The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-04-05
Roosevelt's Own Explanation Of the
Affair in Rome When the
Pope Refused Him an
Audience
Ex-PREsIDENT WORRIED
Or. Triple Flares up and Makes Some
Foolish Statements in Hopes
Of Starting Some
Trouble.


today, displeased with the statement
issued last night by Rev Triple of the
Methodist church of Rome, which he
calls an uncalled for attempt to
launch sectarian controversy called
off the public reception of tomorrow
at the American embassy. This was
to have been open to all, and while
not announced, was looked upon as
taking the place Of call from the
colonel on the Methodist church The
vatican affair has worried Roosevelt
and is worrying him today probably
more than any former controversy in
| which he was ever involved.
'.As regards all effort by whomso.
ever made he said today, ''to bring
about an infiamed religious animosity
for what has occurred, can do no
more than refer to the emphatic state
ment contained in my open letter to
DIR. Abbott
| The paragraph in Dr. Tipple's state
ment which particularly offends
Roosevelt, is as follows:
This is a bitter dose for patriotic
Catholics in America to swallow.
wonder how many doses of this kind
they will take before they revolt?"
Roosevelt's Side.
NEW YORK, April 5.--Colonel
Roosevelt's explanation of the vatican
incident, to the American people. is
told by him in the following message:
| j
Rome, April 3, 1910.
To the Rev. Lyman Abbott, Editor OF
The Outlook, New York:
Through the Outliok 1 wish to
make statement to my fellow Ameri-
cans regarding what has occurred in
connection with the vatican
| am sure that the great majority
OF my fellow citizens, Catholics quite
as much as Protestants, will feel that
acted in the only way possible for
an American to act, and because of
this very fact l most earnestly hope
that the incident will be treated in
matter of course way as merely per-
sonal, and, above all, as not warrant
/ ing the slightest exhibition of rancor
or bitterness.
Among my best and closest friends
are many Catholics. The respect and
regard of those of my fellow Ameri.
cans who are Catholics are as dear
to me as the respect and regard of
| those who are Protestants.
| On my journey through Africa I vis-
! tied many Cathilic as we'll as Prctes.
tant missions. sAs l look forward to
telling the people at home all that has
been done by Protestants and Catho-
/ lies alike, as l saw it, in the field of
missionary endeavor, it would cause
me real pang to have anything said
or done that would hurt or give pain
| to my friends, whatever their religious
belief.
But any merely personal consdera-
tions are Of no consequence in this
matter. The important consideration
is the avoidance of harsh and bitter
comment such as may excite mistrust
and anger between and among good
men.
4 The more an American sees of 9TH
er countries the more profound must
4 be his feelings Of gratitude that in
his own land there is not merely COM
plete toleration, but the heartiest good
will and sympathy between sincere
and honest men of different faiths
good will and sympathy so complete
that in the innumerable daily relations
Of our American life Catholics and
Protestants meet together and work
I together without thought of the diff
fernce 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 comment and criticism, acrmo-
Inious attack and defense are not only
prot1tless but harmful, and to seize
upon such an incident as this as an
occasion for controversy would be
I wholly indefensible and should be
frowned upon by Catholics and Protes-
tants alike, and all good Americans.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.