The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-04-15

| not receive whDmeOever he chooses
for any reason thar seems good to him
and If he does not receive me shall
not for a moment question the pro-
prdety of his action.
ION the other hand, I, in my turn,
must dsclire TO make any stipulation
Cur submit to any conditions which
would in any way limit my freedom
of conduct. / trust that on April 5
he will find 1T convenient to receive
me. Theodore Roosevelt"
This reply was sent to the Vatican
the same day, and the Pope instructed
Bishop Kennedy to send the follow
ing communication, which was te1e-
graphed to Col. Roosevelt at Cairo:
His holiness would be much pleas
ed to grant an audience to Mr.. RoOse-
welt, for whom he emJertains high
esteem, both personally and as a
former President of the United States
His holiness recognizes Mr.. Rooee-
velt's entire right TO full freedom of
conduct. On the other hand, in view
of circumstances for which nefher his
holiness nor Mr.. Roosevelt is re-
sponSib.e, an audience could not take
place except on the understanding
expressed in the former message"
Col. Roosevelt at once telegraphed
to Embassador Leishman:
"The proposed presentation is, Of
course, now impossible"
Cod. Roosevelt then telegraphed the
following letter to DR.. Abbott, editor
of the Outlook:
Dear Mr.. Abbott: Thru the Out
look | wish to make a statement to
my feJOw-Amerlcans regarding what
has occurred in connection with the
Vatican. | am sure the great major
ity of my fellow citizens, Catholics
quite as much as ProGestan,s, will feel
that / ac.ed in the only way posi-
BILE for an American to act, ard be-
cause OF this very fact | most ear
nestly hope that the incident Will be
| treated in a matter-of-couTse way as
merely personal, and, above all, as not
warraning the slightest exhibition of
] rancor or bitterness. Among my bes-
and closest friends are many Catho-
lies. The respect and regard of those
of my fellow Americans who are Cath
olics are as dear to me as the res
pect and regard of those who are Pro-
testants. On my journey thru Afri-
ca l visited many Catholic as we'll
as many Protestant missions, and |
look forward to telling the people at
home al that has been done by Pro-
testants ard Catholics alike, as |
saw it in the field of missionary ell
deavor. 1t would cause me a real
pang to have anything said or DONE
that would hurt or give pain to my
friends, whatever their religious be-
Lief, but any merely personal consid-
erations are of 10 consequence in
this matter. The important cors.d'
Grafton is the avoidance of harsh and
bitter comment such as may excite
mistrust and anger between and
among good men. The more an
American sees of other countries THE
more profound must be his feelings
of gratitude that in his own iand
there is not merely compete toll
Grafton, but the hearttcc good will
and sympathy, between sincere and
honest men of different fan hs-gOod
will and sympathy so complete that
in the inevitable daily relations OF
our American life Catholics ard Pro
testants without the thought of a diff
ference of creed being even presen,
in their minds. That Is a condition
50 vital to our National weil-beile
that nothing should be pc. mitlld 20
jeOpardize it. Bitter comment and
cri icism, acrimonious attack and do
Tense are not only profitlezs, butharm
full, and to Seize upon such an incl
dent as this as an occasion for con-
troversy would be wholly indsfeus bic
and should be frowned upol by CHh'
olics and Protes. ants alike. very
earnestly hope that wha- / say VII
appeal to all Good Am ricans. Faith
fully yours, Theodore Roosevelt"