The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-04
CAUSE OF 1T ALL.
The Vatican Issues a Statement
Today.
Cardinal Merry Del Val Explains
Position.
WANTED A PROMISE
That Roosevelt Would Not Go
to MethOdists.
Mr.. Fairbanks Approves Former
Presidents Stand.

Del Val, papal secretary of state,
wishes the entire history of the nego-
tiations for the audience which the
former president sought of Pope Plus
x to be taken. Cardinal Merry Del
Val is credited with the responsibility
for the Vatican's part in the matter
and the following may be accepted as
his version:
Following the exchanges between
Mgr. Kennedy and American Ambas-
sador Leishman and Mr. Roosevelt
decision not to be received on the
terms imposed, John Callahan
O'Laughlin, assistant secretary of
state in 1909 and a personal friend of
Mr.. Roosevelt. called upon Cardinal
Merry Del Val bearing an introduce
ton from Mgr. Falconi, apostolic dele
gate to the United States. Mr..
O'Laughlin said:
81 do not come in the name of Mr..
Roosevelt. but on my own account as
an American Catholic"
Cardinal Merry Del Val said:
''Then what are we here for? It is
useless to discuss the matter. If you
do not represent Mr.. Roosevelt you
can not make any arrangement or
speak for him.
Mr.. O'Laughlin replied;
What l consider important Is to
tell your eminence that If the two dis
patches sent by Mgr. Kennedy are re-
tracted I can assure you that Mr..
Roosevelt will accept an audience"
Cardinal Merry Del Val said:
ST will not discuss Mr.. Rooseve1ts
right, but give me confidential assur-
ances that. de facto. Mr.. Roosevelt
audience ill occur"
Mr.. O'Laughlin refused to give this
assurance.
The cardinal then said:
-
Methodists and do whatever he
chooses. but the pontiff is certainly
free not to receive a man who would
claim the right to insult him on the
or perhaps the same day as. accord
ing to your statement, he may leave
Rome on the same day of the papal
audience, thus having only between
noon and evening Tuesday in which to
see the Methodists.
'It is of little consequence whether
he is Catholic. Protestant. Israelite
or Buddhist. All religious persons
merit the same esteem. The important
thing is to be honest and sincere. So
I believe all honest people will be al
ways on good terms with Cod
Cause of the Trouble.
Washington, April 4.-Sharply citiciz-
ing the work Of the Methodist church
in Rome as insulting agitation and
offensive proselytism which constitute
real warfare against the pope and
the Catholic religion" Mgr. Fa1coni,
papal delegate to the United States, to-
day commented on the Roosevelt in
cident with the vatican.
The papal delegate declared neither
the pope nor the cardinal secretary of
state was to blame for the situation
which he described as 1.-The intolerable
condition created for the holy see by
the Methodists in Rome"
$50 far have received no communi-
cation from Rome" Mgr. Falconi said,
land know only what appears in the
has the highest esteem for Colonel
Roosevelt, both as a private individual
and as former president of the United
States, also that he was looking for
ward with pleasure to meeting him.
''In the case of Colonel Roosevelt as
Mr.. Fairbanks, it was not at all a
question Of religion, but of the self re-
spect and dignity of the apostolic see.
Colonel Roosevelt could have gone to
any other Protestant church in Rome
reports, to the Methodists, after his re-
ception by the pope.
After all that has been said, it is
unnecessary to insist that their insult
constitute real warfare against the
holy father and the Catholic religion
and that in the very heart Of his
ancient and venerable seat. It must be
considers himself as a sovereign ruler
and as such is recognized by other ma
lions.
Besides as the head of at least $50
million Catholics he has a right to
special consideration and ought him
self to be the best judge of what that
means. Every government has its
etiquette of rules to protect the Office
stance that in Rome the Methodists
have organized themselves as an anti
vatican party makes it impossible for
the holy father to recognize them in
any way, much less to strengthen them
in the eyes of the Catholics of Italy.
at Is extremely unpleasant to say
the least that this violation should
have become public on the occasion of
the visit to Rome of distinguished
American citizens. However, neither
the holy father nor the cardinal secre-
tary of state is to blame for the in
tolerable condition created for the
Holy See by the Methodists in Rome"
Fairbanks's View.
Indianapolis, Ind, April 4.-Former
Vice President Charles w. Fairbanks,
when asked today for an expression
of his view OF former President Roose-
velt's cancelling his appointment with
the pope, said:
right of the pope to extend his hospi-
tality to or withhold it from whomso-
ever he likes. This is a matter which
lies wholly within his own discretion.
If he prescribes impossible conditions
an American may refuse to accept
affront-
"In fact, 40 American can accept
an audience at the vatican upon the
condition that he shall not speak
when, where and to whom he likes
regardless of church or creed. The
of religious liberty SO dear
to Americans must be upheld by us
without faltering-in the interest of
Catholics ard Protestants alike. 1t
goes without saying that 1 fully COM
mend Mr.. RooseYelt's decision