Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-25


washlnaton-The First Presidents
High Character az a Man.
Philadelphia. Feb. 22.--Hon. William
II. Taft, pTesident-elect of the United
States. was tho principal speaker at
the exercises In the University 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.
menL He outlined LUMINOSITY the
part each OF the important professions
plays In a government by the people
and compared their influence, one with
another. In brief part, he said:
1T is the duty Of every citizen to
give as much attention as he can 10
the public veal. and TO take as much
interest az he can in political matters.
Americans generally have recognized
these duties. and we find active in DO.
litical life, men representing all pro-
fesslons, all branches OF business and
all trades. propose to-day to invite
your attention to the present relation
OF each Of the learned professions to
politics and government.
Ministry Placed First.
"The frst profession is that OF the
ministry. Time was In New England
and in every other part OF the coun.
try under the influence Of its tradi-
lions, when the minister OF the Con
gregational church, in addition to that
of his sacred Office, exercised a most
powerful influence, which was OF a dis
tinctly political character. His views
on the issues OF the day were consid.
cred OF the greatest weight in the com.
munity in which he lived. and he
ranked everyone as its first citizen.
This was in the days when New Eng.
land might almost be called a 'theoc-
racy;' when II was deemed wise and
politically proper to regulate by law,
to the minutest detail, the manner OF
life OF men, and as these laws were un.
derstood to be framed In accord with
moral and religious requirements, the
minister Of the community was the
highest authority as to what the law
should be and how II ought to be en-.
forced. Great changes have come over
our methods Of life since that day.
Then the ministry, because OF the re-
wards in the way OF influence, power
and prominence, attracted the ablest
OF educated minds, and the ability and
force OF character were where power
and influence resided. But the spread
OF education and independent think.
ing, the wide diffusion OF knowledge
and news by the press, the enormous
material development OF the country,
the vast increase in wealth, the in.
crease in rewards and influence OF
other vocations. the disappearance OF
the simple village life. have all con
tributed TO change radically the posi-.
ton and influence OF the ministry in
the community. To-day It is not true
that that profession attracts the ablest
; young men. and this. think. is a dis.
tinct loss TO our society. for It Is OF
the utmost importance that the profes.
sion whose peculiar duty II is to main.
tain high moral standards and to
arouse the best that there 10 in man,
to stir him to higher aspirations,
should have the genius and brllliancy
with which successfully 10 carry out
this function. OF course, the profes.
sion of ministry is supposed to have
TO do largely with the kingdom OF the
next world rather than with this, and
| F.anV.la % AuA L.. hA
resentRtives OF the profession only
IN other worldliness and no thought
OF this. This, OF course, is the mar
rowest view OF the profession. What
ever the next world. we are certainly
under the highest obligation TO make
the best OF this. and the ministers
should be the chief instruments in ma.
king this world morally and religious
ly better. II is utterly impossible to
separate politics from the lives of the
community, and there cannot be gen.
eral personal and social business NOR.
allty and political immortality At the
same time. The latter will ultimately
debauch the whole community.
Has Made Improvement.
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
20 the point OF demanding that a bet
ter order Of AFFAIRS be introduced. In
this movement the ministers Of the
various churches have recognized the
call upon them 20 assist. and they
have been heard In accents much more
effective than ever before In half a
century. The greatest agency to-day
In keeping us advised OF the condi
tons among oriental races Is the 60
tablishment Of foreign missions. The
leaders OF these missionary branches
OF the churches are becoming some Of
our moSt learned statesmen IN respect
| of Ot4r nronar oriental t,0iicieas