Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
STUDENTS HEAR TAFT

DlUULNlS IlLAK lAf
The President-Eect Delivers the
Principal Address at the Washing
ton Birthday Exercises at the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, Special-Hon. VIII
liam H. Taft, President-elect Of the
United States, Monday was the prin-
cipal speaker at the exercises in the
University of Pennsylvania commem-
orative Of the birth of Washington.
He chose for the subject Of his ad-
dress the "Present Relations of the
Learned Profession to Political Gov
ernment." He discussed ,at consider
able length the influence which the
learned professions, IN this day, have
upon national and municipal govern
ment. In brief part, he said:
"It is the duty OF every citizen to
give as much attention as he can to
the public veal, and TO take as much
interest as he can in political matters.
"The first profession said Mr.
Taft, "is that Of the ministry. Time
was when the minister of the COM
munity was the highest authority as
to what the law should be and hoR it
ought to be enforced; but the spread
OF education and Independent think
ing, the wide diffusion of knowledge
by the press, the disappearance Of the
simple village life, have contributed
radically to change the position and
influence of the ministry in the COM
munity.
"During the administration Of Mr..
Roosevelt, and under the influence Of
certain revelations Of business immor-
atty, the conscience Of the whole
country was shocked and then nerved
to the point of demanding that a
better order of affairs be introduced.
In this movement, the ministers Of
the various churches have recognized
the call upon them to assist, and they
have been heard in accents much more
effective than ever before in half q
century. The greatest agency today
in keeping us advised of the conditions
among Oriental races is the estab-
lishment of foreign missions. The
leaders Of these missionary branches
Of the churches are becoming some
of our most learned statesmen in re-
spect Of our proper Oriental poll
cies. ."
Judge Taft, discussing teachers,
said that "their relation to politics
and government is of the utmost inn
portance, though indirect"
To the writer, in whatever capacity
he may labor, Judge Taft attributed
great influence, either for good or. for
bad. Referring to the newspaper
press he said:
"Its power Of public instruction Is
very great; but when it panders to
the vulgcrest taste f orsensationalism
and becomes entirely irresponsible in
its influence for good, its pernicious
tendency is obviated only by the pow
er Of the people to protect themselves
against it by a safe discrimination
and healthy skepticism.
Judge Taft paid high tribute to
the profession Of medicine, because it
had contributed to the preservation
of the health of all the people. He
pointed out that the profession had
been exalted by its great discoveries
and by its assistance in the expansion
Of our government in the tropics ard
in the construction Of the Panama
canal.
The law, said he, is in a wide sense
the profession Of government. Realiz-
ing the defects and weaknesses he
still regards the profession of law as
the most important in political gov
ernnent.
National exigency seems, said he, to
cali forth the men peculiarly fitted to
meet the requirements of the situa-
ton.