The San Francisco call., 1896-08-14
AN OPEN LETTER
IN REPLY TO THE EDITOR
OF 1.-THE MONITOR"

Hudelson Is a reputable citizen and a credit
able witness?
I desire to say most distinctly that 1 have
never produced B. F. Hudelson witness
of mine. do not know the distinguished gen.
tleman by sight even. l never had one words
conversation with him IN my life. never re-
ceived letter from him, and never sent him
word or letter. l do not desire now to pre-
sent him as witness. I am much grieved,
from the general reputation which he bears in
this community, to have him presented by good
men as a witness against me.
Question No. z:
If you think that the said Benjamin F.
Hudelson is worthy of credit what have you
TO say to his explanation tn at he wrote the tin
type letter under the conviction that you
would appoint Marshall to be SPY upon the
doings of Catholic ladies?
do not think B. F. Hudelson worthy of
credit if he makes any such statements or
draws any such conclusions might make
this broader by saying that do not think any
human being worthy of credit who would
make the charge that l had appointed Mar
shall or would appoint Marshall to act as a
spy over any Catholic or other institutions in
this or any other State. The proposition is SIM
ply monstrous. 1t could never emanate, save
from man wholly corrupt and unworthy OF
belief. 1t could not be proven by any testi-
mony, however vile or damnable. Such q
propositio was never presented TO me in any
form, either by Hudelson or any one else; and
in all probability Hudelson well understands
that fact. Finally, therefore, whatever he
might say regarding this matter that would
connect me in any wise with the doings of
himself or those with whom he was associated
pronounce it to be absolutely and meanly
false.
Referring to the fact that addressed you as
yours for political and religious freedom
you say SIT is sad, indeed, that these senti-
ments have been so long concealed" have
to say that, so far as l am concerned, my senti-
ments on this subject have never been con-
eesled. From my earliest youth all who have
known me have known that I stood for the
broadest freedom of every man to worship God
according to the dictates OF his consc cience,
and answerable to no man, institution or gov
ernment. have heretofore publicly declared
these things:
am a free born American citizen. My rights
to religious liberty are guaranteed TO me in the
constitution. The right to think, the right to
believe also as l may, comes from h1gher
source.
No man or set of men have the right. nor
should they have the power, to enslave my
mind, any more than they should have the
power to place shackles upon my body.
l stand Tor religious liberty.
grant to every human being liberty OF mind
Every man should have the right TO build
his own church, or no church. He must be
permitted to worship God as suits him best.
So far as l am concerned freely grant him
that freedom, that liberty.
do not fear bigots. l am not so anxious to
get on in this world as TO offer for coin my
religious opinions or my freedom to think on
all subjects just as it suits my purpose best.
To be plain and to conclude: I am not
slave; am free man. I will use my freedom
on religious matters at all times to please
myself.
am not crank. am not bigot. I de-
spise bigots. pity crank. I demand free
dom-freedom for all. Freedom for the Catho-
lie, freedom for the Jew, the Methodist and
the Baptist.
Freedom is sunlight. turn my face to the
sunlight. listen TO the voice OF truth. hate
bigotry. losth slavery.
Upon these lines l shall move steadily for
ward and fear not I cannot think of giving
up my freedom, my liberty. 1 am willing to
grant to all others absolute freedom to worship
God as they may, and as for myself demand,
and God granting me power viii exercise, the
same precious privilege which, with ali my
heart, l freely accord to others.
CHARLES NJ. SHoRTRIDGE.