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

MT. Taft's case, however, no such him dlance exists" The exception made in Mir Tafts case clearly implies that man might hive religious views that would prevent him (Bishop HartzelD voting for him. Now, MT. President, will you dare accuse Bishop Hartzell of foully slander- ing his fellow countrymen and of narrow bigotry? If not him, why me?
 In my letter l did not go so far as to say I would or would not, simply gave an opinion which l repeat again, believe in your own heart you know to be true.
 Then. sir, the New York pastoral con- ference of the synodical conference of the Lutheran church, per William Schoenfield and Martin Walker, in a conference con- vened in New York city November 15, 1903, in an open letter which had been submitted to practically every clergyman in the conference before it had been mailed, advised you that 100000 and more Lutherans, not to speak of the mil lions of other Protestants, would consider a mans religion and that they would not vote for a Roman Catholic so long as the Catholic church does not officially, through it's pontiff or church council, re- yoke its diametrically opposed declara- tions that they are opposed to the com- plete separation of church and state, full TeilBlOuS llDcTly, Ol SptSCu anu Ol LHo press. Now, MT. President do you want to go on record as accusing these millions of Lutherans, besides the millions of other Protestants, of fouy siandering their fel- low countrymen and of bigotry? I not chem, why me?
 Next, MT. President, I desire to call your attention to the convention held in Philadelphia, on November Is, by the Philadelphia Baptist Ministerial asso- ciation, where the Rev. pr. A. A. Hobart, professor of the Bible and of pastorial theology at Crozer seminary at Chester, Pa, in which 1 desire to call your at tention to two of the many resolutions read as presented by the Rev. Hobart: Whereas, The President of our country has seen fit to denounce from his high office as unwarranted bigotry the action of some of our citizens who refuse to ig nore religious tenets in connection with their voting Resolved, further that it Is rot in accordance with our American lib- erty that men be called blsots who exer- else the right of private Judgment in mat ters of so much importance as their votes' As to other resolutions, you are referred to the Philadelphia Evening Bull letn of November 16. Now, sir, dare you go on record as accusing the Rev. pr. Hobart because he happens to differ from you as foully sandering his felltw coun- trymen and of narrow bigotry? If not him, why me?
 Next, MT. President, I desire to call your attention to a meeting of the Pres byterian Ministers association of New York city, held in that city on November 23, 1903. In resolution adopted by them they express their disagreement of your chal oterizing refusal to vote for Ro- man Catholic for any high office "as mar row, unwarranted bigotry,' and indorsed the letter mailed you by the New York Lutheran ministers of November 15, to which letter I have already called your attei'tion.
 There are other denominations to be heard from yet, and you will no doubt realize that you have been allowed to dictate in some matters so long that you take the position of an autocrat, seeming to think that it is your privilege and duty to tell people just what they must do whether or not it coincides with their in dividual judgment and reason. You will no doubt be convinced that you are not so old nor so infallible in the eyes and estimation of men and women of America who prefer to think for themselves, to be considered the embodiment of wisdom" !"
 I only stated what believe to be a fact, and they, 100000 of Lutherans, have dlreauy lOlu yOu lHcy tOulu lol SoiSiot- ently vote for a Roman Catholic for the presidency. It is neither personal feeling nor antagonism which determines their attitude in this matter but solely their disagreement with the Roman Catholic church on this basic political principle, namely, the federal constitution provides for the complete separation of church and state and all those rights and liberties which are included therein and subscribed thereby. The Roman Catholic church has for centuries back and down to the pres ent time, through it's official head, op- posed the complete separation of church and state, full religious liberty, freedom of conscience, of speech, and of the press. Now, MT. President, the position taken by the Lutherans proves very clearly that it is simply impossible for the mass of the Protestants of this country to practice the principle of true Americanism (equality of opportunity as embodied in your letter to me, until all things are equal; that is, the Catholic church sustains the same re- lation to this nation as that sustained by the Protestants. It is an admitted fact and quotations from prominent Catholics show that if they controlled the United States" they would unite church and state, which Washington, Grant, Garfield, Mckinley and statesmen universally in