Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-05
Function of American Am
bassador at Rome is
Cancelled.
STATEMENT AT FAULT
Former President Receives Call
from King and Manages to
Keep Fairly Busy.

Rome. April 5.-Roosevelt was not
In his happiest mood today. His wish
that the vatican audience incident be
regarded as personal to him had not
been respected, and he was intensely
annoyed. About the first thing he
did today was to call of the reception
to the American colony set for tomor-
row night.
Traced to Statement.
This action can be traced directly to
the issuance yesterday Of statement
by Rev. B. M Tipple, pastor of the
American Methodist church In which
opportunity was taken for an attack
upon the Roman Catholic church.
Roosevelt does not propose to be us
ed by anyone to the disparagement of
anyone else.
Statement Follows Call.
Triple called upon Roosevelt yester-
day afternoon, and upon his departure,
made public a statement in which he
lifted the vatican episode out Of the
realm Of the personal and gave it a
world wide significance. The state
ment IN full was shown Roosevelt to-
day when he said:
81 had made no arrangements to
speak at any church or clerical or
ganization in Rome. 1 have received a
number of gentlemen of all religious
faiths who have called at my rooms
or at the American embassy.
Stops Reception Plans.
Under the circumstances have re-
quested the American ambassador not
to hold the reception which he had
intended to hold Wednesday after
noon
-'As regards all efforts, by whomso-
ever made, to bring about and inflame
religious animosities because of what
has occurred in connection with the
vatican and myself, can do no more
than refer to the emphatic statements
contained in my open letter to DR..
Lyman Abbott already published.
"All that 1 there said 1 desire to
reiterate with my whole power"
Upon Neutral Ground.
American Ambassador Leishman had
arranged a reception at the American
embassy in order that Roosevelt might
meet Americans In Rome, regardless
Of religious faith. upon the neutral
ground of the embassy.
Catholics Offended.
The appearance, however, of Tipple's
statement displeased many American
Catholics who forthwith manifested an
intention of abandoning their purpose
to attend the reception if the Metho-
dists of the organization represented
by Triple were to be present. The mat
ter was carried to Roosevelt who, af-
ter hearing both sides, promptly ask
ed Leishnan to cancel the whole af-
fair. This was done.
SuII Ruling Sensation.
The sensation caused by the deter
mination of Roosevelt not to be re-
ceived by the pope upon terms made
by Cardinal Merry Del Val continues
unabated and papers of all shades and
beliefs comment upon it.
Rev. b. VI. TIppIe's Statement.
Mr.. Tipple's statement on the vatican
incident follows: while the work Of
Methodism In Rome has started a rum
pus, it is no longer Methodism or any
other ism, but the great principle of
federation. Roosevelt has struck
blow for goth century Christianity.
president Lubel refused to accede
to the vaticans conditions, and now
Fairbanks and Roosevelt come to main
tain the dignity and independence of
American manhood in the face of vat
lean tyranny.
THE vatican is incompatible with re-
publican prin ciples. This is bitter
for No.
to swallow.
81 wonder how many doses of this
sort they will take before they revolt?
Is Catholicism in America to be Ameri-
can or Romish? If Romish, then ey-
cry patriotic American should rise to
crush it, for Roman Catholicism is
the uncompromising foe of freedom.
Calls 1t New BIunder.
After the Fairbanks episode Meth
odists never dreamed the vatican
would commit a similar blunder with
Roosevelt That it has done so is add
I'd proof that the policy prevailing
there is the same yesterday, today and
forever
Americans can now better under |
stand how It was that the Roman |
church has lost France, the men of
Italy, and is losing Spain and Austria
Called on by King.
Rome, April 5.-King Victor EN-
called upon Roosevelt at the |
latter's hotel this morning. Some |
time was spent in animated conversa-