The Portland daily press., 1894-02-24
AN ERROR coRREcT TED.
The League for the Protection of AmerF
can Institutions Not the A. p A. or
American Protective Association.

To the Editor Of the Press:
In common I suppose with others l
was recently the recipient through the
mails of a pamphlet which from the
grave error therin either ignorantly OF
maliciously offered the to public, is oe-
signed to do much HARM.
The title and opening paragraphs OIL
the pamphlet of sixteen pages are as fol-
lows: .A.P. A. An inquiry into the
objects and purposes of the so-caliea
American Protective Association"
1.-THE national headquarters of this
association are in the Metropolitan Life
Insurance building, in New York CITY,
and the national board of managers con-
sisted, November 10Th, 1898, of Messrs.
John Jay. William F.Morgan, Churchlll
Cutting, James M. King, Josiah Strong,
W. w. Hoppin and T. J. Morgan.- The
press telegram, which announced the
general A. PA. board meeting gave also
statement of principles of the order,
presum ably on the authority of some one
at headquarters. Thus they were stated;
ssThe objects of the A. P. A. are to
secure constitutional and legislative
safeguards for the protection OF common
schools and other American institutions,
and to promote public instruction III
harmony with such institutions; also to
prevent all sectarian or denomlnatlonal
appropriations of public funds
IF full, free and open discussion OF
topics such as those above mentioned as
objects were the real purpose of the or
ganization but little fault could be
found. This association. as exposed by
the St. Paul Globe and the Chicago
Herald. however, ohligeS its mem Der TO
take an il on bound religious and politi-
cal oath in his initiation which suggests
considerations not suggested In the
avowed objects
The error of all this is that the author
either ignorantly or for reasons OF his
own has confounded Two entirely distinct
organizations, viz: The National League
for the Protection of American Instlru-
tions. and the secret organization or or
der known as the A. f. A., or American
Protective Association.
The place of national headquarters,
the honored names OF the national board
of managers, <and the country could not
easily furnish list of seven names more
honorable) and the statement of objects,
all belong to the League for PAL,
rather than the A.P. A.
The author of the pamphlet well
acknowledges that If full, free and
open discussion of topics such as those
mentioned as these objects, were the
real purpose of the organization, hut
little fault could be found, ubut he turns
at once to what he claims to know of
the secret oaths, objects and purposes OF
the A.P A., devoting the remaining
fifteen pages TO an exposition and enun-
citation of this latter organization.
In all this he believes or would have
his readers believe that he is dealing
with single organization, while the
fact is that these organizations with
their somewhat similar titles, are entire
ly distinct in origin and aims as well as
membership and methods.
The League is not in any sense
secret, political or religious organization.
It's ranks are open to all OF Whatever
political or religious affiliations II only
men are ready to work for these objects
publicly presented with it's statement. OF
principles.
The annual meeting of the Maine
branch of the League was publicly held
a few weeks ago in this city. and its
proceedings presented in the morning
papers The Leage in Portland it hard
IL need be said, includes such names as
Mark P Emery, George S. Hunt, James
Strout, J.W Symonds, C.F Libby, Rev.
DR.. Blanchard, Rev. DR.. Merrill, Rev.
Matt S. Hughes, Rev. George d. Lindsay
and several hundreds of other citizens of
all shades of political and religious
faith. F.A
has little reliabl Knowledge. and would
by this writing seek only to. make it
clear that there is no bond between it
and this other body with which it has
been COMPOUNDED. The pamphlet which
we are considering denounces it as
"secret and oath bound" but strange to
note the author carefully suppresses any
clue to his own identity or the source OF
his pamphlet. Its pages contain neither
name nor residence of the author, not
even the publishers imprint. tits signed
can American but sad to say that
honored title like charity has come to
cover multitude of sins.
Yours for American Institutions,
E. M. COUSINS.
Portland. February %, 1894