The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-08-22
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.

A new issue has been raised. Since the nomina-
ton of the distinguished aspirants for the presi
dency all sorts Of questions have been asked regard
ing their religious beliefs Not only their own and
their families belief but that of their relatives to
the third and fourth degree of cansanguinity and
affinity have been debated in the press of the coun-
try. This rigid investigation. which has been car
ried sufficiently far to nauseate had so far refer
to the Catholic tendencies of the nominees.
their families and relatives. But the Catholic faith
Is not the only religion that comes under the ban of
Evangeicas. The Unitarian. who is the most log
zeal of the descendants of the reformers pressing
Protestant principles to their logical conclusion has
incurred the intolerant opposition of the members
Of the Methodist church. 1t seems Mr.. Taft is a
member Of the Unitarian church. and for this sole
reason they opposed tc him. 1t matters not that
Mr. Taft, by the American constitution and law. is
as free to be Unitarian as his enemies are to be
Methodists, Baptists or Presbyterians There is
no law in the country, written or unwritten, that
obliges an American citizen to be an evangelical
or that declares a Unitarian unworthy of the high
est honor at the disposal of the people.
The following press dispatch tells how Mr. Taft
will be boycotted;
George +. Eubey, until a year ago private sec
rotary to United States Senator Burkett and secre-
tary Of the Nebraska assembly, has warned the Re
publican state committee that Taft is in danger of
losing the Methodist vote, the bulk of which has
been Republican. Eubey said today:
The Methodist preachers at the annual En-
worth assembly in Lincoln this week have gone wild
over Bryan. Scores Of the lay members associa-
ton have caught the Bryan fever, They make no
cpprpt If thnir op,,oci+;o,, 40 To- IL. -
been button-holing every one they meet and urging
them to vote against the Republican nominee They
assert that no good Methodist can vote for a man
for president who openly avows that he does not
believe in the divinity of Christ and it was an ar
gument which, with stiff backed Methodists. has
been very effective If a concerted effort is made to
defeat Taft on that ground, so I am informed it
viii constitute serious menace to his success.
did not meet single preacher that did not strongly
object to Taft account Of his being member of
the Unitarian church. Most Of them knew that /
was lifelong Republican, and that / was loyal to
Taft and l strongly criticised for my determi-
nation to stick with the Republican ticket
Commenting on this the Salt Lake Sunday Her
aid says:
of Mr.. Taft were distinctly rreligious or if
there were any question as to his morality gen
era movement against him by the church people
Of the country could be understood and would be
proper; but it would be unfortunate to have a mans
belief made an issue in a presidential campaign
when there is charge against him affecting either
his uprghtness or his fitness for the Office to which
he aspires"
It is certainly unfortunate to make Mr. Taft's
religion political issue The characteristic feature
Of our government system is disclaim on the part
Of the state all authority in sprituals 1t recog-
nzes perfect freedom Of worship and independence
Of religion. II is not question Of tolerating reli-
gous belief but the equal rights of all religions If
it meant liberation Of religions on the part of
the state, by implication it would follow that the
state could suppress religion. The sacred rights
Of worshiping God according to ones conscience
are not grants from the state; they exist in
dependent Of it, and are so acknowledged
When it recognizes religious freedom, the state