The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-10

led up to the letters.
After the close Of the Spanish War our
Government oun itself brought into new
relations with Rome by reason Of its possess
sion Of the Philippine Islands, with their
large Roman Catholic population. and
especially or account Of the negotiations
which were to be undertaken with the
Vatican respecting the friarS' lands, and
the administration acquired a new AMI
definite interest in the selection by the
Vatican of men who should hold influential
positions in the Church, all of which was
brought to my notice by Presiden Mo
Kinley and members of his Cabinet. Long
before my appointment to Brussels Arch
bishop Ireland had been a friend Of mine
and also Of Mr.. Roosevelt's, VIII often OK
pressed To me his great admiration for him
and his sympathy with the Archbishop's
efforts 20 act in his eccle siastic al Office 40
as to meet the highest demands Of Ameri-
can citizenship. The possibility that the
Archbishop might he made a Cardinal
greatly intereste1 me. AMI his appointment
seemed To me to promise great benefit,
both 10 the Church and to our country at
home and especially in the Philippines. by
putting the purposes and policy of the
Church openly on the high plane Of Ameri-
can patriotism which the Archbishop pub
licly and definitely advocated. Mr.. Roose-
welt held the same opinion and strongly
desired the appointment, as his COR
~respondence abundantly shows, though
of course from the position of a Protestant.
In March, 1899, | wrote and cable1 20 Mr..
Roosevelt, then Governor of n ew York,
about promoting the appointment of the
Archbishop by such means as would make
known at Rome the high opinion held of
him in America, and Mr.. Roosevelt exerted
himelf to that end, and applied to President
Mckinley 20 use his influence also. Ga
March %, 1899, Mr.. Roosevelt wrote to me
a letter from which l quote as follows:
Gov. Roosevelt 10 Mr. storer.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
ALBANY, March %, 1899.
MI DEAR BELLAMY; | have yours of the
18th inst. Immediately on receipt OF your
second cable | wrote the President and | have
also submitted to him your cables. I abso-
lutely agree with you as to Archbishop Ire
land, You know the truth about this
so-called recantation of his about
Americanism much better than do.
IL seems to me that. from every stand
point OF sound public policy it will be a fortu-
nate thing If We can have him made a "a rdinal,
especially in view Of what must occur in the
Philippines. Remember you have TO largely
guide me in matters Of this kind. and write ,
me always and fully.
Always yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
On March II, 1899, Mrs. Storer wrote to
Mr.. Roosevelt asking him TO send a tele-
gram which could be used to promote the
Archbishop's appointment. and TO this he
replied on March p, 1899, in a letter which
1 give in full:
Gov. Roosevelt 10 Mrs. stOr er.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY, March %. 1899.
Ny DEAR Mrs. SroRER;-Iha have your letter of
the nth inst. The only reason ! do not send
you that cable is that ! do not see quite where
IL would end II | began TO interfere directly
in the election OF a Cardinal.
II | make a request or express desire in
such form as TO make them seem like re-
quests, ] inevitably put myself under certain
obligations and | do not quite know what
these obligations are. l have written to
the President stating my belief that IL would
be a most fortunate thing for this country
and l believe an especially fortunate thing |
for the Catholics of this Country-if Arch
bishop Ireland could be made a Cardinal
! feel this precisely because Of what may
be done in the Philippines and in other tropic
colonies. I am strongly OF the opinion that
the uplifting of the people in these tropic
islands must come chiefly through making
them better Catholics and better citizens:
and that on the one hand we shall have To
guard against the reactionary Catholics
who would oppose the correction Of abuses
in the ecclesiastical arrangements Of the
isIands-and, on the other hand, guard
against Protestant fanaticism which will give,
trouble anyhow. and which may be famed
into a dan gerous flame II the above mentioned
Catholic reactionaries are put into control.
On every account I should feel that the cleo
ton OF Archbishop Ireland to the Cardinalate
would be a most fortunate thing for us in
thu United States-Catholics and non -Catho-
lies alike.
While ! would not like 10 have this letter
published. you are most welcome TO show it