Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-18
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.
The National Camp of Sons Of America
Begins Its Annual Meeting.

| THE PRESIDENT IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS MAKES
SOME REFERENCES TO THE cRoNIS CASE AND THE
| cLAN-NA-aAEL-THE BODY WELCOMED BIZ COM
MISSIONER DoUaLAss-A SECRET SESSION.
More than a hundred men and about half
dozen ladies sat in Elks' hall this morning and
interested themselves in the opening ceremo-
MES OF the National camp, Patriotic Order
Sons OF America. The ordinarily cheerful
appearing room was brighter than usual The
national colors were everywhere-draped be-
hind the presidents chair, twisted around the
pillars, and concealing the solid material of the
altar In the center of the hall and the stations
OF the various officers. With but one or two
exceptions every man wore the full regalia of
the order-a broad plush sash over the right
shoulder, in which the red, white. and blue
were prominent, although gold and silver laces,
bralds, and fringes were also conspicuous.
1t was after 1880 when the national presi-
dent-Geo. p: Smith-called the camp to order
and requested those present to arise and repeat
| after National Chaplain Rev. j. II. Phillips the
| words of the Lords Prayer.
COMMISSIONERS DOUGLASS WELCOME.
Mr.. @. W. Spofford then introduced Com
missioner Douglass, who was greeted with pro-
longed applause. Mr.. Douglass bowed to the
gentlemen, smiled at the ladies and then said
that the people of the District of Columbia
always gave hearty welcome to the citizens of
all states and territories. He comphmented
the order and said that there was no more ex-
allied definition Of the term citizen than could
be found in the words American" and ..pa-
| triot" He referred to the brotherhood of
man as exhibited in Johnstown, and said that
the flow of charity..which followed that disaster
was broader and deeper than the devouring
| food. The Commissioner concluded by ex-
pressing the hope that the deliberations of this
national camp of the Patriotic Order Sons of
America would result in an improved Ameri-
can citizenship, and, believing that they would,
he welcomed the representatives of the order
| to the city of Washington.
Delegate Jas. r. kennev, mayor of Reading
Pa, replied on behalf of the camp. He said he
found it difficult to make proper response to a
welcome which was bigger than the man who
enough" The welcome was appreciated.
Every member of the Patriotic Order Sons of
America would take all he could get Tlaughterl
-legitimately. The work of the order and its
growth, especially in the south, was touched
upon, and the speaker closed with an eulogium
OF the city and the nation, which was loudly
aPPlauded.
The District observation-disclosures, A. G. Hawley.
OF Michigan, then stepped upon the platform
and, with few complimentary remarks, pre-
scented to President Smith a past-president's
gold badge, subscribed for by the members of
the order in Illinois.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
For this brief thanks were returned and
President Smith read his annual address, the
first portion of which was devoted to an ex-
haustive review of the nations progress dur
ing the century which has Just closed Refer
ring to the growth of the organization he said:
Our order is now in a furnishing condition
Since our meeting in Reading last June we
have been steadily increasing in numbers, in
influence, and in Importance. During the past
year, under the jurisdiction of the national
camp there have been instituted thirty-five
subordinate camps, four state camps and seven
teen Communicates To our galaxy of states
and territories we have added Michigan, Ken
lucky, Wisconsin and Texas. In Massachusetts
We have seen the order grow from three to
eight camps. with state camp and command
cry. In Michigan there are four good, healthy
camps, and instead of one camp in the state of
Louisiana, we have now eleven, with a state
camp and commandery. Instead of one weak
camp in the state of New York there are now
four, while New Jersey has again become
strong enough to have state camp"
Reference was made to the public school
system, and the order was asked to continue to
labor for the good of the public school and the
confusion of its enemies.
CRoNIN, CLAN-NA-GAEL AND DYNAMITE.
The subject of organization was then dis
cussed, as follows: "Now, brethren, the ques-
ton comes up as to what we can do to hasten
the day when we shall become thoroughly Or
ganlZed A few more Haymarket riots and
Cronln murders, instigated by organized
bodies OF foreigners who have been permitted
to become citizens of this free America, and
who have shown their gratitude by sending
messengers. loaded with dynamite back to
their native country for the purpose of destroy
ing innocent women and children. and who
have foully murdered their members when
they failed to carry out their hellish plans, and
WI ha in nr1rt
posts and telegraph and telephone poles enough
to hang the miscreants. Prolonged applause
| ask yOu is there room enough in this country
for societies like the Clan-na- Gael that are not
in harmony with and are injurious to American
institutions that are dangerous to American
order disloyal to American government, de-
structlye to American principles; repugnant to
American ideas and disgusting to all Americans
who have any sense of justice, any regard for
consistency, and any respect for the sanctity
OF human life? Have We room for societies
whose officers contract with men to commit
wholesale murder and then starve and betray
their tools that they themselves NAV have the
more money to spend for their own personal
benefit? The time has come for us to be
aggressive and to carry the war into the
enemy's camp, and believe the sooner we do
SO the sooner we will cease to have natiye-born
Americans ashamed to acknowledge their birth
right. The condition of the public opinion of
the whole country favors such a policy and |
arrived for us to be active in this matter?
THE FOREIGN POPULATION.
"The census of 1880 shows the number of
foreigners and their children in the United
States as $4,000, 900 in round numbers, to which
have been added since that time about $780,
900 more, making about one-third of our en-
tire population. Assimilation of such vast
mass of heterogeneous humanity is a physi-
cal and moral impossibility. With them have
come the lame, the blind, the insane, and the
criminal: the disaffected and unthrfty to fill
our prisons and charitable institutions to
block the wheels of our Judicial system and to
make us nation of enforced alms-givers.
With them have come also many who prefer
debauchery to sobriety, idleness to labor crime
to poverty, ignorance to intelligence and
superstition to virtue. Alien flags and foreign
emblems float from our public buildings, en-
blazon our streets, and head professions of the
people. We are cursed with all kinds of
foreign, n-American issues. Vast un-Ameri-
can organizations are held together by
foreign Issues of birth for the pur-
pose of perpetuating foreign sentiments
and corrupting the ideals of our fathers An
archy and the destruction of all law are openly
advocated, and the right to enforce discipline
and the principles of some of these orders is
claimed by secret conclaves even to the extent
of the taking of human life"
The Chinese restriction law was ndorsed by
President Smith, who concluded his references