The record-union., 1894-05-07
Principles of the American Pro-
tectiye Association.
LOYALTY TO TRUE AMERIGANISM
THE FIRST REQUISITE
Seven Years should Elapse Between
an Aliens Declaration of Intention
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Free Public Schools the Bulwarlz
of American observation-disclosures
For Immigration.
Special to the REcoRD-Us1oS.

Special to the REcoRD-UsSIoN.
DEs MONIES, May 6.-The Supreme
Council of the American Protective As
sociation completed its labors here last
night, after four days session. The
most important work was the preparation
Of the declaration of principles for the
order. The statement that Supreme
President Traynor had recommended
ewenty-one years. residence for naturali-
cation was an error. His recommended
tion was ten years, and the Supreme
Council finally decided that seven years
should elapse between an aliens declara-
tion of intention and naturalization. The
council passed a resolution asking that
this correction be made by the press.
The declaration of principles is as fol-
lows:
l. Loyalty to true Americanism. which
knows neither birthplace, race, creed nor
party, is the first requisite for member
ship.
2. The association is not political
party and does not control the polltlcal
utilization of its members, but IL teaches
them to be intensely active IN the dis
charge of their political duties in or out
of party lines, because it believes that all
problems confronting our people Will be
best solved by conscientious dlscnarge
of the duties of citizenship by every
individual.
3. While tolerant of all creeds. it holds
that subiection to and support of any
ecclesiastical power not created and con-
trolIed by American citizens and which
claims equal ii not greater sovereignty
than the Government of the United States
ofAmerica, is irreconcilable with citizen
ship. 1t is therefore opposed to the mold
ing of Office in the national or municipal
government by any subject or supporter
of such ecclesiastical power.
4. We uphold the Constitution of the
United States of America. and no portion
more than its guarantee of religious lib
erty to the Individual, which does not
mean that under its protection any un-
American ecclesiastical power can claim
absolute control over the education of
children growing up under the stars and
stripes.
5. We consider the non-sectarian free
public school the bulwark of American
iustitutions-the best place for the educa-
ton of American children. To keep them
such, we protest against the employment
OF subjects of any un-American ecclesl-
astic powers as officers or teachers OF the
public schools.
q. We condemn the support out of the
public treasury, by direct appropriation
or by contract, of any sectarian school, re-
formatory or other Institution not owned
and controlled by public authority.
Z. Believing that exemption from tax
alton is equal to grant of public land or
grant of public funds we demand that no
real or personal property be exempted
from taxation, the title to which is not
vested in the national or State Govern
ments, or in any of their Su subdivisions.
s. We protest against the enlistment in
the United States army or navy, or the
militia of any State, of any person not an
actual citizen of the United States.
8. We demand for the protection of our
citizen laborers the prohibition of the inn
portation of pauper labor and the restrict
ions of ali immigration to persons who can
show their ability and honest intention
TO become self-supporting American citi-
Zens.
10. We demand the change of the natu-
raliZation laws by repeal of the Act au-
thorizing the naturalization of minors
without previous declaration of inten-
ton, and by providing that no aliens
shall be naturaliZed or permitted to vote
in any State of the Union, who cannot
speak the language of the land and who
cannot prove seven years continuous resi-
denee in this country, from the date of
his declaration of intention.
IL. We protest against the gross negli-
gence and laxity with which the judiciary
of our land administer the present natu-
raiiZation laws, and against the practice
of naturalizing aliens at the expense of
committees and candidates, as the most
prolific source of the present prostitution
of American citizenship to the basest
uses.
II. We demand that all hospitals, asy-
lums. reformatorieS or other institutions
in which people are under restraint be at
all times subject to public inspection,
whether they are maintained by the Re-
public or by private corporations or in
dividuals.
13. We demand that all National or
State legislation affecting financial, COM
mercial or industrial interests be general
in character, and in no instance in favor
of any one section of the country or any
class OF people.
The council tabled every motion at
tempting to commit the order to any dis
tinct line of policy on the money, labor,
suffrage, temperance or other party ques-
tons, and also adopted resolution de-
claring that no committee or other author
ity in the order could bind the members
to any political action beyond their mega
tive obligation.
The council approved of the draft of
bill for the suppression of immigration,
which may be sent to Congress for legis-
lation, subjecting converts and similar
institutions to public inspection. 1t was
resolved that Washington, d. c., be the
meeting place after 1896, and that all
meetings be held with open doors, the
public 10 be invited to witness and listen
10 all resolutions.