The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-23
FINE ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY
WILLIAM H. TAFT
PreSident-EIeCt the Principal
Speaker at University of
Pennsylvania Exercises.
LEARNED PROFESSIONS
AS AIDS TO GOVERN EMIT
TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON IN
CONCLUSION - PRAISE FOR
ROOSEVELT AT OUTSET.


liam II. Taft, president-elect of the
United States, today was the principal
speaker at the exercises in the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania commemorative
of the birth of Washington.
He chose for the subject of his ad-
dress the Present Relations of the
Learned Professions to Political Gov
eminent" He discussed at consider
able length the influence which the
learned professions, in this day, have
upon national and municipal govern
ment. He outlined LUMINOSITY the part
each of the important professions plays
in government by a people, and COM
pared their influence, one with another.
He said:
Mr.. Taft's Address.
Ladies and Gentlemen-It is the duty of
every citizen, TO matter what his pro-
fesSlon business OF trade. to give a., much
dttentlon as he can TO the public veal.
ana TO take as much interest as he can in
political matters. Americans generally
have recognized these duties. and the re-
suit Is that we find active in political life
prominent In the legislature and execu-
tive councils of the government. men rep
Tesentlng all professions. all branches of
business and all trades. Perhaps the ex-
preston representing IS not fortunate
because tney are not elected by guilds or
professions, or crafts. and they do not rep
resent their fellows in the sense of being
required TO look after their peculiar inter
ests- What ] mean Is that among public
men who enact laws and enforce them
may De found those who in early Lille at
least have had experience III every bust
ness. every craft and every profession
Nevertheless, as political and governments
al necessities change. they have tend
enCy TO increase the number taken from
one procession OF another for reasons that
can De distinctly traced; and propose this
morning 20 invite your attention to the
present relation Of each CT the learned
professions 20 politics and government L
seems TO me that such subject may we'll
nave interest for those who have finished
- academic carec~ and are looking about
select a profession for themselves
Influence of Ministers.
The first profession is that of the min
lstry. Time was in New England. and in
every other part OF the country under the
influence of its traditions. when the min
lister Of the Congregational church. in ad-
dition to that of his sacred office exer-
SiSed most powerful influence. which
was OF distinctly political character His
views on the issues of the day were con-
sidered of the greatest weight in the COM
muuity in which he lived. and he ranked
everyone as its first citizen. This was i'm
the days when New England might al
most be called a "theocracv'f. when il
- as deemed wise AMI politically proper 10
@F5Euidte by law. to the minUtest detail.
the manner Of iif. of men. and As these
laws were understood to be framed iu
accord with moral and religious require
meutS- the minister of the community was
the highest authority as TO what the law
should be and how it ought tp be en-
forced Great changes have come over
our methods of life since that uay. Then
the ministry because OF the rewards IN
the way Of influence, power and prami-
hence. attracted the ahlest OF educated
minds. and the ability and force of char
acter were where power and influence re-
sided. But the spread of education and
Independent thinking, the wide diffusion
of knowledge and news by the press. the
enormous material development of the
country, the vast increase in wealth. the
increase in rewards and influence of other
VoCatiouS. the disappearance of the sim
pie village life. have all contributed to
change radically tha position and influ-
ence Of the ministry in the community.
Today il is not true that that profession
attracts the ablest young men. and this
] think is a distinct loss 70 or society. FOR
IL is Of the utmost importance that the
profession whose peculiar duty it IS to
maintain high moral standards and 20
arouse the best that there Is In man. 10
stir him 10 higher aspirations. should
have the genius and bTllllanCv with which
successfully to carry out this function.
OF course the profession of ministry is
supposed to have to do largely with the
kingdom Of the next world rather than
with this ana many people expect To find
I'm the representatives OF the profession
Only an other wOrldhnesS aud no thought
OF this. This Of course IS the DGTrOWest
view Of the profession. Whatever the
next world. we are certainly under the
highest obligation to make the best of
this and the ministers should ne the clief
Instruments i'm making this world morally
and religiously better. IL is utterly inn
possible go separate politics froT.. the lives
Of the community. and there cannot ice
general pers pnal and social business NOR
aHtv and political immortality at the same
time The latter will ultimately debauch
the whole community
Conscience of Country Shocked.
During the administration of Mr.. Roose-
Welt and under the influence of certain
revelations of business immortality, the
conscience of the whole country was
shocked and then nerved t. the point of
demanding that a better order Of affairs
Continued on Page 8.