The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-13
DINNER TO PRESIDENT
HAS TONE OF DEFENSE
CONTINUED from hrst page.

llOlllNucu Ifcin ~ 81 PoeS''
before the day of election, the nation
had made its decision.
Mr.. Bannard then proposed his toats
TO Honest BIZ Taft.
There were scattered cheers, but
the majority OF the audience drank
the toats in silence.
President Taft read his speech. He
displayed considerable vigor in read
ing however. using his right arm and
raising his voice frequently To en-
phasize his points After references
10 Lincoln, he began his attacks upon
the progressiyes of his psrty.
There are those who locke upon
the present situation as full OF eva
and corruption and as tyranny OF con-
centrated wealth" he said.
Political EmotiouAlists.
The President said
There are those who look upon
the present situation RS one full OF
evil and corruption and as tyranny
or concentrated wealth, and VINO in
apparent despair at any ordinary
remedy are seeking to pun down those
things which have been regarded as
the pillars of the temple OF freedom
and representative government In the
effort to make the selection OF caudi-
dates. the enactment of legislation and
the momentary passions of the peo-
ple without opportunity for time and
study OF the government of the peo-
pie.
such extremists would hurry us
into "A condition which would find no
parallel except in French revolution.
or in that bubbling anarchy that once
characterized the South American re-
publics. Such extremists are not pro-
gressives--they are political emotion
alists or neurotics. who have lost that
sense of proportion, that clear ana
candid consideration of their own
weakness and that clear conception or
the necessity for checks upon hasty
popular action which made our peo-
pie who fought tn Revolution and who
drafted the Federal constitution. the
greatest sef-governing people that
the world ever knew.
1T has been said, and 1t is COM
mon platform expression, that II Is
we'll to prefer the men above the dol
lar, as II the preservation or property
rights has some other purpose than
the assistance to and the uplifting OF
human rights. Private property was
not established in order to gratfy
love Of some material wealth or capt.
tai. 1t was established as an In
ST u me mainly III the pEoBAesS VI G'NAH
zation and the uplifting of man. and
II is equality of opportunity that pri-
vate property promotes by assuring
to man the result OF his own labor.
thrift and selfrestratnt
When. therefore, the demagogue
mounts the platform and announces
that he prefers the man above the
dollar he ought to be Intercepted as
to what he means thereby. whether
he is in favor OF abolishing the right
OF the institution Of private property
and OF taking away from the poor
man the opportunity to become
wealthy by the use OF the abilities
that God has given him. the cultiva-
ton OF the virtues with which prac-
tice Of self-restraint and the exercise
of moral courage will fortify him.
''Oki Guard Looks On.
While William Barnes Jr., chair
man OF the Republican State Com
mittee. sat at the guests table with
the President, as did Timothy L.
Woodruff and former Governor Frank
*. Black. leaders OF The '.Cld Guard
movement in New York state. neither
OF these had more than a passing
word with the President.
Friends of Barnes spread the re-
port that he had been in secret con-
sultation with the President for more
than an hour On the situation in New
York State and that the Presiden,
had surrendered completely TO the
Barnes program. Friends OF the
President ridiculed the suggestion.