Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-10-19
The Greater Includes the Less.

The impression that the A. ?. A. is
very recent organization is ERRONEOUS
1t existed twenty years ago in Massa-
chusetts, that hot-bed OF intolerant
persecution for opinions sake from
the earliest pages in the history OF our
Government. 1t was there the perse-
cution of the Quakers, the expulsion
OF Roger Williams and his followers,
the rigid ordinances against the adj
mission OF Catholics to the colony,
and the intensity of popular senti
ment against "heresy" and witch
craft" found expression in atrocities
that makes the blood boil with indig.
nation in the light of modern civiliza-
ton. In later days, after universal
acknowledgment of religious liberty as
the cornerstone OF our governmental
fabric, there has at times, cropped out
spirit from the old leaven. A quar-
ter OF a century ago, Boston elected
its mayor upon the issue of American
ism as embraced in the Krownothing
creed, a crusade against all men of
foreign birth. In 1858, this in toler.
pant organization was in the zenith
OF its temporary power. 1t was made
up mainly OF Wings and Freesoilers,
headed by Henry Wilson, N. P. Banks,
Arson Burlingame, and other shining
lights of the old Hamiltonian ele-
S>ent, which at the formation of the
government believed in a rule of " the
better classes" even though it involve
the substitution of a limited mon
archial for the absolutely free govern
ment contemplated by the signers OF
the Declaration OF Independence and
the heroes Of the war that had made
those principles possibility. 1t was
commended that the better class only
were qualified for self-government and
that to be "a foreigner, or a Catholic,
carried with it presumption OF igno-
rance. Then it was that churches
were looted, and Catholic laymen
were boycotted in business and social
life. The movement eliminated in
the election of Henry J. Gardner, as
Governor, in 1854, and with him leg
islature pledged to the prospective
principles then so prevalent. Gov.
Gardner filled the executive chair
until 1858 when Knownothingism gave
way to more tolerant policy, taught
by the more truly American States,
and the party became the nucleus of
the new Republican organization
which was then surging to the front.
The success of that party at the polls
in 1850, over divided adversary, pre-
cipitated the war, and the latent i'm
pulses OF the new organization were
kept in check for time, by the will
ing response of the Catholics and
foreigners to the call for soldiers in
the National armies.
Open religious prescription became
impossible under these conditions,
still the old spirit of resentment and
bigotry was kept in smoldering
flame to be resuscitated under new
name, but with all the malignity that
sent victims to the stake and animated
the early crusaders in convent burn
ing and church-razing enterprises. A
score OF years ago, however, steps were
taken for organization, but an oppor-
tunity for extending its spleen did not
occur until 1887, when society known
as the British.American Club afforded
the pretext for re-trimming the dark.
lanterns and keeping the blaze at full
glow. This organization was COM
posed largely Of native Englishmen,
Scotchmen and Canadians. The club,
In the year named, resolved to observe
the jubilee OF their Queen, Victoria of
England. Application was made for
the use Of Fanueil Hall for that cele-
bration, which was granted, and this
aroused a violent resentment and
riotous demonstrations on the part
OF some hot-headed Irish nationalist, |
who held that the ancient edifice had |
been consocrated to Liberty, and that
to Use it for a public celebration of
that character was dissertation of
sacred memories. This occurrence
led to the infusion of antagonistic
race distinctions, and the British
American clubs expanded its organiza-
ton. Thousands of its members took
out naturalization papers, and became
citizeus, TO make more effective their
bitter luminosity, and the political
campaigns rang with the cry, "Down
with the Catholics" They affiliated ]