The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04
A. p. A. KNowNoTHINGIsM.

Although the A. P. A processes to pay
no attention to nationality its principles
are squarely against all foreigners, as
will be seen from these declarations of
principle taken from the A. p. A. organ:
We believe there should be an educa-
tional qualification to the elective fran
chise that will require every American
citizen to be Americanized.
Extension of time for naturalization.
American lands for American settlers.
No foreigners given employment unless
naturalized American citizens.
The necessary effect of these principles,
If carried into action, would be to pre-
vent any foreigner from coming to this
country. If you extend the time for
naturalization and require a foreigner
to be "Americanized" before he has any
rights, he would have to stay here a
number of years before he could be an
American citizen. If during that time
he is refused all employment, and not
permitted to settle on our vacant lands,
he will be unable to stay here unless he
is able to live on his income. 1t is evil
dent that no foreigners could come to
this country under such a system, and
the thousands of people who are desir-
Gus Of bringing their friends and rela-
tives here to escape the tyranny of Eu-
rope would have to abandon their hopes.
There is another point In these declara-
They demand an educational qualifca-
ton" that will Americanize-that is to
say, the education must be in the English
language. This principle of the order is
further shown from another declaration
in this same paper:
me defeated the Bennett law in
Wisconsin. This law said a child shall
go to school twelve weeks each year
till fourteen years of age, and that five
branches in the English language shall
be taught in every public school.
This law is well known to people here.
It was not directed merely against cath
olics. for It applied to all private schools.
1t was not directed against the Irish,
for they use the English language. 1t
was directed against the Germans,
Swedes, Danes and Norwegians who de-
sired to have their children taught their
own language and were willing to sup
port private schools in which they might
be taught This law required that their
children should be sent to schools where
English is taught, and against this OPP
preston they rebelled and left the repub-
lican party, which passed this. law. In
Illinois the same thing was done, until
the democratic party rescued these peo-
pie from republican oppression That
it is the intention of the A. P. A to
bring the same laws into effect here is
plainly seen from their declarations:
8. We are in favor. of maintaining the
principle Of ONE general, unsectarian
free school organization and will oppose
all attempts to supplant it by any sec
tartan Institution.
II. The opening of private and pa
rochial schools, converts and monasteries
to public official inspection, and placed
on the same plane of morality and law
as protestant institutions are.
1t would be unfortunate, indeed. If
these pernicious principles were to get
a foothold in Indiana, and so long as the
democratic party is in power there is
no danger of it. The democratic party
crushed acknowledgment forty years ago.
and it can do it now If those who are
opposed to interference with the rights
of conscience will stand by it.