Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-04

cept on the understanding expressed in
the former message"
The following day Mr.. Roosevelt sent
another message to the American am
bassador, saying:
The proposed presentation is. of course
Mr.. Roosevelt particularly desires that
the incident shall be regarded by his
friends, both Catholic and Protestant, in
America as personal. and that it shall
not give rise to- an acrimonious contro-
versy. With this end in View he cabled
the following statement to the Rev. Ly-
man Abbott, editor of the Outlook. at
New York:
Purely Personal, He Says.
Through the Outlook 1 wish to make
statement to my feilow-Americans re-
garding what has occurred in connection
with the Vatican. I am sure that the
great majority of my fellow-citizens.
Catholics quite as much as Protestants, will
feel that l acted in the only way posi-
bic for an American to act. and because
of this very fact / most earnestly hope
that the incident will be treated in
matter-of-course way as merely personal.
and, above all, as not warrantln1 the
slightest exhibition of rancor or bitter
ness
Among my best and closest friends are
many Catholics. The respect and regard
Catholics are as dear to me as the re-
spect and regard of those who are Prot
estantS. On my journey through Africa
l visited many Catholic as well as many
Protestant missions.
'As I look forward to telling the peo-
pie at home all that has been done by
Protestants and Catholics alike, as I saw
it. in the field of missionary endeavor,
anything said or done, that would hurt
or give pain to my friends. whatever
their religious belief. But any merely
personal considerations are of no con-
sequence in this matter. The important
consideration is the avoidance Of harsh
and bitter comment, much as may excite
mistrust and anger between and among
good men.
Speaks of Tolerance.
The more an American sees of other
countries the more profound be his feel
ings of gratitude that in his own land
ther. is not merely complete liberation,
but the heartiest good will and sympathy
between sincere and honest men of diff
ferent faiths-good will and sympathy so
complete that in the innumerable daily
relations Of our American life Catholics
alri Protestants meet together and work
together without thought of the differ
ence of creed being even present in their
minds.
This is a condition so vital to our
national well-being that nothing should
be permitted to jeopardize it, Bitter COM
ment and criticism. acrimonious attack
AMI defense are not only profitless, but
harmful, and to seize such an incident
as this as an occasion for controversy
would be wholly indefensible and should
be frowned upon by Catholics and Protes-
tants alike and all good Americans"
Explanation at Vatican.
Although the negotiations for Mr.
Roosevelt's proposed audience with the
pope were technically between Ambassa-
dor Leishman and Mgr. Kennedy. it is
we'll understood in Rome that Mgr. Ken
nedy was acting under the instructions of
Cardinal Merry Del Val. The kilograms
therefore. were in reality between ex-
President Roosevelt and the papal Sec
rotary of state.
When a correspondent called at the
Vatican last evening great surprise was
expressed when it was learned that Mr..
Roosevelt had given out the text OF the
messages exchanged by Mgr Kennedy
and the American ambassador. as they
were regarded by the Vatican in the
light of diplomatic documents.
Mgr. Kennedy explained that March 81
Johr W. Garrett, first secretary OF the
embassy, called upon him to transmit
Mr.. Roosevelt's request for an audience
Will: the pontiff April ). He said that
Mr.. Garrett insisted upon the word
transmit" Mgr. Kennedy informed the
secretary that he would Immediately
present the request to the proper Vatican
authorities. and promised a response as
soon as possible.
The following day" said Mgr. Kennedy.
IL was authorized to send Mr.. Roosevelt
the first message which is quoted in his
statement The reference to the Fair
banks incident In the message was in
tended by the Vatican only as a friendly
intimation. i notice that my second mes
sage s not fully given. 1t ran thus:
His holiness will be much pleased to
grant an audience to Mr.. Roosevelt, for
whom he entertaoins great esteem, both
personally and as President OF the United
States. His holiness quite recognizes Mr.
Roosevelt's entire right to freedom Of
conduct. On the other hand, In view OF
the circumstances for which neither his
holiness nor Mr.. Roosevelt is responsible
an audience could not occur except on
the understanding expressed In the for
mer message
After this no further communication
reached me from Mr.. Roosevelt"
o'Laughlin Intercedes.
II further appears that it was John
Callan O'Laughlan. who was assistant
secretary Of state In 1909, and a personal
friend OF Mr.. Roosevelt, who attempted
on Saturday to intercede with Cardinal
Merry Del Val. The following semi of
fetal version Of what happened at that
interview has been furnished by a yati.
can authority.
Cardinal Merry Del Val said to Mr..
O'Laughlin: Can you guarantee that
Mr.. Roosevelt will not visit the Metho-
dists here?'
Mr.. OLaughlin replied: Il cannot. In
deed. believe that Mr.. Roosevelt is lust
the man to go there. He viii do az ne
pleases."
1T is indefensible." said the papal Sec
rotary, for any person to ask to be re-
ceived by a great parsonage whose feel
ings he would be unwilling to respect"
In the course OF further conversation.
the cardinal declared that no court in
Europe granted unrestricted audiences
Mr.. Roosevelt himself" said the ear
dinal. when he was President, declined
10 receive persons Internationally At the
White House.
Cardinal Tells Of Old Incident.
Without giving the name Of the person
the cardinal recalled a case where presi.
dent Roosevelt. having been enormously
informed that certain person was visit.
ing him by the authority Of the Vatican
Immediately sent a cabinet officer to the
apostolic delegate at Washington to in.
form the delegate that he could not re.
ceiye this parsonage. but ne meant nc
discourtesy. to the pope by hts refusal
The pontin. when informed OF this, re.
piled: