THE COURIER
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THE A. P. A. AND ITS OBJECT.
'HE American Protectivo association, or as it iB mora familiarly
known, the "A. P. A.," has occasioned much comment in the
last few years, and on account of recent occurrences there is a
great deal of speculation as to the future of this organization, and
tho results that are likely to follow from its increasing power and
the intense feeling which some people assert that it engenders. The
A. P. A. is a Becret order, and very few people outside of its member
ship have any definite knowledge of its purpose and work. It is
generally regarded as an anti-Catholic organization, and that is
about the only idea tho mass of tho peoplo have regarding it.
" Within tho past two years there has been a rapid development of
tho order in this 6tate, and it is known that in tho last two state
campaigns and in recent local campaigns in Omaha and Lincoln it
has exerted a marked influence.
The Courikk believes there is considerable curiosity on the part
of tho public to know something definite about the "A. P. A.,'' and
for the purpose of satisfying this curiosity we avail ourselvesof such
material as wo have at hand to'present, briefly, an outline of thescopo
of the organization.
The Rev. E. J. Oldknow Millington. of Newark, N. J., a reputed
organizer of the A. P. A., says:
"We have nothing to do with the religious side of the question,
but solely with the political. Our desire is to minimize the power
of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in politics, to counteract it at every
possible turn. We feel justified in believing that the Catholic
church does seek to exercise political influence. Wo note the recent
occurrences in Ireland, Germany, Mexico and other countries, and
believe that they bear out our contention that the Roman Catholic
church is as much a political as a religioutt organization, although
wo do not believe it is necessary to go as far as Ireland to find proof
of these things. There is proof in New York, for example, and in
all the leading cities of America. We work through the ordinary
political methods. Wo are. affiliated with no party
and have no political ambition. Each man is free to cast his
vote with tho party ho most favors. As individuals we are not op
posed to voting for Catholics. We are opposed to them not becauso
of their religion, but because we believe that a good Catholic is
under the influence of the priesthood to a greater or loss extent,
and that influence wo believe to bo distinctly inimical to liberty,
thought and action.
"We believe that the supremacy of the Roman Catholic church jn
this country would be destructive of true independence, and that
belief is based on our knowledge of the spirit of the Roman Catholic
church in days gone and in tho present as indicated by Papal
enyclicaland by tho deliverances of those high in the Roman
Catholic church.'
Tho following is said by tho New York Herald to be the oath of
the order" which every member must take:
"I do most solemnly promise and swear that I will not allow any
one a member of the Roman Catholic church to become a member
of this order, I knowing him to be such; that I will use my influence
to promote the interests of all Protestants, everywhere in tho world;
that I will not employ a Roman Catholic in any capacity, if I can
procure the service of a Protestant; that I will not aid in building,
or in maintaining, by my resources, any Roman Catholic church or
institution of their sect or creed whatsoever, but will do all in my
powor to retard and break down the power of the Pope: that I will
not enter into any controversy with a Roman Catholic upon the
subject of this order, nor will I enter into any agreement with a
Roman Catholic to strike or create a disturbance, whereby the Ro
man Catholic employes may undermino and substitute the Protes
tants; that in all grievances I will seek only Protestants, and counsel
with them, to the exclusion of all Roman Catholics, and will not
make known to them anything of any nature matured at such con
ferences; that I will not countenance the nomination, in any caucus
or convention, of a Roman Catholic, for any office in the gift of the
American people, and that I will not vote for, nor counsel others to
voto for any Roman Catholic, but will vote only for a Protestant;
that I will endeavor at all times to place political positions of this
government in the hands of Protestants. To, all of which I do
most solemnly promise and swear, so help me God. Amen.'
The oath of secrecy is as follows:
"I, , do most solemnly and sincerely promise, without any
mental reservation or evasion, that I will not reveal anything that
I have seen or heard to any person; that I will not disclose or in any
manner make known the name, person or individuality of any mem
ber of this order, either by word, sign or otherwise, whereby the
membership af this order may beeomo known to any person not a
member of the same, so help me God."
Thcro is said to be another oath as follows:
I, , do most solemnly promise and vow that I will always
deal justly with my fellow man; that I will measure out to him his
equal and just portion of that which belongs to him of right to de
mand of mo; that in the rotations of Iifo I will be just and eqmtable
us an employer or employo, or as a counsel, or as a judge, or as a
juryman, or in tho capacity of an arbitrator; in any and all of these
will I bo faithful and do and perform to tho utmost of my ability, so
help me most merciful Got, and may Ho measure out to mo as I do
to othors, with his keenest vengeance, should I knowingly or wit
tingly violate this, my solemn obligation. Amen.'
Candidates are reputed to enter the following obligation:
"That I will, with tho best or my ability, preserve tho purity of
the ballot at any and all elections; that I will discountenanco frauds
and impositions, by arts and tricks, upon tho people; that I will
maintain a rigid enforcement of the principles of honor and honesty
against political usurpation and oppression; that I will maintain
and defend the government of tho United States and tho govern
ment of the state in which I live against foreign invasion, against a
foreign foe, national or ecclesiastic, against rebellion, treason or tho
foes of good government; that I will forever renounce and abjure
any foreign power, king, prince, potentate or ecclesiastical power
whereby the samo may in any way conflict with my rights as a citi
zen of my rights of conscience, and, if. need be, I will take up arms
and, by opposing, end them. I futhermoro promise and swear I will
ever make it the aim of my life to keep tho church separate and
distinct from tho state. (Candidato repeats.) To all of which I do
most solemnly promise and Bvear, so help mo God. Amen."
Tho Milwaukee correspondent of tho Herald thus describes tho
Columbian league, an organization which it is alleged, is pledged to
counteract tho efforts of the A. P. A.:
"The Columbian League is an organization to combat the A. P.
A. It membership is composed almost entirely of Catholics,
although there are some Protestants in it. Its original intention
was to take no part in politics, but to disseminato Catholic truths
and to counteract the work the American Protective association was
doing in spreading falsehoods in regard to the Catholic church.
Nearly all of the Catholics of the city who were in any way identified
in politics republicans and'democrats joined the league. Richard
Burke is its guiding star. Fred Johnson, a republican, is its presi
dent. It has a branch in every Catholic parish in tho city, and
claims to have over ten thousand memliers. The politicans at
tempted to use the league for political purposes and have succeeded.
Tho republican party refused, in tho meeting of its committee on
resolutions at its late convention to pass a resolution on the A. P. A.
question which was dictated by the league. The democratic party
passed the resolutions, and allowed the Columbian league, which
declared for the democratic ticket, to virtually run its campaign.
The result, defeat."'
THE MISSIOiN OF A FLOWER.
A wild rose grew in the pasture. There was no one to admire itrf
beauty. The cows grazed near it, and even nipped its sisters. It
alone was left. In human eyes it was worthless; but God had given
it a grand mission. An awkward country boy walked through the
pasture. He plucked the rose and wore it. He gave it to a school
girl. She wore it. Because of this token a friendship arose between
them. Friendship ripened into love. Later, love led to marriage.
A son was born. He grew and became a man. The man became a
president. The president took up his pen and spoke liberty-to an
enslaved people. The same was Abraham Lincoln.
It was only a wild rose that grew unnoticed in the pasture. Yet,
its mission was the emancipation of a race. Waldo P. Warren in
the Omaha Excelsior.
The Famous now employ three head trimmers.
The confidence that people have in Ayer's Sarsaparilla as a blood
medicine is the legitimate and natural growth of many years. It
has been handed down from parent to child, and is the favorite
family medicine in thousands of households.
