President Taft and the Catholic Church.—
In its issue of May 16 the Independent has an editorial on “President Taft and the Catholic Church.” It frankly says, “It appears to us that both President Taft and President Roosevelt have been careful not to offend Catholic sensibilities, and to give the Catholic Church all they properly could of favor.” But the Independent does not believe that either of them has meant to do an injustice, or to contravene the established principle of our Government, which separates Church and State. Mr. Taft positively denies that he has shown special favor to the Catholic Church, or acted contrary to the American principle of absolute separation. These are live questions just now. Politicians do not wish to offend the Roman Catholic Church, because the Roman Catholic Church knows how to play politics.