The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-16

that the charge of my being Q Catholic
1t very provoking, considering the motive
that inspires it, and very exssperating
wheh l see IL connived at, if not in fact
originated, by men who sat with me in
the Presbyterian Bible class when I was q
stu lent and you prefesso. in Washing
ton College. This charge is part and
parcel OF the tactics OF the Cameron
| gang TO rob me of the Pennsylvania
delegates, when, 10 fact. four.f fths OF
| the Republicans Of the State desire my
nomination. Ny ancestors on my father
| side, were as you know, always identi>
fed with the Presbyterian Church, and
they we're prominent and honored in the
old colony Of Pennsylvania several gene
rstieDs before the Csmerons blessed
Scotland by leaving it.
But, while thanking you for what you
have done to set NY Pitts burg friends
right on this question, will never con-
sent TO make any public declaration
upon the subject, and for two reasons:
First, becsuss1 abhor the introduction
Of anything that looks like religious
test or qualifcati. for Office 10 a
republic, where perfect freedom of
conscience is the birthright of
every citizen, and, second, becsuae my
mother was, ss you we'll know, a devoted
Catholic. ] would not for a thousand
presidencies, speak a disrespectful word
OF my mothers re igion and no pressure
will draw me into any aYowal of hos
tillty or unfriendliness 10 Catholics,
though have never received and do not
expect any political support from them.
You ara at liberty to show this to the
gentleman who urged you to write me.
Many thanks for your kind Invitation,
but l can hardly promise myself the
pleasure of visit TO Western Pennsyl-
vsnia this Spring. You know, however,
that large part Of my heart is always in
the Monongahela Valley.
De. JAMES KING, PittsbuTg.
1t will be observed that the gem
tleman "abhors the introduction of |
that looks like religious
test or qualification for offics in a
republic, whers perfect freedom of
conscience is he birthright Of every
citizen" Everybody should respect
and honor him for this sentiment,
but is the gentleman sincere in it
He may be sincere as to tie reJi-
gion of himself and his parents, but
how Is 1t with the religions of other
people? How is it with reference
ts the Mormon religion for instance?
Blaine, both in Congress and out,
mas been violent and bitter in his
of Mormonism. We
believe his Congressional record is
IN affirmative vote on every anti
Mormon bill that came up during
he long period that he was al
member of the national legislature,
md some OF the bills were parIicu-
srly outrageous in their provisions, i
absolutely denying that 'sperfect
reedom of conscience is the birth
light of every citizen" He was
lot present to vote on the infamous
Sdmunds bill, but II he had been j
is vote would certainly have been t
ecorded in its favor, though it I
quateIy declares religious test or g
ratification for Office. G
1t makes all the difference in the
7orld when and where a man ut t
ars a sentiment. 1t serves Blaine O
4 the campaign to protest against v
uestioning anybody's religion in O
olitics, and he thus protests; it t
erves him to assail the Mormon i
eligieD, hence he assails it. '