The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-16
He DENOUNCED The A.P. A.
Address of Attorney j. d. Regan BE
fore Irish American Societies.
SAYS 1T Is NOT PATRIOTIC
Refers 10 the Distinguished services
That Irishmeu Have Rendered This
Country and Urges His Hearers TO
Resist Effort 10 Persecu.e Them

i'm it's history dates nom last evening
meeting. Though i'm existence for up
wards of two years 1t has passed along
in a struggling fashion with slim
attendance at the monthly meetings.
But under the direction of few ac-
tive and energetic men fresh stimulus
has been administered In the shape of
q revised constitution and bylaws and
more accurate and eXacting set OF
business rules. The session last eve
ming was the first one held under the
new system, and attention was care
fully held from opening until the close
in the transaction of the meeting.
The two things which are OF public
interest are, paper on the American
Protective Association. read by Attor-
ney ]. d, Regan. and the election Of
officers.
After a few introductory remarks Mr.
RoGan began his paper by quoting
extracts from the writings of George
d. Prentice, in which the patriot
ism, loyalty courage. learning, brav-
cry. and other leading virtues OF
the Irish people We're commended
very highly. The Irish have been
notably prominent. said Mr. Regan.
still quoting Prentice. In the halls of
statesmanship and of science, and the
Green Isle has given more to the world
OF such men than any other nation of
its standing in the world.
peculiari,ies of the Ceit.
He said. when an Irishman comes to
America and Is natur3liZed as a citizen,
ne consecrates himself to his adopted
nation. In this country and in his ma
tive land, the Celt has never manifested
bigotry. In the county of Cork, where
the preponderating majority OF the yot-
ers are Catholics. it can be remarked
that large snare of the political Off
ces go to Protestants.
This Is the case all over Ireland ex-
cept in Belfast, where the Oranpeman
has the virulent instincts of ,..e A. p
A, and no Catholic can get an office.
because the Orangemen are in the as
cendancy. The speaker drifted from the
Irish in Ireland to the Irish in America
and asked: How long has the A. p. A.
worshlpped God? The Irishman has
done that over l,l00 years, but the fun
gus "A. =. A, which is but a growth OF
yesterday. arrogates to control the con-
science and the liberty Of the Irish.
Who, he asked. has a better right n
this land than the Celt. When patriot
ism was needed the irish were to the
front Sullivan captured Fort Winlam
and Mary, and O'Brien proved equally
as salient in the Massachusetts harbor.
And during the Revolutionary War the
Irish entered the army in such large
numbers that the English generals in
making out their reports had to say
that over half of the enemy was made
up of men of Celtic blood. How well
they fought is attested by their thinned
ranks after having achieved brilliant
and substantial victories.
ley should Take Firm stand.
Where, asked Mr.. Regan, was the A.
p a. then, this organization Of recent
uprising, the aim and object of which
are inimical to the laws of God and the
nation, and in direct violation of the
latter which pledges to all who seek the
shores of this land OF freedom the in
alienable right to worship God accord
ing to the dictates Of their own con-
science?
The speaker here urged upon all mis-
fellow Irishmen to take firm stand
AGAINST the poisonous invidious aggres-
sions Of this covert enemy Submission
fails to be q virtue. he said. when re-
sistance is q duty. He said the irish
have come here from persecution ana IL
is time to take q firm stand against foes
from within in this noble land OF free-
dom.
Mr.. Regan turned to { narration of
ence. Orangennen having established
lodges in Canada, next came across the
border and infested the city OF Detroit
and there they established themselves.
A man named Trainor came over here
to tell about how the Roman Cathonc
church antagoniZes American liberty
and American institutions. Trainors
advice was to drive the Catholics from
the privilege OF educating their chill
dren in any schools but those approved
by the American Protective Association.
and to deprive their fathers of labor
and expel them from the country.
These are the safeguards Trainor
would throw around the cradle of
American liberty to preserve 1t from
what he termed the Vaccinations Of
the Roman pontif.
II Was the Centre of Education.
How dare any man. said Mr.. Regan.
be he in this country for centuries or
day. dictate in what way a father shall
educate his child. In the sixth century
when the Goths, the Huns. and the
vandals were devastating Europe. the
Irish people, alone. preserved learning
and went to all parts of the world to
disseminate 1t. so that Ireland became
the center of education.
| In those carly ages there were at
tempts made without number by tribes
that settled in ireland. of whom Mr..
Regan thought the American Protec-
tive associations are the nneal descen-
dants, to stife learning and to destroy
and raze the colleges and schools. They
also strove TO exterminate the people
by expatriatIon and through despotic
sway. Now this American Protective
association has come to save the nation
from the Catholics. Mr.. Regan cited
the names Of Sheridan. Corcoran and
Meagher as men whose services In the
| cause of the nation needs no eulOgy.
The American Protective Association
will talk about preserving the nation,
when in time Of peace. but as history
shows, when true patriotism Is required
ON the field Of battle. he is not to be
found. The paper had several referen-
cpe IN the text books and literature