The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-19
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY.
Ry r.. i.

In May. 1881. James =. Blaine. Sec
rotary of state under President Gar
field. said after a full Cabinet meet
ing was over, and in the few l1-u
usually devoted to informal chatting
at the end Of a Cabinet session. that
he wanted to read q letter which ne
had just written to certain citizens OF
his native town OF Washington, Penn
sylvania.
"Of course you know" said Air.
Blaine. that there have been many
accusations, mad for the purpose or
injuring me politically, that l am
really and at heart a Roman Catho-
lie: l have never any ue.
tailed denial except to permit my
friends to say that / am a member Q.
The Presbyterian church.
Il know. however, how these re-
ports first got into circulation. 1t is
true that my mother vas a member
OF the Church OF Rome. My father,
however, was an eide. in the Presby-
terrain church. He vas always a con-
sistent member of that communion
| But he was a man Of very broad and
tolerant habit OF mind. He rccog-
nized that there was good in all re-
ligions. He was absolutely free from
bigotry of any kind.
1T was for that reason that when
the Catholics OF my home town estab-
ljshed a philanthropic institution they
asked my father to become one Of the
the request. He accepted the invita-
ton and he served all his life IS a
trustee Of that institution.
When my father died he was
buried in the Catholic cemetery, and
for the reason that he desired that his
body should De laid beside that Of his
wife. / presume some sort Of a dis
| % nCo r1-.c <lVo{~oS 80 ra~-niS hiH
burial there, out it must have been
very easily obtained, for II there had
been difficulty about it / presume ]
should have heard of it.
1T is from this circumstance tina,
the epOrtS have ariVen, and been cir
| cIlated broadcast for the OF
iEjuring me politically, that l am q
member of the Church of Rome, al
least at heart If not actually.
"A few days g I received a Iette,
signed by two or three citizens OF
Washington In which was a sentence
which I will not repeat, which gave
me 1 thought. at last an opportlnit,
OF saying what I have long wished to
say. 1t is this which I lave said In
the letter IN reply to the one | re-
CeiYed from Washington hat I nov
Want to e to you"
"Blaine's letter." said one Of the
members of President Garaeld's Cabi.
net to me later, contained a very cor.
dial and appreciative message to his
correspondents It then went on tc
state that in the Catholic cemetery a,
Washington, Pa, Mr.. Blaine's fathers
body WAS laid beside that Of his wife
It referred to the fact tina NJ,
Blaine's father had been all his life
Presbyterian, while his mother was 6
member of the Church Of Rome. Their
Mr.. Blaine went or to say that in tina
earlier day, and in that part of Penn.
s fvan1a, there was none Of the relig.
ious bigotry and intolerance which a,
a later time came to prevail in many
parts Of the United States. He sale
that he could wish that the same feel
Ing of tolerance, the same lack Of big
otry and deno1ninational animositie!
which had made the religious life o.
that part Of western Pennsylvania
with which he was familiar so charac.
~teristic Of the real Christian spirit
now prevailing all over the United
States. II it did, then it would b.
impossible to make political capita
against any citizen who was a publi,
servant because Of his religious or de-
nominational association.
"There,' said Mr.. Blaine after II,
had read the letter. Il presume thi.
Will get into print. I presume it viii
be used to make trouble for me if
remain in public life. But if it does
| do not care. What I have said
have long had in mind to say, and RI,
opportune time has come TO me a
last 70 say it,
Copyright. 1912, by r. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
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THE VIRTUE IN THE ..RVTTy