Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-03-03
The IA. P. A. and Archbishop Ireland.

At it annual state convention IN
Oshkosh last week, the A. p. A. or
ganization Of Wisconsin altered the
| following declaration of principles:
THE PLATFORM:
| Pirst--The question Of nationality or politl-
cal party sfilation shall not be entertained In
! connection with membership.
/ second-we shall not oppose any man on ae-
count Of hs religious views or mis- relations 10
any denomination 50 long as he does not make
said church relations a factor in politics.
! Third-We pledge ourselves to preserve the
constitutional liberty % the people OF these
| United States and their rights Hereunder es-
| pecially in the exercise Of free speech, a free
/ press, ana free conscience.
Fourth We accord TO all the right Of paren-
| tai control in the matter Of education. but are
/ in favor Of maintaining the principle of one
general upsectarian free school organization.
Fifth-we oppose all efforts on the part Of
any ecclesiastical or other power, either local
or national, to use the public funds for any sec
tartan purpose.
| sixth-We are IN favor OF taxation of the
church property Of all denominations.
seventh-We shall insist upon the changing
| Of our immigration laws 50 that they will pro-
| tect the American laborer against the reduc-
| ton Of wages below the equivalent rendered
therefor, by the cheap, pauper and criminal
| labor Of other countries.
Eiphth-we favor an education qualification
| for the elective franchise 20 the extent that
every voter be able 10 read his ballot
If this is correct statement of
the aims and purposes Of the order,
there would seem 10 be little about
it to warrant fear of its doing VIC.
leuce to the rights Of conscience or
citizenship.
Following these inofTensiye A. p.
A. declarations, comes the distinu-
i~hed Catholic Archbishop Ireland
with sermon at st. Paul last Sun
day, cnuuciating the duty Of churcb
and churchmen in relation to poll
ties, which if acted upon 10y Catho.
hcs will quickly eradicate all A. +.
A. sentiment from the American
mind. The Archbishop said:
The church had under the constitution all
the rights and privileges which she desired
The common liberty OF the country was hers
and that was all-suiiicient Some Catholics do
harm TO the Catholic church by their impru-
dent methods of defending her The opposi-
tiOn of an existing anti-Cathoc party today
would soon die out If it were not noticed
Catholic papers, in crying out so loudly against
it, give to IL importance and tire the country.
It looks as il Catholics were glad to have "a
fight on their hands. Politics have much TO do
no less with the defense than with the attack
and a supreme effort must be made by all Dc
voted Catholics to keep the church from en-
tangliug alliances with any political party.
Catholics individually are most free in their po-
ltca alliances bat they must not bring the
church with them TO this or tina: 'arty. when
American citizens vote, their , of decision
must be not the religion OF the candidate, but
his citizenship aud his personal fitness for Office.
To put q man In office because he is a Protest.
ant is wrong TO put "A man in Office because
hc is a Catholic isiwroug The constitution
which gives the suffrage does not consider ii
mans religion, but mans honesty and ability.
He deprecated the custom of some
Catholic papers TO boast when a
/ Catholic receives political houors,
and SAYS: "We should rejoice when
good man receives honor Protest
ants aud Catholics must all become