The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-27

people as a candidate, they can vote for
him or against him on any ground which
seems sufficient to them, and under the
Constitution he cannot be elected unless
he gets a majority Of the electoral votes,
or if the election is thrown into the House
of Representatives, majority Of the
States.
The suggestion that if Mr.. ROOSEVELT
should turn Catholic and run again for
the Presidency he would be defeated by
larger ajority than he was elected by"
is mere conjecture and of no pertinence
Mr.. ROOSEVELT has announced repeat
eddy his determination never again to
be a candidate for the Presidency; but
his decision is entirely voluntary. There
is nothing in the Constitution to prevent
his running again and If he runs again
the people have a constitutional right
again to elect him. whatever may be his
religious belief or however much or
little OF religious belief he may have.
When THOMAS JEFF ERsoN ran for Presi-
dent many citizens voted against him as
French infidel,' and they acted within
their prerogative, however unreasonable
may have been their objection.
Differing estimates are made of the
Roman Catholic population in the United
States, but unquestionably it includes
much the largest single body of re-
ligious believers, though the popula-
ton of Protestant proclvities, counted
together, may be more. The population
not included in any Christian Church
membership, however is unquestiona-
bly, much more. Happily the sentiment
expressed by the Boston paper and by
our correspondent has never prevailed
among the Roman Catholics of this coun-
try, strong ashley have been numerically
for more than generation. 1t has never
been raised by them in political con-
vention. They suffered too much hall
century ago by an attempt to apply the
religious test in politics, and that suffer-
ing would be repeated il they themselves
should venture to raise it now.
In the city of New York the Roman
Catholic population is especially strong,
The leader of the predominant political
party ID ROlildtl NdtioiN, SCl 81 ldl
from making that religious faith test
for political candidacy he was strenuous
in advocating the nomination of the
present Mayor of New York, a man not
Roman Catholic, and he is not less earn
est in urging his denomination. Proba-
bly, the vast majority of Roman Catholics
in New York voted for Mayor McCLEL-
Ian and they will vote for him again next
November. Never have the Roman
Catholics in national convention of
either ofthe great political parties UNDER
taken to apply religious test to a candi-
date for President and if a candidate of
their faith should ever be nominated for
the Presidency he would be supported
or opposed by Roman Catholic voters on
political grounds only. They know very
well that any attempt to raise the re-
ligious issue would be resented by the
great majority Of the American people,
whether Protestants. Roman Catholics,
Jews or infidels, and be Of disastrous
effect on the Church projecting it into
political canvass.
The Introduction of any question OF
the sort discussed by the Boston paper
and by our correspondent is an indiscre-
tion-nay. it is fragrant offense against
our political system, the very genius of
which excludes it from consideration.
1t is forbidden subject,