The National tribune., 1910-04-07

of a great church. fully recognize his
Ientire right to receive or not receive
iwhomsoever he chooses for any reason
that seems good to him. and if he does
not receive me 1 shall not for moment
question the propriety of his action.
"On the other hand, /, in my turn,
must decline to make any stipulation or
submit to any conditions which would
in any way limit my freedom of con-
duct. I trust that on April he VIII
find it 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 following
communication, which was telegraphed
TO Col Roosevelt at Cairo:
His holiness would be much pleased
to- grant an audience to Mr.. Roosevelt,
for whom he entertains high esteem
both personally and as a former Presl-
dent of the United States. His holiness
recognizes Mr.. RoOsevelt's entire right
to full freedom of conduct On the
other hand. in view of circumstances
for which neither his holiness nor MIR.
Roosevelt is responsible. an audience
could not take place except on the UNI
derstandng expressed in the former
message"
Col Roosevelt at once telegraphed to
Emhassador Leishman:
The proposed presentation is, of
course. now impossible"
Col Roosevelt then telegraphed the
Following letter to DIR. Abbott, editor
of the Outlook:
Dear Mr. Abbott: Thru the outlook
wish to make a statement to my fell
low Americans regarding what has oc-
with the Vatican.
am sure the great majority of my
ifellnw-citizens. Catholics quite as much
as Protestants. will feel that | acted in
the only way possible for an American
to act and bee . of this very fact
most earnestly nope that the incident
will be treated in a matter-of-course
way as merely personal, and, above all.
as not warranting the slightest eXhibi-
ton of rancor or bitterness. Among my
hest and closest friends are many Cath
olicS. The respect and regard OF those
Iof my fellow-Anericans who are Cath
olics are as dear to me as the respect
Iand regard of those who are Protes-
tants. on my journey thru Africa l
visited many Catholic as well as many
Protestant missions, and l look forward
to telling the people at home all that
has been done by PrOtestants and Cath
olics alike. as | saw it in the field of
missionary endeayOr. 1t would cause
me a real pang to have anything Sald
or done that would hurt or give pain
to my friends. whatever their religious
belief. but any merely personal consid-
erations are of no consequence in this
matter. The important consideration is
the avoidance Of harsh and bitter COM
ment 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
land there is not merely complete toll
Grafton, but the heartiest good will and
lsympathy between sincere and honest
men of different faiths-good will and
Isympathy so complete that in the in
evitabIe daily relations of our Ameri-
can life Catholics and Protestants meet
together and work together without the
thought of a difference of creed being
even present in their minds. That is a
condition so vital to our National we'll
being that nothing should be permitted
to jeopardiZe it. Bitter comment and
criticism, acrimonious attack and de-
fense are not only profitless, but harm
full, and to seize upon such an incident
as this as an occasion for controversy
would be wholly indefensibe and
should be frowned upon by Catholics
and Protestants alike. L very earnestly
hope that what / say will appeal to all
good Americans. Faithfully yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"