448 
COL. ROOSEVELTS TRIP THROUGH EUROPE . 
To Ambassador Leishman, Rome, Italy . 
“The proposed presentation is, of course, now impossible.’’ 
Theodore Roosevelt. 
Lymah Abbott, Editor of the Outlook, New York . 
“Through the Outlook I wish to make a statement to my fellow 
Americans regarding what has occurred in connection with the Vatican. 
I am sure that the great majority of my fellow citizens, catholics quite 
as much as protestants, will feel that I acted in the only way possible 
for an American to act and because of this fact I most earnestly hope 
that the incident will be treated in a matter of course way as merely 
personal, and, above all, as not warranting the slightest exhibition of 
rancor or bitterness. 
“Among my best and closest friends are many catholics. The re¬ 
spect and regard of those of my fellow Americans who are catholics are 
as dear to me as the respect and regard of those who are protestants. 
“On my journey through Africa I visited many catholic as well as 
many protestant missions. As I look forward to telling the people at 
home all that has been done by protestants and catholics alike, as I saw 
it, in the field of missionary endeavor, it would cause me a 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 con¬ 
siderations are of no consequence in this matter. The important con¬ 
sideration is the avoidance of harsh and bitter comment such as may 
excite mistrust and anger between and among good men. 
‘‘ The more an American sees of other countries the more profound 
must be his feelings of gratitude that, in his own land there is not merely 
complete 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 together without 
thought of the difference 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, 
acrimonious attack and defense, are not only profitless but harmful* 
and to seize upon such an incident as this as an occasion for controversy 
would be wholly indefensible and should be frowned upon by catholics 
and protestants alike, and by all good Americans.” 
Theodore Roosevelt. 
