The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-17
A Political Dilemma.

NEW YORK, October Sat a meeting
of the executive national republican
committee Chairman Manley submitted
long letter from Patrick Egan, dated
September 11th, bearing upon the Amer
lean Protective Association. After Civ
ing the purposes for which the Ameri-
can Protective Association was formed,
viz: to retard and break down the power
of the Pope, and also to oppose the Ro-
man Catholic candidates for public off,
ces. Mr.. Egan says
"The American Protective Associa-
ton entered upon campaign Of the
most deliberate, venomous and outrage
GUS Misrepresentation end SANDER
against the Roman Catholic church, its
rights, It's origin, its clergy, it's converts
and its members, and, above all, by at
tributing to the papal authority certain
politics Of this country which the Ameri-
can Roman Catholic hierarchy and the
lay members of the Roman Catholic
church would themselves be the very
first to rise up against and defeat.
"It Is attempting by stealth, 10y secret
delegations, and BY fallacious represen-
tation regarding its numerical strength
and influence, to intimidate and capture
weak-kneed politicians of all parties and
commit them to support the un-Chris-
tian and un-American objects of the or
der; and seeing that all present indica-
tions point in the direction Of republican
success, it is making special efforts to at
tach itself to the republican party that it
may be able to claim share in. Its pros
pective victories.
"The Roman Catholics, numbering Mt
present nearly one.fifth Of the population
of the United States, never have sought
and never will seek any advantage of
their fellow citizens. They never have
countenanced, and never will counte-
against any other section Of the people on
account of religious beliefs. They have
never sought in the past, nor will they
seek In the future. any more than
equity, to which, under the constitution
of their country, they are entitled.
"I feel confident chat the enlightened
sentiment of the American people can be
depended upon very soon to stamp out
the present obnoxious attempt 10 revive
among US the feuds and horrors of
nottingham Meantime, I feel
that we Catholic Republicans have the
right to expect from our leaders the as
surance that all attempts on the part of
those bigots and disturbers to exploit our
party will be strongly discountenanced,
and that no negotiations or alliances
will be entered into, or undertakings or
pledges be given to the so-callled Amer
lean Protective Association or to any kim
dred association"
The Herald adds: "The committeeman
were loath to say anything upon the SUBJ
iect after tho meeting, but it was gathered
that they thought it wise to take no action
in the m after, holding that they should
not touch upon question that had been
ignored by the State Convention: This
planl. was submitted to the committee on
platform at the convention.
"Resozved. That the republican party
stands, as it always did, in sympathy
with the largest liberty of religious
opinion and in favor of entire freedom,
standing on the ground of no religious
test.''
When the platform was submitted to
the convention the plank was not includ-
ed.