The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-07-13
MARION CHRONICLE

better serve the country in that of
flee.
1t Is not every one, of course, who
can understand how a human being
may be animated by such motives.
but fortunately such men do exist,
and it is still more fortunate that
such a man now occupies this high
Office
Not all these things are yet real
lied by ali the people, but more and
more they are coming into this
knowledge. More and more they are
coming to know the high purpose
and also the ability of their presi-
dent. His patriotism and his consci-
entious sense of duty have seldom or
never been questioned, but there are
those who have questioned the wis
dom of his administration. Most of
this is to be attributed to the fact
that he has been able to see further
j into the future than many another
and also because back of all this has
been reserve of power that he hes
not seen fit to exploit in advance
One may be great man and yet
not necessarily great president.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was one Of
] the greatest men of the 10th CEN
fury, but he would have been weak
ling in the presidential chair Lin
coin Is remembered to-day as one of
the greatest of men, and the times
enabled him to demonstrate this, but
had Lincoln been president in a time
of peace he would not have lived in
history as he does TODAY. So it does
not follow that William Howard Taft
is necessarily great president be-
cause he is great man.
But more and more the people are
coming to realize that he is a great
president also. This was. indicated
during the first congress of his ad-
ministration, when, despite the pre-.
dictions of the newspaper and other
prophets, and despite the opinions
and inclinations of the members
themselves, he managed to wiring
from this same congress a record of
benef cient legislation never surpass-
ed and perhaps never before equall-
ed by any congress in a time of
peace. This same influence is man.
ifested In this special session-the
influence of a masterful man.
Members of congress and Others
to-day recognize in this man a power
little suspected when he became pres
ident. Few of them have been able
to analize this power, but every one
of them has felt it, nevertheless
the power of a masterful man ami
mated by great conviction.
All this is merely the contempla-
ton of the president as an object
of admiration One might command
all this and yet not be an object Of
affect on, but in this personality
there are the qualities that command
not only admiration but affection
also. Those who have been closely
associated with him describe the man
as most companionable. While he
stands and fights for his convictions
as the mastery man ALWAYS does.
yet animating him and manifested in
all his relations is a kindliness OF
spirit that draws men to him regard
less of differences in opinion.
So, those who greet the president
to-day even at a distance have the
satisfaction of knowing that they
pay their respects not merely to one
who has been an able and an upright
Judge, not merely to the capable adj
ministrator. not merely to the mas
terful executive, but also to the con-
scientious and unself'sh patriot. to
the splendid specimen of genuine and
full-grown manhood incapable OF the
petty in any phase, to the magnani-
mous-the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who
rings true at every test of the metal
in him, and in addition to this the
kindly man who is proud rather than
ashamed of the human in him, and to
the man who is here to-day. not for
self-exploitation but because ne does
eniov being among the peoole and be-
cause these drafts upon his time and
vitality are a necessary part OF the
sacrifice he must make if he is to ae-
complish what he has set out to 90
for the well-being of his country
and his countrymen.