The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-02-13
SECRETARY TAFT.

OF the distinguished guests.
Included among the guests were the
speakers, nearly all the members ol
Miehigan.s- congressional delagates:
Congressman Schirm, OF Baltimore
and Willis Z. Moore, OF the weather
bureau, who are to talk at the Chan
dler club banquet in Lansing.
Secretary Taft, soon after his ar
rival In the city. was taken to the
Press building. where the League o.
Republican clubs was holding its ses
sion. He was introduced by President
T. A. Palmer. of Manistee, as the Re
publican nominee. This was the signal
for the several hundred delegates tc
Jump to their feet and begin song
which ran:
Hail. hail. hail the nominee!
What the hi do you care
What the hi do / care?
Hail, hail. haid the nominee!
What the HI do you care. Bill
"Well. care some," was the secre
tarys remark, as he took the foor FOL
brief speech.
During the visit OF the honorec
guests, there were numerous other re
ceptions at various clubs. The mill
tary captured and bore of Gov. Guild
and John Barrett was taken In tow
By the Falstaff clubmen.
The big secretary was In good spir
it's ond smiled that inimitable Taf'
smile frequently.
IL was an enthusiastic greeting tna'
was extended to Secretary Taft as AT
rose To speak. He said In part:
VIVA, would Lincoln do today?
II did not select this toast, anc
should not have chosen 1t OF my own
free will. 1t is difficult to fit into
a. new niche of history really
sreat man. whose greatness Is indis
solubly associated with a particular
crisis in which he lived. One cannon
take him from the environment IL
which the grandness of his character
stands out. There are few lives whici
seem TO have been shaped SO Prov
dontially to meet country's grea
need as that Of Lincoln with reference
70 slavery and the civil war
Coming from childhood or the
greatest penury and discomfort an.
saualor. mingling with the humoles'
and the poorest in western set
Element. Lincoln acquired sense
OF equality and democracy and
love OF equal rights that never lei
him, and gave deep color TO hii
whole life. His soul revolted Al
human slavery. He had tender
ness OF heart and sympathy witt
his fellow man that manifested itsei
in the smallest details OF his life, ant
he had a power OF putting himself II
anothers place, which gave him
profound sense OF justice.
"He understood the play OF human
nature as few men have. He knew
the motives and the things which In
f,uenced the plain people as no Other
American in our American race Of
noliticians has understood them. ne
had a sense OF humor and power o.
quaint expression and capacity iol
creating apt stories which enabied MN
to give fierce by homely illnsfranor
to the arguments which his great pow
or of logic enabled him to drive home
Aces Greatest Politician.
"He was the greatest politician Of
his age. and while he had deeply Inn
bedded in his moral nature the prln
ciples In favor OF human liberty, ne
did not propose TO sacrifice his inhu
ence to bring about the goal OF his
whole life's ambition by going SO fasl
i'm extreme declarations or abstract
principles as to deprive him OF future
usefulness.
"Lincoln's economic views were
not distinctly marked. Early In his
career he favored internal improve
ments in Illinois as a member or the
legislature TO such a point as to In
yolye the state in heavy indebted
ness which never Injured largely &c
the benefit OF the people. His mind wat
not directed, even during the war, u
economic subjects. lie safely dele
gated the finances of the country tc
his secretary OF the treasury, Mr.
Chase. AS a follower of Mr.. Clay, hf
was In favor OF the protective or Am
erican system, as 1t was called. Dur
ing his administration the morrill,
tariff was passed. for the system Of
protection to American industries or
the modern plan was then fully inau
gurated. We can, therefore, assign
him to a place In the present DAP
among protectionists.
Where would he stand In respect
to our Philippine policy and expan
sion? Would he, as the anti-imperia1
lists, take the position, were he Twins
today, that the Republican party In
It's action In respect to Porto Rico
Cuba anu the Philippines had depart
ed from the principles that Nactuatet
him in becoming a Republican and ~
retaining that party In national con
rtol? Mr.. Lincoln relied greatly In hi
discussions ON the slavery question
upon the terms OF the Declaration o
independence.
As to the Philippines
THE Philippine islands came to vi
without our design. In war one mus
pursue his enemy where he can I'm,
him. II was necessary that Dewe!
should destroy the Spanish fleet II
The Pacific TO prevent its use asains
cur commerce. and against our PaeiA'
TERRITORY. The destruction OF the Span
ish feet put the Philippines Mt ou
mercy With the assistance OF Aguln
mdo's army we took the city OF Man
lila. and then peace came. The ques
ton was what course lay open t. ~