Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-01
THE A. p. A.
A. sasssessien Dssesrsss { Ausr,ea, In.
stttutS0us.

pSW0tuOups
The following article from the pen
oil Secretary Of State w. II. Hinrich.
sen appeared In recent issue of the
Chicago Times, and should be read
oy every person IN the country:
The rapid rise and the increase in
the membership Of the so-callcd
American Protective association so.
cieties in this and other states is he.
ginning 70 attract considerable At
tcntiOn. II it were not for tho
serious consequences certain to
follow the spread of the prip.
cipies on which these organizations
are based, there would be sometime
almost co;nical in the thought of an
organization in free America, the oh.
iect OF which,is the restriction of the
rights of citizenship guaranteed by
the constitution to people belonging
to certain churches or born on Ger,
tain soil.
These societies are various in
name. and Their. are shades Of differ
zee in their Oh ecss. bt thew all
seem directed by one head. and. in
political mates at least. will act in
perfect harmony. To those on the
outside they are all known as the
"A. T.. A." these letters being the
initials Of the American Protective
association. probably the strongest
Of these bodies. There are in addj-
ton to these the Order Of Deputies.
the United Orangemen. the Order of
Junior Mechanics and other. al, more
or less strong in numbers a, d influ
cncc.
Each OF these societies is orpan-
lied for the purpose of proven ing
certain citizens of the United States
from holding Office. local. state or
national, and some Of th, m go So far
rs tn declare against these citizens
being allowed to vote. Some of these
societies confinc their opposition TO
members Of the Roman Catholic
church. Others include all foreign
born citizens. and others will not
vote for anyone not a member of
some Of the above mentioned .socic-
ties and :" on: hut all are working
in the same general direction. viz:
the restriction of The rights of citi-
zcnsbip to certain classes.
The rise of these orgai izations is
credited to various causes, two of
which seem the IN '>t probable. The
first OF these is political. 4 majority
81 our foreign-borh citizens and men,
bers Of the Roman Catholic church
are known to he democrats. and re-
publican politicians see an advan-
age to their party in trying to inc.te
the native and Protestant element
against them. Ii is n well known
fact that these societies are fostered
in every locality by the p.ominen:
republicans and bv the republican
organizations. while many of the
leading members of that party are
high in the councils of these socic-
ties. a notable case is that OF cx.
Lieut.. Gov. Ray. of Morris, who is a
republican leader in state politics
and a prominent member of the
American Protective association.
Encouraged by the &. Or.
While the republican party is GER
tainly encouraging the American
Protective association movement. il
is evident that an additional inau-
cncc II at work in producing las
sprt al and increase. That influence
H. foreign one and comes from the
tory party in England. II is -ener-
ally felt in England that the arita-
ton in favor OF home rule in Ireland
is liable to lead to an armed rupture
between the factions in those coun-
Tries. and it is thought that the Irish
Catholic influence in the United
States might bc sufficient to induce
the government TO take part in the
contest in favor of freedom for Ire
land. The anti-Catholic movement
here is. no dou5t. intended rs an Of
set TO that much-feared American in
iluencc in Irish affairs. and il is
asserted that the agents Of the Eng
fish party. well supplied with money.
are active in the organization of the
American Protective association So
cie;ics.
Whatever NAV he the influence
behind these societies. they are un-
democratic. un-American and dan
-cIous w Tue peace OF tne country.
The attempt to limit the privileges
"f citizenship 10 men protesting
certain religious faith is not only
violation OF the constitution. which
gives every man a right To worship
God according to the dictates of his
own conscience. but it is so unfair.
so dangerous in its tendency that no
true American. when viewing il
without prejudice and with a full
knowledge If its consequences. can
do otherwise than frown upon it.
The main body of the mem bcrship
of these organizations is made up Of
republicans who Join Mt the bidding
and through the representations Of
INSCRIPTIONS party leaders. The
republican members. by working on
the religious Prejudices Of their
Protestant neighbors. in
duce some Of them to join the organ
ization, and thus the society holds
the balance Of power between the
two great parties. balance which is
always thrown in favor of the repub-
lican candidate. The democrats are