The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-11-10
fAFT'S RELIGION
HIS OWN CONCERN
President Says Il Isn't Matter
For Political Discrimination.
REBUKES LETTER WRITER

Mr.. Roosevelt Declares That to Vote
Against a Man Because of His Rcli-
oion is An Outrage Against the Lib
critics Of American Life-Is a Matter
Between Himself and His Maker.
Catholic and Protestant, Christian
and Jew Are In His Cabinet at
Present.
Washington. No. Q. Secretary
Taft's religion faith is purely his own
private concern and not a matter for
general discussion and political dis
elimination" says President Roosevelt
In letter to J. c. Martin. OF Dayton.
o.. in which he answers numerous cor.
respondents. The president says he
deferred the publication OF the letter
until now 10 avoid any agitation likely
TO influence the election The letter In
part Is as follows.
MY Dear SRI have received your
letter running in part as follows:
while II is claimed almost univor-
sally that religion should not enter
into politics. yet there is no denying
that ii does. aud the mass OF the voters
that are not Catholics will not support
man for any Office. especially for
president of the United States. who f.
Roman Catholic.
"'Since Taft has been nominated
for president by the Republican party
1t is being circulated and Is constantly
urged as a reason for not voting for
Taft that he is an infdel lUntarianl
and wife and brother Roman Ca,h0.
lies. If his feelings are in
sympathy with thc Roman Catholic
church on account OF his wife and
brother being Roman Catholics. that
woald be Objectionable to a sufficient
number OF voters to deieat him. On
the other hand. II he is a. infidel. that
would be sure to mean defeat.
| am writing this letter for the sole
purpose OF giving Mr.. Taft an cppor
tunity to let the world know what his
religious belief is.
You ask that Mr. Taft shall let
the world know what his religious be
lief is This is purely his own pri-
vate concern: aud It is matter be
tween him and his maker matter for
his own conscience; and to require i
20 be made public under penalty OF Pc
lltlcal discrimination is 10 negative the
first principles of our government
which guarantee complete religious
liberty and the right 70 each man TO
act in religious 1fairs as bis own con-
science dictates. Mt Taft never asked
my advice IN the matter. but II he had
asked II. should have emphatically
advised him against thus stating pub
licly his religious belief
ITO discriminate against a thor
oughly upright citizen because he be-
longs to some particular church. OF
because like Abraham Lincoln be has
not ayowed his allegiance 10 any
church. is an outrage against tina; lib.
erty of conscience which Is one OF the
OF American life. You ar
entitled 10 know whether man seek
ing your suffrage is a man OF clean
and upright life. honorable in all his
dealings with his fellows. and 1T by
qualification and purpose 70 do well il
the great office for which he is can.
didate; but YOU are not entitled 10
know matters which lie purely between
himself and his maker.
so much for your objections 10
Mr.. Taft because he is a Unitarian
Now. for your objections to him be
cause you think his wife and brother
TO be Roman Catholics. AS II happens
they are not. but If they were. CT il
he were a Roman Catholic himself. 1t
ought not TO affect In the slightest de-
gree any mans supporting him for
the position Of president You say that
the mass Of the voters that are no
Catholics will not support a man ior
any office, especially for president Of
the United States. who Is a Roman
Catholic. | believe that when you say
this you foully SANDER your fellow
do not for one moment
believe that the mass OF our fellow
citizens. or that any considerable
number of our fellow citizens. can b.
Influenced by such narrow bigotry as
TO refuse to vote for any thoroughly
upright and fit man because he hap
pens to have a particular religious
creed. Such a consideration should
never be treated as reason for either
supporting or opposing a candidate ior
n political Office. Are you aware that
there are several states in this Union
where the majority of the people are
now Catholics? ! should reprobate IN
the severest terms the Catholics who
in those states Cor In any other states)
who refused to vote for the most hi
man because be happened to be a
Protestant, and my condemna ION
would be exactly as severe for Pro
testants. who under reversed circum-
stances refused 10 vote for a Catho-
lie.
I'm my cabinet at the present mo
ment there sit side by side Catholic
and Protestant, Christian and Jew.
each man chosen because in my belief
he il peculiarly At to exercise on be-
half Of all our people the duties OF the
cfice to which | have appointed him.
In no case does the mans religious
belief in any way influence his dis
charge Of his duties, save as 1t makes
him more eager to act Justly and up
rightly in his relations to all men,