New-York tribune., 1908-11-09
Mr.. TAFTS RELIGION
HIS PRIVATE CONCERN
PRESIDENT SAYS 1T Is NOT
4 PUBLIC NATTER.
Members Of III Sects on Same Foot
ing Under the Constitution
All Eligible to Office.

II u A<tt-tptt ~ N'VcCt-
Washington. Nov s-Mr Tafts religious faith
is purely his own private concern, and not a
matter for general discussion and political dis
elimination according to President Roosevelt
in a letter he made public tonight, in which he
answers numerous correspondents. The Presi-
dent says he deferred the publication Of the let
ter until now to avoid any agitation likely to in
1uence the election. The letter follows:
November 5 1908
Ny Dear Sir: have received your letter run
ring in part follows:
while It is claimed almost universally that
Igion should enter into politics. vet there IS no
denying that il does and the Of the voters
that not Catholics viii not support man for
any Office. especially f0T President Of the United
States who is a Roman Catholic Since Taft has
been nominated for President BY the Republican
party is being circulated and is constantly urged
reason voting for Taft that he is an
inndeI Unitarian and wife and brother Roman
Catholics II his feelings are in sympathy with
the Roman Catholic Church on account ot MS wlfe
and brother being Catholics. that would - once
tionable a sufficient number o. voters 10 de-
fear him. On the other hand, If he Is an inhoel
that would be TO mean defeat am
writing this letter for the sole purpose Of giving
Mr.. Taft opportunity TO let the world know
what his religious belief is
I received many such letters ours during the
campaign. expressing dissatisfaction with MI iaIt
religious grounds; some of them on tns ground
that he a Unitarian and others on the ground
that h was suspected TO oe N SS SIilpa-IS W ~
Catholics 7 did not answer any Of these letters
during the campaign because / regarded lt az al
outrage even 10 agitate such question q MAJ
religious convictions with the purpose Of tnhuenc-
ing nolltical election But that the Campaign
over when there opportunity for men cairr'iH
20 consider zFither such propositions those you
make your letter would lead. ! wish 10 llVl'e
them 70 consider them, and have selected your
letter 20 answer because you advance noth 'he
objections commonly urged against MI Ia-t name
" that he is a Unitarian and also that he is sus-
pected Of sympathy with the Catholics
NOT A PUBLIC MATTER
You ask that NJ Taft shall '1et the world know
what his religious belief is This IS ?urely uls
own prtvate concern. and it is matter between
him and his Maker q matter for his own con
science and to require II 70 be mace puoic unueI %
penalty OF political discrimination is 10 nesatils
the first principles or OUT - -. -igI7t
guarantee complete religious liberty ana Ihe rlsl
OF each man to act in religious affairs as his o"
conscience dictates. Mr- Taft never asked my al
vice in the matter but if he had asked it l should
have .enphaticauy advised him against thus stat
ing publicly his religious belief The 1ellaho Iot
a Statement Of candidates religious belief can
have no meaning except that there IIaaH Oe Iis
rrf7fnarfon for or against him because OF that De
lief Discrimination against the holder OF one
faith means retaliatory discrimination against
men or other faiths The inevitable result OF en-
tering upon such practice would be an aoanoon-
rent of our real freedom Of conscience ana d Re
version to the dreadful conditions of religious ds-
senson which. in SO many lands have prs % - L1aA.
10 true liberty. TO true religion and 10 III aus01e
in civilization. -.
To discriminate against a thoroughly upright
ci,fze, because he belongs TO particular
t-----ob or because ike Abraham Lincoln. be has
not avowed his allegiance TO any Chnrch' 49, IS o.
outrage against that liberty OF conscience W.
* one o. the foundations Of American life lou
ara entitled to know whether seeking your
suffrage IS man Of clean and upright Ife' hohoI-
able in all his dealings with his fellows, ana NJ Dy
qualification and purpose 70 90 "tiI III 10 . -
Office ror which he is a candidate; buJ you are IiVl
entitled know matters which lie pureI3 1ses
himself and his Maker If 1t - proper OF Iesil4
mate TO oppose a for being a Unitarian as
was John Quincy Adams for instance; as was Lle @
Pey Edward Everett Hale at the present Lhoi!isI-o
orsnlafu o. the Senate and American OF whose
life ell good Americans are proud then II "oLlu
be equally proper 10 support OF Oppose q mn -
cause Of his view justification by fait OF me
method o. aoLa5.llS' T i> - 1Sn- o1ce enter
on such there is absolutely no HINT ~
which you can legitimately stop
a sLANDER OK AMERICANS"
go much for your objections TO Mr.. Taft because
re * a Unitarian Now for your objections to him
because YOU think his wife and brother TO be
Po-nar Catholics As il happens. they are not; but
= - yyera or r he were q Roman Catholic him
self il ought not to affect in the slightest degree
aDv mans supporting him for the position OF FItsi
dent You say that the mass OF the F'lers ina ma
not Catholics viii not support I.ll % go 90
Office especially for President Of the United states
who Is Roman Catholic oe-leVe LI ma a. "t w. -
say this you fouIly SANDER your ,. go" - .
men I do not for one moment believe that lLle
mass OF our fellow citizens, or that any iohsIeLa
bIe number Of our fellow citizens, can De A44~-
-oad r,- sDcI, narrow bfzotry to refuse 10 vote
! for any thoroughly upright and TT man because o"
/ - t.-re-g ~ have a usrticular religious creed
such consideration should never De treated a.
reason for either supporting OF opposing a caIU
| date for political Office. Are you aware thaI
there are several states in this Union where tne
r,aiori+v Of the people Catholics should
renrobate in the severest terms the CatLoLlcs VINO
In those states (or any other states refused !"
! vote for the most ft man because he hsppeueo 70
! he a Protestant. and my condemnation "ouIu Oe
| avarrIv as severe for PTOtestanIs who unCer re
a-seg circumstances refused TO vote for cain
| ollie In public life am happy 10 say tIat & ia
/ known many who we're elected ana coHslaI-t .
" re-eIected 10 Office in districts "'es7 ' s,A+
/ raTzrs were q
/ raTjeto1s belief I know Catholics VINO nave IoI
| many years represented consu'Ie I y 49,
| protestant and Protestants who have Tor IhaiS
| -. -a-,reean4ed constituencies mainly Catholic,
| GO sn7org the Congressnnen whom ] knew pAI liz
,1IarIv well was man Of jewish Iall-i VIZ iel ~
-aearted a district in which there were IeIul! a.
/ 49, At All All of these men by Ihelr very eA4S'-
! - - ,oIf-ical life refute the SANDER You nave
| uttered against your fellow Americans
NO RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE
| ,o,;s,-a that this republic will endure for many
| .,-ies y so there will doubtless be among It's
| presidents both Protestants ana CathoLcs' anu
| -..r,, rrohabIv. at time, Jews nave coh-
-g-a,r1y tried while President 30 act IN relation
- - falIou- Americans OF Catholic faith as hope
| hat snv future President who happens TO De a
| catholic will act toward his fellow Americans OF
Protestant faith. Had followed any otAer coLI Sc
should have felt Jhat was ulIi4L I" i7Pi '
| the American people. 80.
In nv Cabinet at the present moment tnere SIT
ade NJ side Catholic and Protestant Christian ana
| Jev each man chosen because, in my belleI ne IS
nac,,Iiarly 1t 10 exercise. behalf OF ali our
peoDle the duties OF the Office 10 which nave ap-
| pointed him. In case does the man He1s -
| beref In any way influence his discharge or MS
i dDrfes save as Il makes him more eager 10 act
t-a.l,- nd ur,rightly I'm his relations 20 all men
The same principles that have obtained IN appoint
ing the members Of ny Cabinet the ilsIeSt ol-
the work OF carrying all the important policies
/ - nv adruinIstration-are the principles upon