Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-08
THE PRESIDENT.

Plattsburg, N. Y, July 7.-Presiden
Taft, as the guest of the New Yorl
and Vermont Champlain ter-centenar,
commissions was the central figure to
day in series of events in connection
| with the celebration of the 30Oth ami
versary of the discovery of the Cham
plain country, that promised no cessa
ton of activities until far into tn
night Hotel Champlain at Bluf
Point, which sheltered the President
the commissions and their distinguish
| ed guests, was ablaZe with the nation
al colors, while Plattsburg was decke'
in red, white and blue for the occa
| sion.
| Early in the day the President mo-
tored to Cliff Haven, half mile from
Bluff Point, where he addressed ;
large gathering at the Catholic Sum.
mer School of America, returning lat
er to the hotel. where he received for
eign ambassadors, Governors Hugh":
and PrOuty, members of the New Yorl
Legislature and others of the guests
While this was going on the Indiar
pageants, which have proved an at
tractiVe feature of the weeks cela-
bration, were given on the floating is
land which had been towed up from
Fort Ticonderoga during the night ant
anchored at the mouth of the Saranat
river.
Further plans for the day included y
luncheon given by Smith M. Weed al
his residence in this city to the Presi-
Dental party and about so of the dis
tinguished guests, including the Presi-
dent, Robert Taft, Miss Helen Taft
Ambassador and Nine. Jusserand, Am
bassador and Mrs. Bryce, Governor and
Mrs. Hughes, Governor and Mrs
Prouty, Hon. Rodolph LemieuX an,
Nine. LemieuX. Sir Alphonse Pelletiel
Sir Lomier Couin, Senator and Mrs
Root, Secretary of War Dickinson
Cardinal Gibbons, Seth Low, member
of the New York and Vermont Cham
plain commission, several legislator
and military men.
The afternoons program included {;
review of federal and state troops
mounted and afoot. and civic organiZa
tons at Plattsburg barracks, foilowe
by literary exercises the speakers be
ing the President, Ambassador .Jusser
and of France, Ambassador Bryce o
Great Britain, Postmaster Genera
Rcdolphe LcmieuX of Canada, Unite
States Senator Root and Daniel l.. Cad
of New York. Senator Roots was tn
formal historical address of the day
his topic being. The Iroquois and TIN
Struggle for America"
The Presidents welcome at the Cath
Ole summer school was a hearty on
and the edifice. was packed to the doors
At the Presidents right on the plat
form was. Cardinal Gibbons, while OF
his left was Gov. Hughes by whom h.
was presented. Others on the platform
were Bishop Collins of Kingston. ia
maica; Bishop Coulton of Buffalo, Bis
| hop MacSherry of Cape Town, Sout
| Africa and FIR. MacMahon, presiden
of the summer school, WHO introduce
the governor.
AS the President rose to speak 81,
little girls in white marched quickl,
to the platform, the foremost one will
a courtesy presenting him with bou
! uuet of flowers on behalf of the school
which the President acknowledged will
q low bow. shaking the hand of tn
little miss ana offering his thanks.
President Taft had little to say o
Champlan anG devoted his address
mainly to his dealings with the Cath
Ole church in the Philippines as hav
ing bearing in the present celebration
, He told of his meeting with Pope LIE
/ XII, at the Vatican, whom he eulogiz
ed as distinguished statesman an
pontiff.
Governor Hughes and I are going t
spend three or four days dellverinl
| speeches at each other" said the l'resi
dent by way Of Introduction, land eX
| pressing our opinion of each other In
way that will enable us to do it whel
we get through with great facility
Governor Hughes needs no practice bu
| have to have a little"
IT am not a Catholic but I have had II
/ the last 10 years a great deal to do witt
the Catholic church. My lot did not carr.
me into a part of the world that was ia
miiar with the French explorers. tn
French leaders of civilization like Cham
plain, as it did into the regions of thos
leaders that came from Spain into tn
Philippines, where the same influence tina
/ carried Champlain here and that sam
influence that controlled him controlle
men equally brave and in certain respect
Imore successful.
Il think we are reaching point in thi
country where we are very much NOR
tolerant of everything and everybody tina
in the past and where we are giving jus
tice where justice ought to be given. w
are no longer cherishing these mario,
|preludices that come from denominations
oI.1 70
the past these great heroes in religio
and Christian faith and appreciate tn
Virtues that they exhibited and follow tn
Iexamples that they have set for us.
Religious tolerance is rather mod
| Continued on Page Twelve.)