The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-23

Taft, as the Republican candidate for
President, has been so plainly indicated
that the action of the convention at
ratification of choice already made. 1t
will be received with deep and widespread
satisfaction, not only by Republicans who
desire the continued success of their party
but by all, irrespective of perty name.
who desire most the peace and security of
the country and the abatement of disturb
ing passion and unrest, and who recog-
nize in Mr.. Taft q worthy represen-
tative not of his party alone, but of those
American ideals of law and justice and
orderly progress, of that wise and discreet
craftsmanship. upon which depends any
party's claim to represent the nation. 1t
is believed-in view of the probable nomi-
nation of Bryan at Denver-that the
choice at Chicago will be ratified by the
popular vote, and this belief will itself go
far to re-establish public confidence and
bring the country back to its normal life
and hopeful activity.
That the candidacy of Mr.. Taft has
been powerfully promoted by the official
influence of the President no one pretends
to deny. But not all of Mr.. Roosevelt's
Astounding popularity would have enabled
him to force upon the nation or upon his
party a candidate who did not commend
himself to the popular judgment as In
all ways ft. Many distinguished men,
more familiary known than Taft, were
brought forward as presidential candi-
dates, and some of them with strong sup
port. Not one of them attracted notice
beyond his immediate local following,
and they were less and less considered as
the weeks went by. Yet the hard work
ing Secretary of War, going about his
manifold tasks with quiet and self -effacing
patience, grew daily in the public esti
nation. till opinion gradually centred
fitted to be President. No doubt official
favor helped him to gather in many dele
gates, but most of the delegates were for
Taft because they believed that he would
win.
OF all the presidential candidates within
the memory of this generation, Taft Is un-
questionably the best equipped, In train
ing and experience and In wide and close
contact with large affairs. In one i'm
portant respect his equipment is unlike
that of any of the Presidents, no one Of
whom had ever served upon the bench.
With the exception of those nominated on
their military records, and two or three
who had been Governors of their States.
the Presidents have been men whose politi-
cal training was in the legislative branch.
Taft was never in Congress or even in his
State Legislature. He is wholly without
personal experience in what is called prac-
tical politics. He was educated for the
bar; early became a Judge; the whole
trend of his thought and of his ambition
has been In the line of judiciary. and his
ingrained judicial temperament 1t was that
made him SO conspicuously useful and
successful In the many difficult admins
trative problems he was later called upon
to solve.
1t was distinct sacrifice he made when
President Mckinley took him from life
position that he enjoyed, and that was In
the line of his dearest hopes. to lay upon
him the burden of establishing peace and
order in the Philippines. The judgment,
tact and skill with which he carried on
that great task; the candid diplomacy with
which he smoothed away perplexing OBJ
he has upheld the interests of those far
away people In the face of indifference at
home, were an honor to the nation. The
same qualities of wise adjudicator have
been repeatedly at the service of the
country. In Cuba, In Panama, In japan,
1t has been necessary only to ''send for
Taft" Misunderstanding are cleared up
and difficulties vanish before this gracious
personality, this calm, clear, disentangling
mind. His intellectual integrity and dis
interestedness have been as unmistakable
as his quiet strength. his answering sense
of Justice, his absolute honesty. 1t is not
a mind that moves by impulse or In start
ling flashes; 1t is mind well poised and
of singular lucidity, that reaches its
results by logical princi pies, which do
not antagonize but convince.
Such is the impression which Mr.. Taft
has made upon all who have come into
direct contact with him, and equally upon
those who know him only by what he has
done. That there should be warm friend
ship and mutual esteem between men 80
contrasted In temperament as are Taft and
Roosevelt need cause no wsnder. They
are not different In their ideals, however
they differ In mode of thought or form of
action. In what part he has taken hereto
fore In politics Mr.. Taft has shown him
self courageously independent. He is a
party man in the broader sense that re-
cognizes the party as an instrument OF
public service, not as a means to personal
power or privilege. By whatever aids
this nomination has come to him it has
been not by his own seeking; 1t has sought
him out. And he may be expected to
take up the grave responsibilities of the
Presidency with the same unfaltering self
effacement that has already won public
confidence of our American democracy.
With Taft as the candidate, the mere
phraseology of the platform is of little
consequences Dissent from the "Roose
welt policies" has been much less from
their real purposes than from the manner
of their enforcement. which has frequent
ly obscured the righteous ends which all
honest men applaud and excited fears not
ALWAYS justified in fact. With the Presi-
dents high ideals and high achievements
Mr.. Taft is without doubt In fullest
sympathy. But his different mental train
Jag. his deep-rooted respect for historic
law and orderly procedure. his patient and
conciliatory temperament, mark him as
neculiary the man to take up the con-
structive work which Mr. Roosevelt has
made possible, and thus to carry on even
the debated "policies" with safe and
sound conservatism that will re-establish
copfidenee and win support.