The Washington herald., 1910-02-17

terrupted by applause and cheers when
he scored the press and the public for
watching the White House too vigilantly.
I am rather embarrassed in responding
to this toast" he said. though I fully
appreciate the honor. You see. I don't
know whether I am reactOnary or an
insurGent. II ! did, / should know how 20
proceed.
But I think am safe in saying there
have been no small men in the Chief
Magistrates chair We have always had
great men TO fll it from the days OF the
immortal Washington 10 the man OF the
hour We have with us tonight. And the
greatest OF our rulers. have been subjected
to bitter criticism. because one thing the
people demand is che right 20 criucise.
Lincoln had few friends in Congress-
and many enemies. and in some ways
President Taft has greater problems 20
solve than had he. He has the stand-pat-
ters who want 70 stay still. the reactona-
ries who want 20 90 a little. and the in
surgents who want 70 90 like hi
Flow of Criticism.
There IS a fierce flow OF criticism to-
ward the President Of the United States
throughout the country at this time.
1 have been a member Of Congress for
two terms and though I have not always
agreed with him. I have always known
that he was doing his duty steadfasty
as he saw IT,
7 say 10 the public press, turn your
eyes toward Congress and away from
this man The President cannot legis-
late Though Congress has been in ses-
sion for two months. it might as we'll
have been at home drawing pay, for all
that has been done toward redeeming
the pledges OF the party. which Taft
has stood for an urged.
Il am a member Of that party. but 7
say 10 you that when those pledges are
kept it Will be a lasting monument 20
Taft. Let us call upon the legislative
bodies to do their duty. as the same 10y
atty YOU have shown or the field Of bat
tie is needed now in the halls of Con-
gress."
The Presidents Speech.
President Taft said in part.
1--WE have reached a time IN history
when even those brave men who led the
Southern army are willing generally 70
coucede that the result. as It was, is
better than the result would have been
had their great efforts been successful
But my friends. when the war was over
we had but reached one stage in the
dreadful battle which had been fought
in the excelsior Of the cancer which was
necessary from the body polite of the
United states.
There remained then the union again
the reunion Of the feeling Of the people OF
IN North and the people CT the South;
and ii is 10 the soldiers OF the Union and
the Grand Army of the Republic that we
trun to find the first great generous feel
ing toward their old foe whose bravery
they recognized; for we were a united
country: We had 10 be. and we had "a
recognize those who had fought us ds
having come back in good faith 40 make
citizens OF the re-established republic
in that war who heard the hostile bullet,
who saw their comrades shot down. who
met the enemy that there was in that
fight, you find men who are willing "a
recognize the bravery Of the South,
/ though in lost cause, and In a cause
that we all now rejoice was lost Hence
II is that the present admirable condition
in the country of the feeling Of the South
toward the North, and the North toward
the South. is chiefly to be attributed to
those meetings of the Blue and the Gray.
/ the soldiers who fought on the Northern
side and were triumphant. and the sol
diers who fought on the Southern side
and lost, and that you find the nucleus OF
good feeling that we have throughout
this entire country; for certainly if they
are willing to take the position that we
are all brothers. those who did not expose
themselves. or those who were born since
may well keep themselves quiet.
II want TO testify to the virtue Of the
Grand Army of the Republic in making
that feeling throughout this country per
manent. You have no quarrel that the
followers of the lost cause. with senti-
ment and a love for the bravery Of those
who fought for IT, still cherish sweet
memories Of the virtue and the courage
that they showed in that fight"
Would Pension Clerks.
In discussing the question of the super
annuation Of government employees. Mr.
Taft declared himself In favor of a civil
pension scheme, by which old and dis