The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-07-13
Is there an excuse for the A. p. 4!

reply, 1T Is well considered that those
who write in secrecy and concealment
are either ashamed or afraid of their
matter, and the two articles which an
peared in last weeks Tribune are ant
examples. Some men may object to
being classified among Equal right S
ancestors of the monkey tribe and it is
doubtless for fear of personal objections
on their part that he shielded himself
behind nom de plume. Observation
may be made if its allegations have
any truth whatever: its author was
IN congenial company with one who
assumed the obligations of an oath for
the purpose of betrayal The second
article would have been properly signed
had its writer shown disposition to
avoid fallacy and untruth.
History forbids Catholicism, oranv OF
Its defenders, from charging intolerance
on its opponents. Were intolerance
present in the A. Z. \. movement. it
could be we'll defended upon the prin-
ciple of fighting fire with fire. But no
intolerance presents itself in the move
ment, and its facing against Catholism
is not against the religious features of
that institution, but against the polit-
lcal features of some of its leaders,
which present themselves as public
evils. As among some some other
classes q few persons gain wealth and
influence, generally at the expense of
their more generous brethren, or
those blinded to the base uses to which
they are put, and they become the
d-politicians or heelers of ring.
And rarely is this influence exerted
for honorable or praiseworthy purposes,
but always for the individual agrand-
izement of the leaders, in which the
rank and file rarely participate, except
intrifiing rewards for their services.
That this is the evolution of the A.
P. A. movement is as true as that
effect follows cause. A glance at this
county shows the above expressed evil,
the same evil exists in nearly every
community-where it does not exist
there is no A. P. A. movement.
The A. P. A. will die out as the
KnOw-nothing movement died out,
called forth by the intolerable pressure
of public evil,-it repressed the evil
and having performed its work ceased
to exist. This movement will also
thoroughly purify the political atmos
phere, and having done SO, will pass
away.
But with the efflux of time the peo
pie will become again careless, the
scotched evil will again flourish in
noxious luxuriance and when it again
becomes absolutely necessary that it
should be repressed some new move
ment will come into action.
The constitutional features of the
article are too ludicrous for serious re-
ply. 1t seems to be assumed that
there is some breach of Constitutional
right in resolve not to vote for a
certain class of persons. The Ameri-
can people have always reserved the
right of voting for whom they pleas
ed. and it is expressed in their consti-
! tutions. Whatever manner they
please to conform to in determ ining
to whom they shall give their suffrage,
is a matter of their own choice. In
all cases they act intelligently and
no bonds can be placed on the ex-
ercise by them of that privilege. But
did the constitution forbid them from
determining to not vote for certain
persons or certain elements, there is a
higher power even than the cOnstitu-
ton: The safety OF the public is the
highest law, and when citizens deem
that safety imperilled, they will adopt
the necessary measures of protection.
The A. ?. A. is organized in the in
terest of good government; it is dead
fn viz, a
It might be we'll, perhaps, to COM
ment upon the use of terms by the
writers of these articles, the freedom
with which epithets Of derision and
hatred are banded betrays the sources
from which they come; it is refresh
ing and perhaps amusing, to receive
lectures on tolerance, virtue, truth,
Justice, honesty, etc, from the local
ring and it's satellites.
Tn the sweet bye and bye,
when memory has utterly faded out,
Il NAV he imagined by some reader,
that the writers OF those articles un-
derstood those terms, and were not
iuegling with words. If Equal Rights
and Fair play wish to discuss the merits
or dement's of the A. P. A. through
medium of the press, will sign their
4 own names and treat their opponents
with respect, there are many better
qualified than the writer of this who
will be glad to answer them.
MARK E. AYERS.