The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-18
New York Governor and Pos.
siblc Democratic Presiden-
tial Candidate Writes Open
Letter Answering Argu.
ments Presented by New
York Lawyer and Episc0.
palian

New York. April l8.--lP) Editor
ial comment was widespread today on
Governor Smiths open letter stating
that he recognized no power of the
Roman Catholic church "to interfere
with the operations of the constitu-
tion Of the United States or the en-
forccment of the law of the land"
His friends praised it and indicated
that they were eager to learn what
reaction it would have
Ihe letter was written to the At
lantic Monthly, in reply to one from
Charles &. Marshall, New York lawyer
and Epscopalan, who, quoting
ecclesiastical authority, had argued
that in any conflict between church
and state, the Roman Catholic church
GAINED the deciding power for the
pope. Mr.. Marshall asked the gov
ernor to make his position clear.
Publication Of the letter today was
authorized by the magazine week
ahead Of the time first planned, be-
cause some newspapers had printed
it Saturday and Sunday in violation
of copyright.
or Much Importance
The Atlantic Monthly charactcrizes
the correspondence as an historic
incident which may have part in
deciding whether complete religious
tolerance shall prevail in this coun-
try. The questions raised by MIR.
Marshall have been regarded as Of
political Importance because Of Gov
ernor Smiths prominence as a possl-
bility for the Democratic nomination
for president.
Outlining his creed as IAN Ameri-
can Catholic" Governor Smith as
serts:
81 believe in the worship of God,
according to the faith and practice
of the Roman Catholic church; y
xxx xxx in freedom of wor-
ship "as a matter of right" in "ab-
solute separation Of church and
state" in Support of the public
school as one Of the corner stones Of
American liberty" in freedom Of
education for children in public or
religious schools; in the principle
Of non-interference by this country
in the internal affairs of other ma
tiohs;" in "the strict enforcement Of
the provisions of the constitution that
congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment of religion OF
prohibiting the free exercises there
Of"
.In this spirit" concludes the
governors letter, II join with fcl.
low Americans of all creeds in fer
! vent prayer that never again in this
. land will any public servant be chal-
lenged because Of the faith in which
he has tried to walk humbly with
his Cod
Elected 10 Times
The governor cites 10 times he has
been elected to public office, and OBJ.
served that he never has known any
conflict between his official dutie.
and religious belief.
"Your church. just as mine," hi
. told Mr. Marshall, lis voicing the in
junction Of our common Saviour tt
render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars and unto God the things
that are Gods.
"ln the widest dreams of youl
imagination you cannot conjure up ,
possible conflict between religious
principle and political duty in th'
United States, except on the unthink
able hypothesis that some law wert
to be passed which violated the com
mon morality Of all God-fearing men
| "And If you can conjure up sucl
a conflict how would a Protestant re
solve it? Obviously by the dictate'
! of his conscience. That is exactl!
what a Catholic would do"
| Cites Present Cabinet
| Governor Smith says that Of hi
present cabinet, Is are Protestants
| Continued on page three)