The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30


In sympathy with the Catholics. BY
referring to my letter you will find
that the word Unitarian does not ap-
pear In 1t. have no objections to
your singing II out and using as
sort Of clearing house for all letters on
that subject. but do object to your
misQuoting It. which may be the re-
suit Of having received so many let
ters on the same subject.
Where I say. 1T Is being circulated
ana constantly urged as the reason for
not voting for Taft that he Is an In
fldel." after the word infidel you
choose to supply the world Unitarian
In parenthesis. which makes 1t in ap-
position with the word, infidel (mean-
Ing the same thirg) 1t is misleading
to the general public and misrepre-
senting what actually wrote. It is
quite an easy thing to take part of
Q letter and change It's wording and
thus place one In false light. II you
chose to quote from my letter, 1t was
not 90 long but what you could have
taken the time and space for the en-
tire letter. do not want the general
public to believe that I brand a Uni
tartan a. an infidel. There is another
reason why you may have supplied
the word Unitarian after infidel, (but
hardly think II possible.) namely.
that It indicates your recognising the
words a. being synonymous.
'Now. Mr.. President. you say I
foully slander my fellow countrymen
and that am guilty Of narrow bigotry
when say the mass Of the voters
who are not Catholics will not support
q man for any ONCE. especially for
president Of the United States. who is
a Roman Catholic. repeat. I believe
Of the voters OF the United
States. including all religious beliefs,
will say state fact. and In your own
heart after due thought you will agree
with me.
Now. Mr.. President. let It be dis
tinctly understood by you and by those
who have read my first letter to you.
and also this answer to 1t. that In that
letter and In this explanation OF 1t, j
meant to state only fact. and in no
sense or any degree to express my own
Views as to the correctness of what
non-Catholics may have said or do
say In regard to the availability of a
Roman Catholic for the highest Office
In the gift Of the American people. I
do not affirm or deny these views, L
only submit what I believe to be the
actual frame OF the non. Catholic mind
ON this important subject. namely, the
evidence which have submitted In
my letter showing that the position of
the Roman Catholics and the non
Catholics on these subjects of union OF
Church and state are Numerically
opposite and apparently irreconcilable.
My reply to your uncalled for, un-
true and undigniied accusation OF
and bigotry. seemingly answers
your other important position. namely,
that Mr., Taft's religion is his own per-
sonal concern. a matter between him
and his Maker. matter for his own
conscience. As additional reply to
that. I have this to say on my own ac-
count. that 30 long as he is private
citizen this Is true, but when he comes
before the American people asking
for their suffrage for the greatest hon
or that can be conferred upon him by
the voters Of the United States, 1t then
changes matters and becomes of inter
est to the general public; they have
right to know who ne Is and what he
Is. his beliefs and disbeliefs.
Now. Mr.. President. just one more
aiestion and am done. What effect
do you think II, will have upon the
work Of the churches of
this country when It is known that the
denies the truth OF the
doctrines they have been and are today
teaching? In my judgment nothing
any president has ever said or done
can entirely counteract the effect save
the evidence givcn by VIM. Mckinley
In his dying moments. His last words
were. Nearer. Nearer. My God, to
Thee" which did more to fix in the
minds OF all true Christians as we'll as
the rest of the world, the grand reali-
ty OF the genuineness Of Christianity
such as was believed, taught, lived
and exemplified in the death of VIM.
Mckinley.
You point to Edw. Everett Hale,
chaplain of the senate. with apparen,
pride. Does he pray? Jesus said, "I