Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-06-24
A GREAT PRESIDENT

becoming the most eminent man
in the world. His predecessor
won fame and the Nobel prize as
peacemaker. He performed
feat unparalleled in the history of
diplomacy. In the different way,
and on broader ground President
Taft Is proceeding to make this
sporadic event the illustration Of
a universal law. His proposition
TO secure permanent peace and
arbitration of all disputes be-
tween Great Britain and the Unit
ed states. has taken the world by
surprise and filed the minds of
millions of men and women with
admiration. His reciprocity cam
paign is only an incident in
wider movement of worldwide
Importance. With calmness, with
dignity, with perspicacity, he is
steadily moving towards the ac-
complishment, let us hope, Of
purpose which will for all nations
set an example of noble dealing
which cannot be disregarded.
Christian Register.
To be president Of large country
like the United States Is to be pro-
minent, Of course, but not necessarily
great. We have had three or four
great presidents-no more; and their
greatness consisted not so much In
extraordinary intellectual abilities,
and strenuous activity in everything
under the sun, as in sane judgment
dignity, moral poise and patience.
They came into Office with pro-
nounced convictions upon all vital
questions, which they foistered upon
no one, but which they maintained
with loyal adherence.
And when II became necessary fol-
them to express these convictions
they did SO without fear or favor.
They endured adverse criticism with
manly reserve. "biding their time;
were not ruffled by personal com.
plants and antagonisms; they were
complaisant and yielding in non-es.
sentials, constant in doing what they
believed was the thing to do.
Such man President Taft has beer
ever since he entered upon his duties
as our national servitor.
Coming after man of remarkable
versatility and worldwide promin
ence, whose varied activities no soon
err began than they were carried up
on the wings OF the wind to the ut
termost parts of the earth, Mr. Taft,
administration naturally would b,
looked upon with askance.
What strange and unexpected thini
could he do to keep up the excitemen
and the enthusiasm, for nothing shor
OF a war or new Declaration OF In
dependence would suit the presen
feeling?
Yet Mr.. Taft came in like a new
clerk to the counting house. He mad
his bow and sat down to his tasks
smiling blandly.
He had nothing particular to sa.
to the newspaper men-he was no
ready the first day to outline his poll
cies.
He had been elected by the peopl
to do their work at Washington, an,
he was going to do II by working an
not by talking about 1t. Would h
follow in the footsteps of his virli
redecessor-could he do anythin
else? Or, would he try to make us'
of his own mind? The newspape
men fell over each other discussin
the matter. ending In the publicatio
Of all sorts OF CALLING insinuation
as to the new Presidents inability |
make a move without consulting hi
patron saint. " ~
Mr.. Taft worked on, eating tire
square meals day, and greeting hi
friends and enemies with smile.
SO, as there was nothing else to sa!
the newspaper men made fun Of tn
smile. It was all MIR. Taft had
offer, they said; 1t meant nothing.
II was merely contraction {
muscles without any Significance. BIZ
through this really exasperating pc
Rod OF doubt and insinuatlon, NJ
Taft's patience held out.
He came of dignified stock-a jud
clal ancestry. and he himself inherit
ed a poise OF spirit which, with HI
legal requirements and experience
carried him up into the Suprem
Court.
And he was man enough befoI
election to stand by his religious fait
and convictions, which were unpop,
lar with nine-tenths of the people I
the United States.
So when he came to Washington h
set to work to see what was to b
done. and what might be the wor
he was specially fitted to do. He sc
lected his own advisers, showing tina
he used his own judgment as to thei
equipment for the work in hand.
He showed his greatness by not re
fusing to uphold Mr.. Roosevelt
policies when they fitted the cast
Under the charge of being only tn
ex-president's tool. some men woul
have diecnrdad avarythinp hplnn cir