The New York herald., 1875-12-14
FOSTERS BUGABOO.
How Much lie Knows About the Great Anti
Catholic League.
U. 0. A. NJ. NOT THE BODY.
The Real Organization Not Def
nitely Pointed Out.


with the reported Anti-Cathollc Grant Republican
League, whose existence was first announced by let
published his signature In reference 70 that
letter Mr. Foster said The letter published s with
the exception OF few unimportant errors and omis
sons, the one which sent to Mr.. Blaine IL is fact
well known here in Newark, that the sectarian
organization known by the Of the United Order
Of American Mechanics exist II ls hardly fair
call the Society anti Catholic any than anti
Methodist the truth being that the association claims
TO be thoroughly unsectarian. II is perhaps that
the Roman Catholics, moro than any other denomna-
tion would be opposed to the United Order
OF American Mechanics, on account OF tho
Romanists being inclined than any other church
to set up preensions for separate appropriation from
the school fund.- to be used to advance their plans
of denominatonal education. Two years ago bill
introduced into the New Jersey Legislature for the pur
pose Of authorizing Catholic protectorate the
persons Of Catholic vagrant children This intended
enactment as laid before the House. presented
tho undouUted aspect or sectarian measure,
and 1t was therefore defeated In the Assembly
The matter up again last year for discussion and
1t finally passed the House, after occasionng good
deal OF comment as we'll as some excitement in poll
tcal circles; but it defeated in the Senate and
failed to become law. 1t Is proper 10
state hero that, after the projected law
had missed fro the first year in the
House, Mr.. John McHenry, Of Jersey City,
who President of the Young Mems Catholic Union
there issued circular behalf OF the organization
over which he presded-which he had perfect right
do-askng his co-relgionsts vote for and support
only such candidates for public office
might show themselves fayorably inclined toward
CATHOLIC BILL
Not only the bill ITSELF but also Mr. McHenrys circular
attracted much attention that the Methodist Con-
the State Legislature reject the projected law. AS
may readily be conceived the matter caused
EXCITEMENT
both in and out OF the Legislature The leader or the
opposition the Catholic Protectorate bill in the SEN
ate was Mr., William II. Kirk, OF Newark, and his
decided attitude elected much approval that no
enthusiastically serenated by the secret society co.
o. A NJ That society Is an old association whose
istence dates back some thirty thirty-nv years
Here Mr.. Foster said that he remembered having
a copy OF the socety's constitution and bylawa He
could not remember the separate articles, but
would say that all religious discussion is
cuded from the councils of tho u o. A. n
When occasion requires the members In their
individual capacities at liberty to express
their personal views and to act up to their
vctions in religious matters. The constitution OF the
order is charitable and benevolent Tho society
assists poor and destitute members, bures the dead
aids INDECENT widows and orphans, and the brothers
bound to help another in business The entire
body is divided into councils which may be lkencd
to clubs or lodges Each OF these sections sends
representative TO M..
STATE COUNCIL
al am not a members said Mr. Foster sand only
speak from hearsay. but what Ne considered
very good autnority-that is, the word Of
whose name ! not at liberty to stale; one who
Is known to be well up in the order. "
In letter published last night in the Newark Epen-
ing Courier, his signature Mr.. Foster says
have been told and believe that this order stimu-
lated by the nsolent attempts Of the Romanists in
New Jersey, Ohio aud elsewhere to
public reformatores, established and maintained
by the public funds into sectarian insti-
tutions with affairs, coniessionals and masses,
has within year Two past grown rapidly ps member
ship and is still growing in numbers and influence
Why should the statement OF these facts provoke such
q tremendous outburst OF horror from the democratic
newspapers? Have they not persisted for months
this sortf Did they not believe their own
declarations when they made themf But my letter
did not state and il is not true that this order Tex
lists within the republican party is in any way
in any degree controlled by republican politicians"
II is composed understand IT. OF both republicans
democrats and men Of all religious beliefs, whose
common bond OF union is the determination TO pre-
serve institutions from sectarian domination and
especially repel all upon the educational
system which is the only sure source OF pure and
| lghtened government
| Afor having shown this letter to the writer Mr.
| Foster was understood say that it Is the common
\ beliefin New Jersey that the O. O. A. NJ. had good
dea to do with bringing about such unlocked for
suits as were the September elections New
Jersey. ANY part which the society may have played
in the elections cannot be proved home. "By putting
| your hand on
| THE LITTLE JOKER;
STILL he is around" There appears to be no connection
all between the order and the extinct Know Nothing
party which latter organization put together for
the purpose of catching the rabble When the
Catholics began to agitate their protective
measure and 10 talk about a separate school
appropriation the New Jersey Legislature was
composed (in iS7G Of forty-one democrats
public feeling which was brought out last fall COM
pleely turned the tables the democratic supporters
! OF Catholic pretensons by returning thrty.one re-
pubcans and twcnty-one democrats And this, too
a time when there was no national issue before the
| people beyond what was involved the questioz OF
denomnationalism The strength Qf the IpItS1 Order
OF American Mechanics is moi exactly FhSTk, S6I ii is
acknowledged all hands that OF late the councils
member Mr. Foster could not positively that
society Is secret, oath. bound association but he
afintes antpathes entertained by the association
! TIE organization in New York is largely made up OF
! men srom both political parties who are opposed 10 the
ntroduc&o on oi TeHBous questions lnbo pohca discus
The publlcaror OF the letter which Is sposen Of
above greatly anndyse ITS author but he accepts ING
Mr. Blaine rs not a member OF thc U. o. A. NJ. any
other secret oath bound society OF this kind The en-
speaker was not aware OF tne fAisteuCe o huCu ira
ternity until the letter reached him. Mr. Foster was
told by representative man. who is said to be well up
IN the National Council OF u o. A. ~, that
GENERAL GRANT rs AN ACTIVE NkMBBR
In the order Foster could not say how cUg the Pres
dent has been working member Grant fesided az
last summer in New Jersey and may there have Joined
the society. Mr. Foster could not say that the bulk
OF the members Of the u o. A. N. belong TO any par.
ticuar denomination A Catholic join the OTgani-
Zation II he pleases, but he does not know Of
Who Is a member Of it. he does not know II adopted
citizens are eligible to membership out does know tha!
person OF any religious belief can join Upon the
whole, he thinks that man must be native and to
the manner brought into this breathing worldn
under the folds Of the American Gag before he
be admitted into tile councils Of the
y 4. o. A. NJ This at once, any sensible man would
say classes the among the native American
fraternties which went to make up the Know Nothing
party. But IL is now claimed-sO says Mr.. Foster
4 that the order is not compromised act with any
party; no also believes thai there remotest
7 CLEAN of d speck in II.
! AS far New Jersey concerned that State Will