Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-20

story of his achievements win make
up one OF the brightest pages in the
history of this or any age and will
prove that to-day. as in any critical
hour OF social unrest or of danger, the
man Will appear who can grapple with
the emergency.
Who so fit to take up the tasks
which this wondrous generation de-
mands should be wisely and impair
TALLY performed as his great war sec
Rotary? Since the day when. In Ben
jamin Harrison's administration, these
two first met-the one as solicitor gen
eral, the other as a member of the
civil service commission-they have
been bound together by like ideals and
aims. by close ties OF friendship, and
by the exchange of mutual counsel,
each with his own individuality and
characteristics keeping constantly in
view the ennobling vision of a better
and greater America. Since the day
when, less than 30 years of age, Mr..
Taft denounced. with burning words,
a member of his profession who had
been guilty of fiagrantly vicious prac-
tices and had demoralized the COM
munity, he has ever been associated
with the cause of true reform-with
that reform which will not content'it-
self with academic dissertation or hol-
low words. He has been imbued with
the spirit of action. His advocacy Of
sounder conditions has never arisen
from desire for the exploitation Of
himself
No one has ever yet assumed the
presidential chair who had received
of that great Office. AS Judge in state
and federal courts, as solicitor general,
as governor of the Philippines, as sec
rotary of war, which has included the
work Of colonial secretary and direc-
tor of national public works he has re-
ceived his training and has always
shown himself master of the situation
and competent to make more honor
able and beloved the American name.
There have been no years of inaction
in his career. He has been continu-
ously engaged In weighty tasks and
each successive service has been char
acterized by an increasing influence
upon most vital questions.
In our domestic affairs, In whatever
position he has held, he has displayed
the rare union of judicial tempera-
ment with an unsurpassed gift for ad-
ministrative management. Although
of an aggressive personality. he pos
sesses 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 the high
est officials must be judged as men,
and under this criterion Secretary
Taft is now and will ever be known
for his broad sympathies with every
grade of humanity and as one in
variably actuated 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
rong-doing While no honest enter
prise need fear him, no dishonest
scheme could hope to hide its face
from the light or to escape punish
ment.
More than any other of our public
men he has had to do with our out
lying dependencies and colonial rela-
tons. 1t was he who took in charge
the prosecution Of that colossal enter
prise on the isthmus, the canal unit
ing the lesser and the greater ocans,
and under his directing hand the COM
pletion of this most stupendous Of
public works Is no longer vague and
distant hope. but an imminent reality.
With his ever-ready skill as pacifi-
Gator, he restored tranquility in the
fertile island of Cuba, so often dis
tracted by civil strife. In the far-off
Philippines, under blazing tropical
sky, he found people Of many races
and tribes. degraded by centuries of
misrule and oppression; and there too
he not only established the rule Of
law and local control In place of con-
fusion and bloody strife. but showed
the way to self government. and new
recognition Of the rights Of man.
In the larger sphere Of world poll
tics. 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 posi-
ton In this later day when the boun-
dar.cs established In the centuries
past are becoming less distinct and
kingdoms and races are beginning to
realize that they have all one com
mon destiny?
Secretary Taft has exceptional IA
miliarity with conditions In the dis
tant orient-in Japan. In China. We
may rest assured that our traditional
friendship with Japan will continue.
Moreover, the future promises that the
slumbering millions Of China will
awake from the lethargy OF ages. and
she then will realize that the morning
dawn Of freshsr life and wider outlook
comes to her across the broad Pacific
from free America her truest friend
and helper. We covet no portion of
her territory We desire from her. as