The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-08-14
HARTFORD HERALD
Stands Alone
In Its Attack on TaftS' Relig-
iOuS Belief
Would Deny Citizens of America
The right to Worship God as
Conscience Dictates.

Edior Republican Please allow
me 10 call the atSen ion of he Har,-
ford Herald 10 The possible far-reacn-
ing evil consequences OF it's persis' emf
parading in lis ed. orial columns OF ne
Rev. Morrisons intemperate and viru-
lent att. ack upon religious freedom,
the most sacred heritage OF. the Ameri
can people.
AS the exponent of an innovation
in religious doctrine to credit which
is to discrediC the average good sense
OF mankind there ] ssmall reason for
surprise that The reverend Morrison
should revive The dying echo of re-
ligious intolerance but SO sober a
journal as the Herald should be expect
ed TO first count the cost. To the
thoughtful reader, acquainted alike
with The horror of the Spanish in
QUESTION and the terror of The Crom-
wellian edicis, il is painful spec acle
TO see a respec,a able newspaper atJemp-
ting political profit by frenzied effort
TO arouse the spirit of religious intoler
ence in the minds of the s.upsd and
ignorant. | shall be fair enough
10 assume that Editor Matthews in an
ungarded moment allowed an excess o.
zeal for a waning cause 10 lead him in
10 a chara,ler of campaigning iaJ no
other journal of his parry mas seen
fit to follow. The Herald unwillingly
admits. "Other than the Pentecostal
Herald strong arraignment of Mr.. Taft
We have not seen any severe criti-
cism of the Republican pres.den. al
candidate purely on account of his
religious predictions. The good
sense of The American Press in refrain
ing 10 fall in with the Morrisonian al
tack on religious freedom was present
10 the mind of the Herald which
makes i 5 blunder all the less excusa-
bic. The, editorial columps of the
Courier Journal Bryan's official organ,
has sensibly declined TO bar,er our
boosted religious tolerance for a pal
The Christian Advocate, the official
organ of the Methodist Episcopal
church South, and one of the ablest
edited religious Journals of ghe coun-
try in its issue of August Z, says:
Judge Taft's speech of acceptance is
a carefully prepared document. He
thinks clearly and writes simply and
lucidly. His training for the judici-
al bennch has been 100 thorough for
him TO be routing partisan. AS
slate paper The speech is admirable,
a credit in every way 10 lis author.
It will convince any honest reader that
Mr.. Taft would make. if elected,
temperate and able president. A mh-
lister of the same church and a member
of the same political party with The
Rev. Morrison the distinguished edi-
TOR of uhe Advocae not only does no.
deny Judge Taft the privilege to choose
his own church bu, IS generous enough
% say he would make temperate and
able president.
In passing a friendly criticism on
the Heralds cause in this ma-,er
am little concerned about its effect on
srdge Taft's candidacy for with the
Lords insuring the New York banks
against Bryan's election for he pi.-
lance OF len percent premium
shall not grow anxious abou he
Herald's mode of warfare bu as a
member of a church comprising one
sixth the popula ion of the United
STATES every one of whom is for this
reason barred from the presidency,
feel an anxious interest in any effor.
10 further limit the eligibility 10
this exalted office by reason of church
affiiia,ion. If religious tolerance were
TO be made an issue there is little
Doubt judge Taft would be overwnel-
mingly the beneficiary OF It, but in
Heavens name let no patriotic Alneri-
can trade upon the religious pred
JUDGES of the ignorant for a doubtful
advantage in political contest. Let
me close by admonishing the Herald
that among American political news
papers it alone has given editorial
sanction to the Rev. Morrison's attack
on religious liberty.
IN THOMAS