The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-09
.;dent Makes Public Letter
4 Answer to Queries of
Correspondents.
FpS CANNOT RIGHTLY
4 RAISE ISSUE OF CREED
d Out That This Would
alate Constitutional Spirit
Of Freedom.

..eH1NGToN, Nov S." Secre-
Fsetis religious faith is purely hls
rriyste concern and not a matter
neral discussion and political dis
|Inaiion.p says President Roosevelt
ht.er he made public tonight, IN
|'k.hs answers numerous correspond
The president says he deferred
-abIcstion Of the letter until now
.,oid any agitation likely to infu'
ne election. The letter follows;
<ov & 1soa.-My dear sir: I have
~ vour letter running III part as
o6y;
|tSrh;le. Il is claimed almost uni
Inv that religion should not enter
c1l;t;cs. vet there is no denying
4 dnes. and tho mass of the voters
sre not Catholics Will not sup
4 4 man for any office. y. especially
nrtsident of the United States, who
Roman Catholic.
Question of Creeds.
Since Taft has been nominated for
1jept. hy the Republican party, IT
ssinp circulated aud is constantly
.jTss. a reason for not voting for
s that he is an in6del (Unitarian)
kis wife and brother Roman Cath
. .---s q If his feelings are
|vmpathy with the Roman Catholic
~ on account OF his wife and
~ being Catholics, that would be
.tionablc TO sufficient number or
"a to defeat him. On the other
f. n he is an infdel, that would be
10 mean defeat. | am writing
hitter for the sole purpose of Civ
NJ. Taft an opportunity. TO let
Forld know what his religious be-
d received many such letters as
a during the campaign, expressing
s6faclion with Mr.. Taft on re-
|ls grounds; some Of them on the
he was suspected 90 be III
|1sthy with Catholics. l did not
nt.suH.ae- these, letters during the
@aign, because l regarded it as an
@ee to even agifate such q ques-
.1s q mans religious convictions,
Vie purpose Of influencing q .politl-
Election.
Roady Now TO Explain.
Bat now that the campaign is over,
4 there is opportunity for men TO
u consider whittier such PROPOSE
as those you make in your let
Fculd lead, I wish TO invite them
'nsider them, and I have selected
ietter to answer because you ad-
* both the objections commonly
against Mr.. Taft: namely, that
e Unitarian and also that be Is
tted Of sympathy with the Catho
. You ask that Mr. Taft shall let
Forld know what his religious be-
~ This is purely his own prl-
eqncen; and it is q matter be-
him and his maker, a matter
ny own conscience; and to require
be made public under penalty Of
.cM discrimination is TO negative
4rst principles of our government,
q guarantees complete religious lib
md the right to each man 10 act
upous affairs as his own conscience
''es, Mr.. Taft never asked my
IN the mattor, but If he had
IL l should have cmphatically
ta alm against thus stating pub.
nb religious belief, The demand
sfatement of candidates. = re-
Deuef can have no meaning eX-
Inat there may he discrimination
against him because of that be-
lne inevitable result OF entering
tqeh practice would be an
9pnment Of our real freedom of
.slee and reversion TO the
~ conditions OF religious dissen.
zleo In so many lands have
~ 1atal to true liberty, to true
~ and fatal TO advance 10 civ
eutrage Against Liberty.
oEcrlmlnate against Il thorough.
gnt citizen because he belongs
pp. particular church, or because
planam Lincoln, he has not
nus allegiance TO any church
Sutrage against that liberty OF
rse winch Is one Of the Founda
|eS american liberty. You are
/" Know whether n man seek
snIragcs is n man Of clear
omr'ent lie, honorable in all hi:
fcs.;e E WIN his fellows, aud fit by
~ on and purpose TO do we'll il
80 once for which he is a can
eut you arc not entitled e
M lfas.sfs @ which lie purely betweer
! if;maa a MS maker. If it is proper
'/;,ss;se 10 oppose man for being
La as was John QuincY
~ y, lot instance, as the Rev
I'M Everett Hale, at tue presen
lean ,ospialn OF the senate and al
, whose life all good Amer
proud Of, then il would b,
E Proper TO support or oppos,
olbr fs;,lu f;au'e OF views on iustifca
~ tS tSS'a, or the method OF admin
! Hon ~ - sacrament, or the gospel o
: Er6 ny works. If you once opte
A Sareer, there is absolutely n,
."nicn you eau legitimatel,
II, Raises Other Issue.
\ 6scanSsao 6aSa '9r your objections to Nj
z 1|ouf nhs nc is a Unitarian. Now
n hin 'Dlsctlons to him because vo
Catbo,;ae aud brother to be Re
7 ID, bGs' bnt - As it happens, the
! man ~ ~, u they were, or if he wer
/, b asoe.tnoil hereafter, it ougll
8n,s IN the slightest degre
n Of ,, supporting him for the pc
q NJ president, You saw that IN
n '"o voters that are not Cathc
Il V.Iinucd ON Page Two.