The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-24
A. 2. A. PRO AND CON
IgnatiuS DOnnelly and Prof. Sims
Talk for Three Hours.
An Orderly Meeting and a Good At
tendance-A Strong Defense of
Roman Catholics.

luI IoluS OF the american nag. The A. L.
A enthusiast was deprived of the right
10 charge contempt Of the national colors
10 the Roman Catholic Church on this oc-
casion, because Protestant and Roman
Catholic sat side by side under the Union
flags and streamers. The lavish decora-
tions of Tomlinson Hall for the State con-
vention were finished at an opportune time
and the joint debate between Walter Sims.
A p A organizer, and Ex-Governor Ig-
natius Donnelly, of Minnesota, was con-
Quoted in an atmosphere heavy with patri-
otic colors. Between twelve and fifteen
hundred people heard the discussion and
listened TO the sparring of the orators
The audience was composed chiefly of men,
although a considerable number of ladies
occupied the galleries. There was no mark
Of distinction that signaled out the A. p
a member from the Catholic, save. the
plaudit now and then voiced by cheer
from various parts of the hall, as one or
the other of the orators INDUCED in par
ticularly sharp retort or scored a point
that found sympathy with the faction for
which 1T was intended.
AT o'clock. Professor Sims, preceded
by his opponent, walked on the stage and
stood for an instant beneath the bright
festoon of colors artistically draped from
the ceiling. Both were heartily cheered
and took seats on opposite sides of the
stage. Professor Sims sat at table which
had been profusely decorated with the red,
white and blue. Over the table had been
thrown small blue banner bearing the
white letters, "a. p. A." Manager Briggs
who directed the debates. occupied posi-
tion between the speakers and announced
the time allotted to each in which to dis
cuss the merits of the subject. Professor
Sims was to deliver the first address, occu-
pying twenty-five minutes; Mr.. Donnelly
would follow with a forty-five minutes
talk and the discussion would again be
taken UP by his opponent, who would be
allowed fifty minutes. Mr.. Donnelly was
allowed twenty minutes in which to close
the debate. Manager Briggs felt that a
few timely remarks were necessary and
announced that between Mr. Donnelly and
Mr.. Sims there existed none but the warm
est friendship, hence, he hoped that the
audience would not allow its enthusiasm
or that no member would permit his emo
tions to get the better of him during the
discussion. The manager introduced Prof.
Sims, who to defend the principles OF
the American Protective Association.
throughout the course OF his remarks,
Professor Sims was repeatedly interrupted
-
interrupted by the other side In fact, the
entire discussion was marked by courteous
and dgnified attention on the part OF each
opposing side.
Professor Sims opened with the statement
that he would be compelled to say IN
twenty minutes what could hardly be said
, i'm a week; however he intended backing
up his statements with proof. he thought
the time had now come when nothing
should exist that would not bear lnVeSu-
CATION. The American Protective Associa-
tion he said, had come into existence ana
filled about the same bill as did the aDoil-
ton doctrine previous to the last conflict
Indications ali point to a coming struggle,
and he thought that it was not far on. In
this city there are hundreds of merchants
who would not be identified with a. Z.
A This means that there is a spirit OF
boycott The speaker contended that Ii
does not come from the flag or from the
people who honor it as the symbol Of Amer
lean principles.
He held that the Catholic Church in it's
ecclesiastical power interfereS with labor,
as exempified in the refusal a few days
ago of the Catholics at Omaha to strike
with their Protestant fellow-laborers. This
act, he said was at the direction of the
heads of the church. His contention was
that while the Catholic Church is the
enemy of Professionalism, she does not want
to be taken to task for Ii, but instead
Graves a monopoly in the power of persecu-
ton. The purpose of her teachings is 10
destroy American citizenship in her follow
ers he urged, and the ambition of the
papacy is to be a political power. The
church. he held, is the enemy of education
easily handled in ignorance, that they can
better be kept in the bonds of slavery.
Under her control there would be no safety
TO the stars and stripes, he thought.
NO FLAG IN THE CHURCH.
"Are you aware" he said, that the flag
is not permitted to go into the Catholic
church. and will not, either. until it is re-
modelled to conform with what the Pope
calls the true church. He has blessed all
other flags under the sun, but not ours. In
Bloomington, ILL.,, a few weeks ago, Bishop
Spaulding was escorted to the church by
one hundred armed Hibernians. The Vice
President of the United States sat in that
there"
The speaker diverged into political vein,
and casually remarked that he was a Dem
ocrat, but not of those with cross on
his back. THE Catholic Church" he con-
tinued, ''is siding over to the Republican
party because she thinks that the goose is
going to fall that way. You see she wants
to go with the goose"
The speaker admitted the right of the
Roman Catholics to worship according to
their own dictates, but he charged the
church with being an intolerant institution,
and said that il was the purpose of the "A.
L. A to administer to her freedom in doses
of a spoonful at time. In the meantime,
he said, the power of her hand to destroy
would be taken from her. He said: THE
A. p A. proposes TO bring the Catholics
into the cause of liberty; to let the church
enjoy glorious liberty without fear of
Delts IuOleSltu Dl the htlGl-
ring to the offlce-holding Catholics Prof.
Sims said that the n. p. a. could not give
its confidence to man who obligated him.
self 10 the Pope before his country. He be-
lieVed that the Pope would yet claim the
right TO cancel constitutions and treaties
SO that they would conform with the
Mr. Donnelly was introduced at $50
o'clock. He regretted that the debate was
a lop-sided affair, for the reason that Prof.
Sims, being an outspOken denouncer of the
church. ought TO be met by a clergyman.
II am not in that position" he said. land
am not member of any church. l am not
really the defender of the church. but am
simply here TO defend the opposition TO the
A. l.. a. L am inclined to take the part of
the under dog in the fight. About one-tenth
of the population of the United States Is
Catholic. Now / protest against nine men
jumping to one man. Ii is not right, IL
is not American What Is all this terror
that has come upon the American people? ?
Is il a fear that the one-tenth is going to
swallow up the nine-tenths? l tell you
that Ii is simly a bugbear of colossal pro-
portions-a bundle of old clothes a
stick. My friend says that the Catholics
are the enemies of the PrOtestants, and
that you should all join the A. p. \. Now
just reverse il and imagine the Catholics
setting up the same cry. Why, this is the
country of all people. This A =. \. or
ganization makes a man swear that he will
never give employment to a Catholic. Is
the Constitution that says no man shall be
questioned for his religion? Is this fair?
Is il right and is il thing that a great,
broad-brained man should be proud of?'
ROMAN CATHOLIC TOLERANCE.
The speaker portrayed in a pretty little
story the words of Christ. who said: "Suf-
ffttfa cFil1rau to coma mt, mo for