Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-13

the president to the Home of the
Padres" He said he personally had
come 5000 miles to attend the unveiling
of the Fra Sierra tablet and he thanked
the president for aiding in the cere-
monies.
In passing, Bishop Conaty spoke of
his long personal friendship with Presi-
dent Taft, which dates back to the
time when President Taft was sec
retary of war and he was in educa-
tional work in Washington. He said
that President Tafts greatest credit
is his courage to be just. In con-
cluding, the bishop said: 1T was be-
cause he was just and right, that
we made him president. We ask you,
Mr.. President, to join in honoring the
memory of the first citizen of Cali
fornia, Fra Sierra, who came to begin
his service to God and man in 1853"
Governors Speech Short
Governor Gillett made a short ad -
dress relative to the preservation of
the missions of the state. He advo-
Gated a commission which shall have
charge of the preservation of the old
missions. In concluding he said a
touching farewell to the president and
his party.
Senator Flint said a few words in
reference TO NHS lnulanS OF (dlllOIIltt.
He paid a tribute to the mission faith
ers for their kindness to the Indians
and said that. had it not been for the
Franclscans efforts. the burden on
the government would be much great
er than it now is
The President Speaks
After being introduced to the ban
queters, President Taft said:
This dinner has assured Il function
did not expect. l had not antici-
pated the honor of unveiling a tablet
to so great a man as Father Sierra.
Had I known what was to come,
would have prepared myself with more
in preparation about the missionary
fathers. l first became aware of the
padres in the Philippines; there l
learned first the heroic side of the
Spanish character. We are in the habit
of looking back to our ancestors with
SNUG satisfaction and feeling that
ours are the only ancestors who ever
did anything worth while. 1t reduces
the size of our heads and puts us in
better adjustment to become aware
of the fact that there were others in
the fifteenth, sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries who fought the bat
ties of civilization and who did things
which will live in all times.
"When you consider the hardships OF
the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the
Maules of the early days. it is hard
to believe the work we see today was
done then. Those pioneer missionaries
converted the only Christian people
in the orient and those they made
Christian then are the only Christian
people in the orient today.
Tribute Is Fitting
"It is fitting that we pay a tribute
to one of those pioneers today. L
have seen as much today of Southern
California as any one ever saw in
any twelve hours and everything L
have seen has pleased me: 1t is fitting
that my visit should end in a building
like this which commentaries the re-
gion in which it is situated and the
architecture of departed race.
Il believe that the missions of
Southern California should be pre-
served for they are the greatest his
torical relic of the west. l am heartily
in accord with the sentiment of the
men of Riverside, who want to build
eir~government building on a site of
one of the old missions. California
has a past and it is we'll that you here
are trying to make that past live
through it's architecture.
Il have preached so many sermons
and have come in such close contact
with the churchmen that 1 feel a
good deal like a bishop. The prog
ress of modern civilization is largely
dependent upon the Christian missions
of every denomination, not upon the
trader who goes into the heather
land to take what he thinks the heath
en- does not value but which he knows
to be of value but upon the mission
ary, the one who advances ciViliza-
tion. 1t is such men as the churches
send to foreign climes who brave all
dangers that convince all men that
there is a living spirit which they
should embrace
California Is Tolerant
There is in California that broad
tolerance of other religions which is
coming to make man more companion
able and the erection of the bronze
tablet to the memory of Father Sierra,
done by men ninety per cent of whom
are not followers of his faith is an
added evidence of that fact. We are
making progress in the brotherhood OF
man and the fatherhood of Cod
"And it is well that we are, for. Il
shows US to be the most progressive
Ol All. L nave app lldNllAS cc'
ernor Gillett and others with me dur
ing the seven days 1 have been in Cali
fornia. l have been treated with tX
ceptional courtesy and have learned
much. I have seen all parts of th'
state and l have been surprised ant
gratified. I know the welcome here
and everywhere in the state has beer
sincere and / know that the Califor
mans are loyal to the backbone anc
proud to be a part of this great ma
tion.
Your welcome has been pleasing
and full of new meaning for me, Yol
have been warmer in your reception
here than farther east, but that mus
be because you are so far from Wash
ington. If you saw me every day yol
might not like me so well, but I an
delighted to take advantage of YOU
ignorance.
Says Last Goodby
"There is no experience in my life
so delightful as these seven days II
California. 1t has been strenuous bu
so is life 1 regret must say goodby
but wea must all part some time
Goodby and thank you"
As the president concluded his re