The Washington herald., 1909-07-08
TALKS ON TOLERANCE
Taft Addresses the Catholic
Clergy at Plattsburg.
RELIGIOUS LIBERALITY LAUDED
Exercises at Cliff Haven Summer
school One OF the Features OF Third
Days Celebration of Discovery of
Lake ChampIain - President Pays
Tribute 10 Pope Leo XIII.

Plattsburg, n. Y, July 7.-President
Taft this morning went TO the Catholic
Summer School Of America. where he
made brief speech to LOG persons. who
were packed into the auditorium.
AS the President entered the building.
accompanied by his aid. Capt Butt.
Gov. Hughes and members Of his staff.
Cardinal Gibbons. Mgr. Mcmahon. presi-
dent Of the school. and Mgr. Lavelle, Of
St Patrick's Cathedral, New York. the
audience stood up and cheered. Every
spectator was equipped with an American
flag. which was waved.
Mgr. Mcmahon first introduced Gov.
Hughes, who after speaking for fifteen
minutes presented President TAFT. The
governor talked about Champlain. his
religion and its influence on the great
things he did.
He also discussed the growth of re-
ngiOus freedom. In closing his address
the governor had high words OF praise
for the President When N1r. TAFT arose
he reciprocated with praise for the gov
ernor. The President laughingly added
that he and Gov. Hughes were this week
going around together making speeches
az each other.
The Presidents speech.
Following. in part. is the text Of the
Presidents speech:
I think we are reaching a point IN this
country where we are very much more
tolerant Of everything and everybody
than In the past. and where we are giving
justice where justice ought 10 be given.
We are no longer cherishing those mar
row prejudices that come from denomi-
national bigotry. and We are able TO
recognize in the past those great heroes
in religious Christian faith and appre-
ciate the virtues that they exhibited and
follow the examples they have set for Us
Religious tolerance is rather a mod
ern invention. Those OF Us Of Puritan
ancestry have been apt 70 think that we
are inventors OF religious tolerance. Well.
as a matter OF fact. what we were 10
favor OF, if can speak for Puritan an
cestry. was IN having a right 10 worship
God as We pleased and have everybody
else worship God in the same way. But
We have worked thar out now and there
has been q great change am sure hts
eminence the cardinal Will agree with
me-even IN the lest twenty-five years.
I have personal evidence o. IL in some
OF the work that we had 10 do IN the
Philippines.
FIFTY years ago. II It had been pro
posed 10 send a representative OF the
government 20 the Vatican % negotiate
and settle matters arising II a country
like the Philippines between the govern
ment and the Roman Catholic Church II
would have given rise 70 the severest
condemnation and criticism on the part OF
those who would have feared some diplO-
matte connection between the government
and the italian. contrary 20 our uadi-
tious; but within the last ten years thar
has been done. with the full concurrence
OF al religious denominations, believing
that the way 10 90 things is 10 DO them
directly, and when a matter is 10 be set
tied that It should be settled with the
head Of the church. who has authority.
I came 70 be an exception. which viii
perhaps stand for many years as the sole
exception. Of being representative OF the
United States and the Vatican.
There 1 had the great pleasure OF
meeting that distinguished statesman and
POntiff, Leo XIII. a man Of ninety-two
whom I expected 10 fnd rather a lay
figure, directed by the councils OF the
cardinals. than one active in control OF
the church. But ] was most pleasantly
disappointed. for even at ninety-two he
was able 10 Withstand an address OF
mine OF twenty minutes 20 catch the
points Of that address. and 10 respond IN
a speech Of some fifteen minutes. showing
how fully he appreciated the issue thar
there was and its Importance.
Motives Appreciated.
And now. my dear friends. 7 ought TO
talk about Champlain, and cold talk
something about him because I appre-
ciate as highly as one can those motives
that governed him and his high character
as a man and the obstacles that he had
TO overcome; but when I get up 10 talk
on any subject I am a liJtle bit in the
attitude OF the doctor who could cure ITS
and that is all he could cure, and so he
wanted to throw his patients into that
condition I can only talk about the
Philippines, and that IS what I have
done: but I hope they have some appli-
cation 10 the thoughts Of the morning. q"
Cardinal Gibbons spoke last. He re-
marked that he would not impose a
speech upon the President, who was
having hard time OF It this week.
AT the close OF the exercises, the Presi-
dent returned 10 the Hotel Champlain
10 attend a reception rendered by the