The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

this country opposed It cannot be con- strued as an attack on the Catholic re- lIgion, simply opposing their opposition to the complete separation of church and state. Now, MT President, do you want to brand such illustrious names as Wash ington, Grant, Garfield, Mckinley and other American statesmen as having foully slandered their fellow countrymen and of narrow bigotry? I say, sir do you want to go on record as ssying they have foully slandered their fellow countrymen and are guilty of narrow bigotry? If not taem, why me?
 So far, MT. President, l have only cited part of the mass of the non Catholic evidence to support the truth of the statement I made, that the mass of non Catholics would not support Roman Catholic for any office, espe- cially for President of the United States, and for this assertion you oh oose to brand me as foully slander- ing my fellow countrymen and of mar row bigotry. I now desire to call your attention to a small part of the evil dence offered by the Cath olics. l quote from the Catholic Columbian of November IS, 1908, published at Colum- bus, O.: "When, however, the President characterizes as foul islander the asser- tion that the mass of the non Catholic voters will not support Catholic for any office. especially for President he goes too far" Now, MT. President, do you want to go on record as branding the Catholic Columbian as foully slan- dering it's fellow countrymen and of narrow bigotry? If not it, why me?
 The following questions and answers are taken from the Catholic Coluh bian of the same date named above: What prevented the nomination to the presi- dency of William Tecumseh Sherman? The fact that he had a Catholic wife and a Jesuit son. What side-tracked Gen. Philip Sheridan from political honors? The fact that he was Cath : ollie. What defeated the presidential ambition of Hon. Richard Bland Silver Dick? The fact that he had 0 Catholic family. And in urging this fact as an objection to his candidacy, a son of the great Allen G. Thurman of Ohio was conspicuous. What prevented the nomination of Justice McKenna as Secretary of the Interior after pledge to that effect had been given? the fact that he was a Catholic. What stood in tlfe way of Senator Herman when ie wanted to become governor of New York? The fact that he was Cath ollie. '" Now, MT. President. do you want to repeat that the Catholic Columbian foully slanderes it's fellow countrymen and is guilty of morrow bigotry by ask ing these questions and answering them? If not it, why me? Do you want to brand MT. Thurman (for urging this reason as an objection to the candid acy of Hon. Richard Bland) as foully slandering his fellow countrymen and of narrow bigotry? If not him, why me?
 Now, Mr. President, let it be distinct Ivy, bV VI those have read my first letter to you, and also this answer to it, that in that letter and in this explanation of it, l meant to state only fact, and in no sense or in 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 Cath holic for the highest of- fee in the gift of the American people. I do not affirm or deny these views, I only submit what I believe to be the actual frame of the non Catholic mind on this important subject namely the evidence which 1 have submitted in my letter showing that the position of the Roman Catholics and the non Cath olics on this subject of union of church and state are diametrically opposite and apparently irreconcilable.
 Now, sir, I rest my case in so far as concerns the accusation of foully slandering my fellow countrymen and of narrow bigotry by assuring you that up to this date I have had no notice that anyone has instituted an action in court to convict me of islander, bigotry or any other crime.
 My reply to your uncalled for, un- true and undignified accusation of islander and bigotry, seemingly Nan- swers your other important position namely, that MT. Tafts religion Is his own personal concern, matter be- tween him and his Maker, matter for his own conscience. As additional re- ply to that, I have this to say on my own account that so long as he is a private citizen this is true, but when