The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-06


81 Mr. Roosevelt has been severely criticised by
lev. Father Eugene Harmon, Roman Catholic
priest in Washington, for the Vatican incident and
ky some others here and there, both Catholics and
#Frutestants But the press dispatches tell that
6e has been overwhelmed with messages of approval
&fOm of all crceds. He also waited on by an
Y Amcrican priest now located in Rome, who warm
INV congratulated him and assured him that the
AMERICAN Catholics would endorse his action.
That is the tenor of the expressions which have
@1pprared in the American newspapers
The Philadelphia press regrets that the issue was
ever raised by the Pope but once raised, its adds
4 Mr. Roosevelt forced to meet it. He could do
h nothing less. lie is an American He chershes
personal freedom.
The Buffalo Commercial says that Mr.. Roosevelt
fully grasped the delicacy of the situation re-
sSeaIed by the Fairbanks incident
If, y it goes ON, Cardinal Merry del Val
had not specifically named the condition
|g@ on which the visitor would be admitted Mr..
Roosevelt could have been trusted to avoid
the rock of offence on which Mr.. Fair
banks to grief. When it was put up
10 him as it was he had no recourse. 1t is
Il HID only fair to Mr. Roosevelt to say that in
this episode his speech and action are
49, above reproach "
The Sycamore Herald says that,
R# lit is the acknowledged right of the
Vatican, as of every court in Europe, to
impose conditions upon any every WISH
tor who solicits audience, and it is the
equal right of the applicant to decline to
abide by the conditions submitted to him. "
The Boston Herald says that.
s'Amerieans who know Theodore Roose-
welt will find in his course nothing which
the most devout member of the Catholic
Church justly condemn"
The Minneapolis Journal says that Mr.. Roosevelt
has acted his couptrymen would see him act.
Ht has declined to submit his movements to be
yis@d by Cardinal Merry del Val, or anybody else.
Former Viee-Presdent, Charles W. Fairbanks
rho recently had somewhat similar experience
ot Rome says:
s.No question the absolute right
Of the Pope to extend his hospitality to
or withhold it from whomsoeyer he likes.
This is a matter which lies wholly within
his own discretion. Ii he prescribes i'm
possible conditions, American may re-
fuse to accept without intent to affront
In fact American accept an audi
ence at the Vatican upon the condition
that he shall speak WHEN, where and to
whom he likes, regardless of church or
creed
ES The principles Of religious liberty so
dear to Americans must be upheld by us
without faltering, in the interest of Catho-
lie and Protestants alike 1t goes without
saying that fully commend Mr.. Roose-
yelt s decision
Nh. Roosevelt 8 course was approved by the Wy
ming Methodist Conference of New York, the New
sk Methodist Conference, the General Association
he Protestant Ministers of Spokane, the Method
S ~ the New Hampshire Conference, the Method
Baptist and Presbyterian clergyiSen of Detroit
q other Protestant organizations. That was to be
peetod, but surprising statement comes from
~ Father Fleming. Yiee-President Of the George
4Nn University, who says
OF course every politician viii try to
S make capital out of this matter. The truth
=, however, that there is not Catholic
III America who viii not admire President
Ra0sexelt for the clever Hays in which he
~ acted in regard to this matter The
1Aet that he succeeded in keeping the in