The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1909-03-12
Mr.. Taft's Task.

10 PRESIDENT ldLC ana MS A QmlnlS = I
tration it is given to permit prosperl-
ty; to re-esta blish justice; to dethrone
privilege; to "bind up the Nations !
wounds, " and 10 restore government
by law under the Constitution Of the
United States, says the New York |
World.
Il is a task for which Mr.. Taft is
fitted by training and temperament.
He is lawyer, with the mind of a !
magistrate, and has been a just and
upright Judge.
"Our people need rest and peace and
reinsurance, said Grover Cleveland
in perhaps the last of his public utter
ances, letter written to The World
March IA, 1908 They still need it
quite as much as they did then, and
Mr.. Taft's most important work is to
restore it to them, remembering that
the best thing any government can do
is to mind its own business.
In place of rest the people have had
turmoil and agitation. In place of
peace they have had vituperatiOn and
denunciation. In Place of reinsurance
they have had turbulent exercise of
autocraJic powers and the clamorous
demand for new centralizing Iegisla-
ton. Prosperity has halted and re-
manned halted because the country has
lacked this crest and peace and reas-
surance" for which Mr.. Cleveland
pleaded and which Mr.. Taft promised
in his inaugural address. Individual
liberties have been jeopardized becaIs
President has seen ft to put himself
above the law.
Nobody knows better than Mr.. Taft
that while government cannot create
prosperity and liberty it can destroy
both. Too much government has al
ways been a more dangerous foe to hui
man progress than too little govern
mont. The struggle for freedom has
been a struggle against privilege es-
tablished by authority and buttressed
by power. There can be no real liber- +
ty where citizens livIihood is at the
mercy Of government and government
is at the mercy of one mans whim or
desire TO prejudice or ignorance.
We have faith, therefore, that M. |
Taft will stick TO the Constitution and
to the enumerated powers of his
flee, which are worthy OF any mans |
genius and sufficient occupation for the
highest talent. He can safely leave
the matter of faith and morals in the
pulpit; education to the schools and !
colleges; maternity to the mothers
and paternity to the fathers; to the
courts the trying of causes; to the
States the powers reserved to the
States, and to the people in general |
the right to engage in all lawful pur-
suits without meddlesome interference. |
In spite of recent assumption, the
whole burden Of governments does not
rest upon the President of the United
States. There is a Congress whose
members are directly responsible to !
the people Of their districts and Of their
States. There are courts, and Judges
may be impeached for cause. There
are forty six state which still retain in
theory all the powers and duties not
expressly delegated to the National
Government. Even the wlsest of Presi- !
dents is neither omniscient nor infalli- |
BILE nor superhuman. If he appoints |
honest and competent men to Office, |
recommend wise and necessary legisla-
ton to Congress, safeguards the public |
revenue and takes care that the laws
are faithfully executed, he has done all
that the Constitution requires. It is
not necessary that ne should also seek
to be pillar of cloud by day and pill
lar Of ire by night.
It is important that the tariff be re-
vised and unjust privilege destroyed.