The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-08
TAFT HAS FAITH IN
The CONSTITUTION

IIdt'opuiA ~ ~ s, july New York
states share in the tercentennary
celebration of the discovery OF Lake
Champlain reached its climax today.
tomorrow the scenes or pagcantTy,
the parades, the speech making, the
interchange of compliments among
France. Great Britain and the United
States. who shared in the history-mak-
ing of the Champlain country, will all
be transferred across the lake to Yer.
mont, and Burlington will have its
fling.
President Taft, Ambassadors Jus.
serand and Bryce. with Governor
Hughes and Governor Prouty. again
today occupied the center of the ccle-
bration stage. Each made three
speeches, and all were at a brilliant
banquet at the Hotel Champlain to-
night Senator Root was added to
the prominent guests today and made
an historical address at Plattsburg
barracks. Postmaster General Rodolfe
LemieuX of Canada also spoke at the
barracks, where the expressions of
friendly good will among the three
great nations participating In the ter
centenary were emphasized. Mr.
Jusserand said.
THE spirit and all that was best In
Champlain lives again in President
Taft, and there is people In a dis,
tant archipelago who know It and feel
it and who for centuries will bless
his name"
Canada had a large share in today
celebration. and on the American mill.
try reservation at Plattsburg barracks
this afternoon the president and the
,,h 60 i
American and Canadian troops
An Ottawa regiment of Highlanders
In scarlet coats. furry hats and liilts.
and another regiment, the governor
generals foot guards. also from Otta~
wa. in uniforms Of equal brilllancy.
participated Governor Hughes and
President Taft were much together
today and on each speech-making oc
casion they exchanged many com1li-
ments-
In his speech at the banquet the
president declared his policy as to the
federal government, saying that while
he believed an enlargement of central
authority might be necessary. he had
an abiding faith in the constitution
and in the indestructible union OF in
destructible states. The president
said in part:
The foreign affairs of the United
States are committed to the central
government, but the state of New
York and the state of Vermont have,
in this instance, taken a step which
will prove. and is proving, most i'm.
Dortant In our foreign relations, They
have strengthened the bond that eX-
lists between the United States and
Great Britain, the United States and
France and the United States and
Canada.
and now to the subject which has
been assigned me-the United States
] think 1t is not too much to say that
those who have studied our country,
our civilization, our constitution and
our people Will reach the conclusion
that there is no country in the world
more conservative than that of the
United States. In view of the changes
which are taking place in government,
in view OF the new doctrines that
are being advanced Of a socialistic
character | think that Is one of tho
most important things TO emphasize
with reference TO the United States
II do not mean to say that we are
not progressive in the sense that we
intend TO keep up with the procession
in a development which shall work
more and more justice to all, but
do mean 10 say that the long contin.
ued training Of q people in self-goy
crnmcnt is certain TO produce a con-
SeTyatiSm that cannot be expected in
people that are newly come to self
government and who suffer more yio
tent reactions on that account. Not
that we are perfect in the United
States: not that we don't need a great
many reforms. | can mention one that
always comes to my mind and that
Is the necessity Of reform In the ad.
miDistration Of the criminal law. But
when you loC back and see the prog
rcss that we have made I'm many di.
reCtionS, ] think We may congratulate
ourselves In living in an age in which
We are making progress. In which the
people are more sensitive than they
ever were before TO the criticisms that
we are not holding ourselves up TO tho
right Ideals. There will come un-
doubtedly as our country becomes
more and more populated, as others
press upon us the necessity for the
conservation OF our resources. there
will come a test of the practical op-
Grafton OF our system Of state and ma
tional governments.
And It will doubtless be found at
times that system does not work as
well 10 accomplish the reforms we arc
after as a system In which the fed
eral government had much more pow
or. and II may be that. in some direc-
tions, It may be found necessary 10
enlarge somewhat the central power.
but ! have an abiding faith I'm the con-
stitution OF the United States as It is
'applausc). marvelously framed by
that body OF patriots and lawyers and
statesmen. in simple language. bear
ing an elastic construction 10 meet
conditions that they in their widest
imagination could not have forcseen
And, therefore. while in some com.
paratively unimportant matters wc
may have TO change that relation,
feel certain that the constitution as II
is will furnish to us the instrument Of
continuing the growth Of the United
States in the right direction. towards
our highest ideals, and permit us still
10 maintain that system, difficult foI
others to understand, but which we
ourselves love. that indestructible
union OF indcstructible states