Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-06
ALL EQUAL BEFORE TaE LAW
Senator Allen Declines Request of American
Protective Association.
RELIGION IS NOT A TEST FOR OFFICE
He VIII Not Promise to Vote Against
Roman Catholics who May BE
Nominated for Govcrn-
ment Positions.


Gently by Rescue council No. 1, American
Protective association, requesting him to
vote against the confirmation to public office
of Roman Catholics appointed by the presi
dent The resolution has stirred the sen.
ator, as the following open letter to the
president and recording secretary Of Rescue
council will testify:
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 2, 1897
George Elicit, President, and o. T.. Shrum
Secretary, Rescue Council No. |, American
Protective Association, Omaha, Neb;
Gentlemen-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of the sealed resolution of
Rescue council No. /, American Protectiye
Association of Nebraska, dated March ~,
1897, which is as follows:
OMAHA, Neb.. March 90. 19SI.-lIon. VIII
liam V. Allen, Senate Chamber, Washing
ton, d. c.: Dear Sir-At meeting OF
Rescue council No of nebrSska ask on AnGr the
above date, the following resolution was
adopted
under seal of this council, signed by the
president and secretary, be sent to our
senators at Washington, requesting, them
Roman Catholic who may be appointed by
President Mckinley Most respectfully,
GEORGE ELLETT. President.
o. =. SHRUM, Secretary.
I cannot comply with your request. ]
will not vote to reject any competent and
worthy man because of his religious faith.
If should do SO l would violate my oath M
of office and the express language of the
constitution of the, United States and Of
has right to ask me to do.
In section 3, article vi, of the constitu-
ton of the United States, it is provided
that No religious test shall ever be re-
quired as q qualification to any Office or
public trust under the United States"
This became the supreme law of our
country, in 1881. 1t has not been changed or
modified and remains a part of our funda-
mental law to this day. The first amend
ment to the constitution, adopted Septem-,
Der %, 1889, provides that "Congress shall
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof"
Nebraska. provides, "All persons have a
natural and indefeasibe right to worship
Almighty God according to the dictates of
their own conscences. No person shall be
compelled to attend, erect or support any
pace of worship against his consent, and
no preference shall be given by law to any
ence with the rights of conscience be per,
mitted No religious test shall be required
qualification for office, nor shall any
person be Incompetent to he a witness on
account of his religious belief
You will observe by the several constitu-
state and federal, is completely and forever
divorced from the church, and all citizens,
regardless Of their religious beliefs are, If
tuition of the United States, as we'll as that
of the, state of Nebraska, and that oath
clined. vote to reject competent and
worthy man for a public position to which
he might be appointed by the president, be-
ticular religious belief, nor would | do so
under any circumstances. am q firm be-
lever in the efficacy of all churches. They
are designed to benefit the human race,
and we cannot ignore the fact that the
world is made infinitely better by the
teachings. of the scriptures. l do not feel
down by the Apostle Peter in Acts X. 81
and 35 verses: ''of a truth 1 perceive that
nation he that feareth Him and worketh
righteousness is accepted with Him"
As a public servant it is not for me to
violate either the language or spirit of the
bible, the great charters of our liberty nor
the decencies or proprietes of PUBLIC life, by
son Son Of a Protestant minister and a Pro-
testant mother, who for\ sixty years of her
life was singularly devoted to one of the
States. Her religious convictions We're
strong and her perceptions of duty clear.
They made an impression on me that l will
never forget and have natural sympathy
with that church that comes to me as an
inheritance. | cannot be said, therefore, to
possess a natural leaning to any other. and
| would count myself as unworthy of
representing great and growing state like
to enter into my mind in determining his
right of citizenship. or his right, If other
thority
Let me suppose that one of the Catholic
societies Sh ould request or instruct me to
vote against the confirmation of Protestant
appointees because of their church afiilia-
tionS Do you think / could discharge my
duty by obe ying such instruction? And yet
1t would be just as proper for me to vote
against a Protestant appontee, or mem
because of his religious belief. With equal
propriety a Mason could instruct ne to vote
against an Odd Fellow. an odd Fellow
against member of the Grand Army of
the Republic, or any like organization. |
think you will see. without my entering into
a lengthy discussion, that such II course
would breed endless confusion and would
bring into politics questions having no
result in dissensions and disorganiZation
and might in time materially weaken, If not
threaten, the safety of the government it
The American people ought, to. congratu-
late themselves on the foresight and wis
dom of Washington and his compatriots
who laid the foundations of this government
so broadly and so deeply that questions like
politics They were possessed of a high or
der Of statesmanship and a rare conception
of public duty. The liberties of the people
taned. All, whether members of churches
or not, who retain citizenship must be per-
Toned. the rights guaranteed Gaem l By the
constitution, and no man who permits him
self to antagoni2e these rights can have a
duty.
If your communication had been of prl-
yate nature, l would not notice it further
than to acknowledge its receipt, but 1t
comes under the seal of the council and in
therefore feel at liberty to consider 1t in
a public way. Permit me to say in conclu,,
religions with profund respect will treat
all men having no church connection with
equal respect, for all in the eyes of the law
stand alike, ana so far as the civil govern
ment Is concerned, must be treated jus sy
by its public servants. / have the honor to
be very truly yours.
WILLIAM V. ALLEN.
Daily Treasury Statement
WASHINGTON. April 5.-Today's state
Of the nnnliIinn nf tho hn,