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

and that they hoped that two Cardinals
usually mentioning lreland and Farieyl
would be appointed, one in the East and
one in the West. l always ~nswered that
| had a great regard for both men and
would be delighted to see them made Car
dlnals, just as there were Episcopal clergy
men and Methodist clergymen whom l would
be delighted to see made Bishops. but that
| would no more interfere. as you desire me
TO interfere. and as you have yourself been
trying to interfere, under any possible cir
cumstances. Your letters not only convey
a totally wrong impression Of my attitude
but they are such as you have no business
whatever to write. in view Of the position
of your husband in the diplomatic service.
The letter of Cardinal Merry del Val to you
OF November % is a rebuke to you expressing
plainly his belief that YOU have been unwar-
rantably officious in matters with which
you have properly no concern. II should Of
itself be enough TO show to you how exceed
ingly unwise and improper your action in
writing TO him was. ] am indignant that the
wife OF an Ambassador in the United States
service should have written such a letter,
should have given the impression I'M
doubt eddy conveyed in that letter and
should have incurred such a rebuke. You do
not seem to realize that it is out OF the dues-
ton for me knowingly to permit the wife OF
one of our diplomats to engage in ecclesiasti-
cal ntrlgleS 10 ln0uenCe the vatican.
For the last couple of years | have con-
tinually been hearing Of your having written
one man or the other about such matters,
l find you are alluded TO by foreign members
of the diplomatic body in Washington. Paris
and Berlin as the American Ambassadress to
Rome" | was unoficially informed on behalf
both of Berlin and of Paris that because OF
these actions of yours It would not be agree
able TO them 10 have Bellamy come as AM
h0GsaIAE 20 atV haF Nlaaa Inflammation IF
this kind has been repeatedly brought to
Secretary Root. | have consult ed him and
Secretary BonapaTte. who is "A member Of
your Church. as to this last letter Of yours.
Roots feeling about the case is stronger
than | care 10 put into words. Bonaparte's
feeling is exactly my own. Suffice il TO say
that in any event il will probably he impos-
sible to send Bellamy as Special Ambassador
to Spain, having in view what you have done,
But | must go a little further than this. You
and Bellamy must understand that so long as
Bellamy continues in the diplomatic SER
vice of the United States you must refrain
from writing or speaking In the way you
have been doing on any Of these matters.
affecting what are simply the personal pol
itics Of Church policy, to any one. and above
all TO any one connected with the Vatican.
If you cannot make up your mind absolutely
20 alter your conduct in this regard while your
husband il in the diplomatic service, TO re-
frain absolutely from taking any further part
in any matter Of ecclesiast iCal politics at the
Vatican and to refuse to write or speak to
any one whether laymen or eCcl"siastics.
at home or abroad. as you have been writing
and speaking in this Cardinals hat matter.
then Bethany cannot with propriety continue
TO remain AMBASSADOR of the United States.
must ask YOU 10 give me this positive
promise in writing If Bellamy Is TO continue
in the service; and II you even uninten-
tionallv violate il shall have to ask
for Bellamy's resignation; for ! can NJ longer
afford TO have the chance Of scandal being
brought on the entire American diplomatic
service and on the American Government
itself. by such indiscreet and i'll advised action
as yours has been. Yours very truly.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
p. S.-Since writing the above | have
looked up my corr espondenCe with you and
Bellamy and | fnd that ! have expressed my
self not merely once. but again and again. about
this matter in terms which II was simply i'm
possible for you to misunderstood.
For inst ance. on December 10, 1903, 7 wrote
TO Bellamy saying that Monsignor O'Connell
asked me TO write something on behalf Of
Archbi shop Ireland, and continuing: Il told
him that of course | could not interfere in
such a matter. as II was none Of my business
who was made Cardinal; that personally !
had a very strong friendship and admiration
for the Archbishop and that individually
il would please me greatly 10 see him made
Cardinal. just as it pleased me when DR..
Satterlee was made Bishop of Wash
ington but that | could no more interfere
in one case than in the other; in short that
nv feeling for the Archbishop was due to
my respect for him as a useful and honor
able man, just such a feeling as | had had
for Phillips Brooks and for many other clergy
men Of various denominations; but that I
could not as President in any way try to help
any clergyman, of any denomination. 10 any
rank in that denomination" On December
y. 1903. | again wrote TO Bellamy enclosing
an article which showed he had been talking
about my interest in Archbishop Ireland.
and stating that such conduct on his part
was mischievous. and | continued as follows:
Il have the h%eartiest admiration for Arch
bishop Ireland. ! should be delighted 10 see
him made Cardinal just as | was delighted
10 see Lawrence made the Episcopal Bishop of
observation-disclosures as | have been delighted
at various Methodist friends of mine who
have been made Bishops. but as President
il is none Of my business 70 Interfere for or
against the advancement of any man in
the Church, and as IL IL impossible for
me to differentiate what | say in my individ-
nal capacity from what I say as President
At least in the popular mind. and apparently
also in the Roman mind-I must request you
not 20 quote me in any way or shape here
after"
On December 30, by which time ! had found out
that Bellamy had written what | considered
an entirely improper letter TO Senator Hanna
about the dismissal Of Hurst. ! again wrote
him. and this time included the following para
graphs: Il know. my dear Bellamy. that you
have not intended to do anything disloyal or
improper. but surely on thinking over the
matter YOU will see that there would be but
one possible construction to be put upon such