
ality of the people We have our 1egis-
latiye executive and judicial depart
ments in nation and state. They enact
laws, which constitute the mechanism
of Republican government. They are
each and all OF vast Importance in pro-
noting the welfare of the people, but
back of these are the judgment and
conscience of the people. 1t must be an
intelligent judgment, it must be an en-
iightened conscience, if we are to at
tain our highest destiny
From the college Mr.. Fairbanks was
escorted to the University of Chicago,
where he made a brief address in
which he eulogized the late Presiden-
Harper, promoter and kead of that in
Stitution, whose care as leader, the
speaker pointed out to be exceptionally
worthy of imitation by all young men.
From Chicago university, after a ride
through the parks and over the south
side bouleVards, the vice president was
escorted to the rooms of the Chicago
0I1lh
luncheon was given in his honor and lie
made his third address of the day.
Vice President Fairbanks said:
THE press is a great censor. 1t pass
this Judgment becomes. in a large de- !
gree, in the course of time the popular
Judgment. 1t does not so frequently sit
in judgment upon itself as it does upon
others. 1t is an all seeing eye, search |
ing out wIongdoing and wrongdoerG, |
and as such exercises a powerful influ- !
ence. 1t is usually upon the side of
cleanliness and decency. 1t usually !
stands for that which is best in our |
and it is tremendous de- /
terrent to those who might be disposed |
to betray their trust. Being the source |
of such potential influence it is of the !
utmore Importance that the press it |
self should be pure; that its motives
should be of the highest and best. Pos
sessing 1T does the confidence of |
large constituency it should give to
the facts, free from bias and without |
distortion.
The press, like the bench, the bar,
the pulpit and the great body of soc-
ety. mas it's share of those who are not |
actuated by any high ethical con-
and thus bring noble pro-
fession into disfavor. They fortunate
Iy are part of q small minority. The
great body of the press, like the great
mass of the people whom 1t serves is
high minded and patriotic. 1t stands
for those things which make for the |
uplifting of the community and for the
general betterment of mankind.
I'VE hear occasionally of the deca- |
dence of the press; that it is no longer
edited from the editorial sanctum, but /
from the business department. This
we're unfortunate for this community |
and for the country if it were so. 1t
is no doubt true that individual edi
toriaI utterances do not stand out and
ring far as did the editorials of
Horace Greeley and others in the not
long ago, but if this is true. it is due
to the fact that there is more competi
ton now than there was in the not
remote past. The field has been fully
occupied. The editorial pages have
been many times multiplied and while
he individual editor perhaps. does not
exert so distinct and widespread an
influence as formerly. the aggregate
influence is quite as great If not great
ar. than ever. 1t is fair to say that the
news columns have come to have
more potent influence upon the public
discussion and the popular judgment
han they formerly had"
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