Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-11
Biootry in Politics.

PRESIDENT hODSeNcIl - NlSOI iCttSl
scoring the recent attempt to make
religious hgotry a factor in our poll
tics is Just the utterance that was to
be expected from man of his broad
patriotism and abundant common
sense. The letter was called out by an
inquiry from q man in Ohio regarding
Judge Taft's religious belief and the
publication of the reply was delayed
until after election because the Presi-
dent reg lrded it as IAN outrage even
to agitate such question as, mans
religious convictions, with the purpose
of influencing q political election"
Plainly the American people in gener
al hold the same view, for the insidious
attempt OF the Democratic managers to
work up prejudice against the Repub
lican nominee because he is Unitari-
an got a most emphatic and highly de-
served rcbuke at the polls. AS
though being a Unitarian, as We're JEFF
fcrson, the Adamses, Van Buren, and
Pierce, united him for the presidency.
AS though it were to his discredit or
foremost living exponent is Edward
Everett Hale.
After declaring that Taft's religious
belief is his own private concern, a
matter between himself and his Maker,
the President uses the incident as a
text for 2 sound sermon upon bigotry
in politics which ought to make ears
burn in certain quarters. He has faith
enough in his fellow countrymen to de-
clare that il is Il foul SANDER that 1.-The
mass Of our fellow -citZens, or that any
considerable number of our fellow citi
Zens, can be influenced Ey such narrow
bigotry as to refuse to vote for any
thoroughly upright and fit man because
he happens to have a particular rell-
gious creed" He says ITO discriminate
against = thoroughly upright citizen
church. Or because, like Abraham Lin
coin he has not avowed his allegiance
to any rhurch, is an outrage against
that liberty of conscience which is one
of the foundations of American life
You are entitled to know whether a
man seeking your suffrage is Il man OF
clean and upright life, honorable in all
his dealings with his fellows, and fit
by qualification and purpose to do We'll
IN the great office for which he is {,
candidate: but YOU are not entitled to
know matters which lie purely betwcfn
himself and his Maker
The President goes on to give in
stances Of men of one faith being
elected to high office by constituencies
| largely of another faith, as proving
| that our people are above bogotry in
| politics. He expresses the belief that
Catholics and Jews, we'll as Profess
rants. will in all probability occupy the
White House in years to come, and
calls attention to the fact that in his
| own cabinet at this time a Catholic
and a Jew are among the members.
each mar chosen because in my be-
lief he is peculiarly fit to exercise on
| behalf of all our people the duties of
the office to which l have appointed
him. In no case does the mans rel-
Sious tcicf in any way influence MS
discharge of his duties. save as il
| makes him more eager to act justly
and urrightly in his relations 70 all
men
The Presidents letter IS sure to nave
| " permanent and prominent place
among his great state papers. 1t is q
strong and characteristic utterancc ant,
| j., consistent witt: the fundamental
principle" of AmeriCanism.