The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-11-14

President Roosevelt has been called
the best preacher in America. Ger
tainly the preachers alleged sin of
duIlness cannot be imputed to him.
His preaching has been largely ethical.
His speeches and state papers have
been preaching Of the most incisive
and convincing kind, and the adoption
of his policies by the American people
has been with an enthusiasm an high
mindedness that can be produced only
by preaching, which is the proclaiming
of moral and spiritual realities. 1t is
preaching by the nations greatest
preacher of righteousness that has
aroused the indignant conscience of the
people of America and has established
their devotion to justice, the square
deal, and the purposes of God through
great nation. If any man supposes
that the power of the preacher has
waned in these days, let him trace the
ethical revival of this nation to It's
source in the preaching of President
Roosevelt, the best preacher since Abb
raham Lincoln bowed the spirit of the
nation before Gods power and judg-
ments, and filled its heart with the
divine spirit of malice toward none,
charity for all"
| The religious event of the week is
President Roosevelt's letter published
Monday on Tafts religion. In this
sermon, the president discourses on
the spiritual foundations of righteous
ness The ethical note is sounded
powerfully in indignant remonstrance
against a man using religion for any
secular. gain or political purpose. But
the basis of this renunciation Is the
spiritual basis. It is the sacredness
of personal religion, it's transcendence
Of any secular interest whatever. even
though that secular interest be the
right Of choice of a people in naming
its chief executive.
The letter, as everybody knows, is
In answer to one received by the pres
| ident during the campaign protesting
against Mr.. Taft's fellowship in the
! Unitarian denomination, whose repud-
iation of certain speculations concern
ing the Saviour is supposed by many
to be denial OF his divinity by all
Il Unitarians The letter to which the
president made answer was one OF a
number received by him on the sub
4 ject. No notice was taken OF any of
these communications during the cam
paign. While many voices were lifted
In protest against those who assailed
Mr.. Taft on these grounds, and many
defended the republican candidate
against the charges of irreligion and
disioyalty to the Saviour of the world,
the president was conspiculously al
lent. He took more active part IN
the campaign than any previous pres.-
dent, and this participation has been
justified by the necessity and the re-
suits. But on this subject he said not
word until every advantage OF such
utteranoe had passed. Now the pres
id4nt speaks not FOR MIS- friend. nor
for the sake OF the election. but simpl :
and solely In behalf OF religion itsel'.
The man whose unerrfng quickness OF
Judgment and rapidity OF action are
denounced a. impulsiveness by sow
and stupid people has displayed a
magnificent reserve for religions sake.
Was ever reverence for that which
is highest and deepest In the human
soul shown more practically?
| Religion is indeed the one sufficient
inspiration of oil service, the one Gre
atj,-o farce and impregnabie safeguard
Of practical Righteousness. II 10 not
q mysticism to be kent In q separate
phrb Dh U1ds ~ ~ PfN0s11AA sssAA DsssS
tent heworld all other forces II In the
foundation of Gil true individual auc-
oese, az all national progress and pros-
perlty, But IT ID all that effective iiNr
ling In the world demands. only whom
|it is kept holy and lnyioiable, only
whan man abhors any use Of II for
secular advantage. tt IN not to be
expg0lted nor displayed. TO confess
that the deepest source Of ane'H own
life and tho highest aspirations Id the
eternAi ded, Ii indeed demanded BY
Eltha nature Of religion itself, but only
III where aHeh q opafessipa can DO maas