Evening journal., 1908-06-18

ned that the Temple Of Prosperit,
should be declSed alone BY the jewAl.
OF the fortunate and the opulent, but
have insisted that it should still NOR.
abound in trophies which commemorate
the enforcement of even~handed Justice
and the maintenance OF that equal op-
portunity which spreads hope END
blessing even to the humblest home
Since the day when, less than thirty
years ago. Mr.. Taft denounced, with
burning words a member of his pro-
fession who had been guilty of fragrant.
ly vicious practices and had demoral-
lied the community. he has ever been
associated with the cause of true re-
form-with that reform which win not
content itself with academic disserta-
tion or hollow words He has bcen
imbued with the spirit f action. His
advocacy of sounder conditions has
never arisen from a desire for the ex-
ploitation Of himself. 1t has always
been based uDon unswerving integrity
and the courage to speak the truth, as
he understands it. on all occasions, no
matter how influential or powerful the
evils which he may attack.
An Ideal Candidate.
No one has ever yet assumed the
Presidential chair who had received a
more ideal preparation for the duties OF
that great office AS Judge in State
and Federal courts. as Solicitor Gen.
eral. or Governor of the Philippines, as
Secretary of War. which has included
the work of Colonial Secretary and
Director of National Public Works. he
has received his training and has al
ways showed himself master of the
situation and competent to make more
honorable and beloved the American
name. There have been no years of
inaction in his career. He has been
continuously engaged In weighty tasks
and each successive service has been
characterized bv an increasing infiu-
ence uDon most vital questions.
In our domestic affairs. in whatever
position he has held. he has displayed
the rare union Of a judicial tempera-
ment with an unsurpassed gift for ad-
ministrative management To him he
longs the extremely valuable faculty OF
eliminating the non-essential from the
complicated problems and going direct
" to their substance. His capacity
for work is enormous, vet quite as
helpful in his equal temperament,
which will not allow the annoyances OF
life to distract or hamper him. AL
though of an aggressive personality, he
possesses an infinite good nature, a
charm of manner and a poise which
have made him a model for exalted
station. In the final analysis even this
highest officials must be judged as nen,
and under this criterion Secretary Taft
is now and will ever be known for his
broad symDathies with every grade Of
humanity and as one invariably actu-
ated by that democratic spirit which
should characterize a progressive
American. And yet no one can for
moment hesitate to recognize his
severity in dealing with wrong-doing.
While no honest enterprise need fear
him. no dishonest scheme could hope
to hide its face from the light or to
escape punishment
More than any other of our public
men he has had to do with out outlying
AEHfAANHAACo dAAA tOA0NlhA AEAdAA0AAHs IL
was he who took in charge the prosecu-
ton of that colossal enterprise on the
Isthmus. the canal uniting the lesser
and the greater oceans. and under his
directing hand the completion Of ,his
most stuDendous Of public works is no
longer a vague and distant hope. but
an imminent reality. With his ever
ready skill as a pacificator, he restored
tranquility in the fertile Island OF
Cuba. so often distracted by civil strife.
In the far-off Philippines, under a blaz.
ing tropical sky. he found a people Of
manv races and tribes. degraded by
centuries of misrule and oppression;
and there too he not onlv established
the rule of law and lGcal control in
place of confusion and bloody strife,
but showed the way to self-govern>
ment. and n new recognition of the
rights of man. For peoples and races,
like individuals. under .he inspiration
of a friendly guide. may lift their f5res
heavenward and seek to climb the
great worlds altar stairs to nobler
heights Of liberty and opportunity. 1t
is to his lasting honor that his desire
was not to be known as Taft. the Pro-
Consul" but as Taft, the Father OF
the Fflipinos." who brought to them
the light Of modern civilization.
In the larger sphere of the world
politics. we are entering into new and
closer bonds with all the nations OF
the earth. Who is better qualified
than he to. lead America to her true
position in this later day when the
boundaries established. in the centuries
past are becoming less distinct and
kingdoms and races are beginning to
realize that they have al one common
destiny?
Secretary Taft has exceptional
familiarity with conditions in the dis
tant Orient-in Japan. In China We
NAV rest assured that our traditional
friendship with Japan win continue.
Moreover. the future promises that the
slumbeEing millions &C China will