Evening journal., 1912-11-18
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
James 6. Blaine on ReIIe-
iOuS Tolerance
BY Holland.


In May, 1881. James G. Blaine.
Secretary Of State under President
Garfield. said after a full Cabinet
meeting was over, and in the few min
utcs usually devoted to informal chat
ting at the end Of Cabinet session,
that he wanted to read letter wlfich
he had just written to certain citizens
Of his native town of Washington.
Pennsylvania
"Of course you know said Mr..
Blaine, that there have been many
accusatians, made for the purpose OF
iniuring me politically, that ! am
really and al heart Roman Catholic
] have never ventured any detailed
denial except to permit my friends to
say that am a member Of the Pres
byterian Church.
~ know, however. how these re-
ports first got into circulation It is
true that my mother was a member
of the Church Of Rome My father,
however, was an elder In the Presby-
sistent member of that communion.
But he was man OF very broad and
tolerant habit of mind He recOg-
uized that there was good in all re-
] ligiOnf He was absolutely free from
bigotry of any kind.
1T was for that reason that when
the Catholics of my home town estab-
lished a philanthropic institution they
asked my father to become one Of the
trustees He felt complmented by
the request He accepted the invita-
| tion and he served all his life as
/ trustee of that institution.
"Whon my father died he was bur-
led in the Catholic cemetery, and for
the reason that he desired that his
body should be laid beside that of his
Wife I presume some sort of a dis
pensation was obtained to permit his
burial there. but II must have been
very easily obtained, for II there had
been difficulty about il ! presume
should have heard OF II.
1T is from this circumstance that
the reports have arisen. and been cir
culated broadcast for the purpose OF
injuring me politically, that ! am a
member of the Church of Rome, at
least at heart if not actually.
"A few days ago ] received a letter
signed by two or three citizens Of
Washington in which was a sentence
which I will NOT repeat. which gave
me, thought, al last an opportunity
OF saying what ! have long wished to
say II Is this which have said i'm
the letter in reply to tho one re-
ceivcd from Washincton that I now
want to read to you"
'Blaiue's letter. said one of tho
members of President Garnolds Cab
/ met TO me later. contained very
cordial and aDpreciativc message to
his correspondents II then went on
10 state that IN the Catholic ccme-
terry at Washington. Pa. Mr. BlainO's
fathers body was laid beside that Of
his wfe. It referred to the fact that
Mr. Blaino's father had bcen an his
life a Presbyterian while his mother
was member OF the Church of Rome.
Then MIR Blaine went on 10 say that
In that earlier day and in that part
of Peunsylyania there was none OF
/ the religious bigotry and intolerance
which at later time came 10 prevail
in many parts of the United States
He said that he could wish that the
same feeling of tolerance the same
lack Of hgotry and dcnominatonat
animostics which had made the re
iigious life of that part OF western
pennsylvania with which he was ia
miliar so characteristic of the rea
Christian spirit now prevailed aiI
over the United States II it did
thon it would be impossible TO make
political capital against any clu1en
who was public servant because o.
his religious or denomiuational assoc
citation.
There said Mr. Blaine after he
had read the letter 4 presume this
viii get into print presume il will
be used to make trouble for me IL 7
remain in public life But il il does
! do not care. What I have said
have long had i'm mind TO say. and
the opporture time has come TO me al
last to say it,"