Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-02-25

Of the life and Works of George
Washinnton-The First Presidents
High Character as a Man.
Philadelphia, Feb. 22.-Hon. William
II. Taft president-elect of the United
States, was the 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
ernment." He discussed at consider
able length the influence which the
learned professions, in this day, have
upon national and municipal govern
ment He outlined UNANIMOUSLY 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:
EFT is the duty of every citizen to
give as much attention as he can to
the public veal, and to take as much
interest as he can in political matters
Americans generally have recognized
these duties, and we find active in po-
1idcal life, men representing all pro-
fessiOns, all branches Of business and
all trades. / propose today to invite
your attention to the present relation
OF each of the learned professions to
politics and government
Ministry Placed First.
"The first 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
gregatiODa church, in addition to that
of his sacred office, exercised a most
powerful influence, which was of a dis
dnctly political character. His views
on the issues of the day were consid-
cred of the greatest weight in the conf
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 'tleOc-
racy;' when it was deemed wise and
politically proper to regulate by law,
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 1t 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, fer it is Of
the utmost Importance that the profes-
sion whose peculiar duty it is to main
tain high moral standards and to
arouse the best that there is In man,
to Stir him to higher aspirations,
should have the genius and b-illiancy
with which successfully to carry out
this function. OF course, the profess
sion OF ministry is supposed to have
to do largely with the kingdom of the
many people expect to find in the rep
resentatives of the profession only
an 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
ander 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. 1t is utterly impossible to
separate politics from the lives OF the
community, and there cannot be gen
eral personal and social business NOR
atty and political immortality at the
I same time The latter will ultimately
debauch the whole community.
4 Has Made Improvement.
During the administration of Mr.
Roosevelt, and under the influence OF
certain revelations of business iamor
ality. the conscience of the whole
country was shocked and then nerved
to the poiut of demanding that bet
tor order of affairs be introduced In
this movement the ministers of the
various churches have recognized the
cali upon them TO assist. and they
have been heard in accents much more
effective than ever before in half {
century The greatest agency to-da!
in keeping us advised of the condi
lions among oriental races is the es
Establishment of foreign missions. Th'
leaders OF these missionary branches
of the. churches are becoming some o
our most learned statesmen in respec
of our proper oriental policies"
Judge Taft, discussing teachers, sail
that their relation to politics and gov
ornment is of the utmost Importance
though indirect" He went on: