Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1927-04-21
GOVERNOR AL SMITH
EXPLAINS His FAITH
IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

New IOTh, ApIi If--1oNcilioi al
fred f. Smith, of New oYrk, sees nc
reason why being a Catholic should
prevent him from becoming president
of the United States.
In an historic document appearing
in a magazine the governor declares
nat he recognizes no power in Ia,
institution of the Catholic church to
interfere with the constitution of the
United States or the enforcement Of
the law of the land.
81 believe" Smith says, "in render
ing unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars, and unto God the thing;
that are Gods. | would be pool
American and a poor Catholic alike
if | injected religious discussions into
political campaign"
The governors letter marks the
/ first time in American history that a
potential candidate for the presidency
has been subjected to public question
ing regarding his faith. For the first
time it brings his religious beliefs and
affiliations up from the realm of
whisperings and innuendoes onto the
higher plane of serious debate.
The letter is a reply to Charles c..
Marshall, the New York attorney who
had written Smith an open letter in a
previous issue of the magazine, de-
handing to know how he could give
undivided allegiance to his country
and his church.
81 have taken the oath of office in
this state 10 times" the governor
says, "and I have never known any
conflict between my official duties
and my religious beliefs"
But the part of the governors let
ter that will go down as unique in
the history of American politics is
this standardization of his creed as an
American Catholic:
Separates Church
81 believe in the worship of God
to the faith and practice of
the Roman Catholic church.
81 recognize no power in the insti-
buttons of my church to interfere with
the operations of the constitution of
the United States or the enforcement
of the law of the land.
81 believe in absolute freedom of
for all men and in equality
of all churches, all sects, and all be-
liefs before the law as a matter of
right and not as matter of favor.
81 believe in the absolute separa-
ton of church and state and in the
strict enforcement of the provisions
of the constitution that congress shall
make no law respecting an establish
ment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof.
81 believe that no tribunal Of any
church has any power to make any de-
cree Of any force in the law of the
land other than to establish the stat
us of its own communicates within it's
own church.
81 believe in the support of the
public school as one of the corner
stones of American liberty.
81 believe in the right of every
parent to choose whether his child
shall be educated in the public school
or in religious school supported by
those of his own faith.
81 believe in the principle of non
by this country in the
affairs of other nations and
against such interference, by whom
that we should stand steadfastly
it may be urged.
"And I believe in the common ia
therhood of God.
SIN this spirit join with fellow
of all creeds in fervent
that never again in this land
will any public servant be challenged
because of the faith in which he has
tried to walk humbly with his God"