The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-08-05
Mr.. TAFT AND HIS RELIGIOUS
VIEWS,

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Our local contemporary, the Hart
ford Republican, republishes an edi-
torial from the Louisville Herald in
which the latter paper undertakes to
defend or justify Candidate TafYs
religious views. Mr. Taft, as the pub
Lie has lately been informed, is a
member of the Unitarian Church. On
this account the Pentecostal Herald,
pub lished at Louisville and edited by
Rev. H. C. Morrison, entered into
severe structures of Mr.. Taft, but the
Louisville Herald does not undertake
to answer Editor Morrison's editorial
in any way, rather preferring to abuse
and vilify those who discuss or criti-
else Mr.. Taft's religious views.
The Unitarians, as most people.
know, while processing TO believe in
God, do not believe in the deity of
Jesus Christ nor personality or de-
lty of the Holy Ghost. They also
der Y the creed of the Immaculate Con-
ception.
The Louisville Herald, in discussing
this subject, says: "These are matters
that should not even be referred to in
a political campaign" Oaher th2n the
Pcntecostal Herald's strong arI'aign-
ment Of Mr.. Taft, we have not seen
nor heard of any severe criticism Of
the Republican Presidential candidate
purely on account Of his religious pre-
dilecIions. But when the Louisville
Herald intimatss that the public has
no right to be informed of Mr.. Tafts
views or beliefs, religious or other
wise, We think it is mistaken. When
man becomes a candidate for any Of
flee, he must know beforehand that
his life will be inquired into. This
Is a precedent that has not yet been
abolished by the American people.
They think, and justly so, that they
have a right to know something of the
man, his views, policies and hab-
lis. Further than this few people
care to go. Their criticism, if any is
given, is usually confined to a COM
parlson of the candidates Characters
tics and views with their own, and
an opinion created accordingly
Certainly Mr.. Taft has a right TO
be a Unitarian II he so chooses. No
one will deny him this privilege. The
great Constitution Of the United States
guarantees to every citizen the right
to worship God according to the die
tates OF his own conscience. No
one thinks any less of Mr.. Taft, as
man, on account OF his religious
practices or beliefs. AS a candidate,
however, they have right to know
about these and other things which
make up his plan OF living. They hell
10 give an idea of what kind an Off
cial he would make.
For many years religion has
entered strongly into political cam
paigns. Only few years ago, in
Republican circles in Louisville. the
A. p. A. (American Protective Asso-
cial' ion) manifested a powerful influ-
ence in a certain candidates cam
paign and no doubt defeated him for
office. Certainly no Catholic ever
voted with the A. p. A. people, for thu
cry of the latter was America fcd
Americans" and it was known that
the especial objects of their antipathy
were the Catholics. Whether this In
fluence was rigt or wrong, the fact
remains that 1t was known and felt
1t is a fact quite generally known
that the cry of Rum, Romanism
and Rebellion" defeated Mr.. Blaine
for the Presidency. The Republicans
undertook 10 hurl this charge at the
Democrats, and the result was that
Mr.. Cleveland, a man practically un'
known to the great mass OF American
people, defeated Mr.. Blaine, an illus
tTious and popular leader in the Re.
publican party and the best man they
could have chosen as a candidate
There have been other and numerous
instances where religious influences o.
charges have played a prominenf
part in politics. It is the American
,pirit and there is no escape from 1t.
The Louisville Herald is right wher