The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-20
THE a. 2. A. AND IT'S AIMS.
II Its Principles Are What II Claims,
Why Secrecy
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
The Record is in receipt of a number of
letters more or less denunciatory of its po-
sition In regard to the Americas Protective
Association. One writer is exceedingly in
dignant over the Disagreement of the claim
of this organization to a membership of
nearly four millions; another denies that the
association proscribes any citizen on account
of his religion; and still another claims that
the feature of secrecy is no different from
that of the family or of an army which care
fully conceals from the. enemy its plan Of
campaign.
AS to the claim of numbers. the conven-
ton of the American Protective Assoca-
ton which met in Washington last week in
secret session contained, according to the
statements Of newspaper correspondents
about $50 delegates, each delegate represent
ing two thousand members. Putting the
number of delegates at two hundred. this
would represent total membership OF four
hundred thousand-or a little more than 10
per cent. of the actual claim. In 1892 the
total number Of votes cast for President
was 12.o34,s5s. 1t is gross absurdity to
pretend that the A. p. A. has gathered into
its secret lodges one-third Of the entire num-
Der Of voters in the United States But Il
is Just as easy for a secret organization TO
make a claim of four millions as four thou
sand. The exaggerated boast of numbers is
to give this underground association an i'm
portance and prestige TO which it has no
title. -.
in war with each other the comparison of
the secrecy OF the A. p A. to that OF an
army and its plan OF campaign might have
some weight and relevancy But the COM
par.son is most unfortunate, and springs
from notion that Is totally at variance
with the true conception of the principles OF
free state. A fundamental principle OF
free government Is free and open discussion.
Without the free discussion Of measures and
candidates free government e could a1,ns not Of
citizens meet together in the dark, under
oath, and forge plans to enforce their will
Indirectly and stealthily upon the public,
they are violating. an essential principle OF
free government. No matter what aims they
may profess or what reforms they may
It's very nature political conspiracy. Ii is
fair to assume that many men who have
been preudce have the not duly aeSed
the sinister import of such an organization.
But the fact that the vast body of the Amer
| opinions and creeds. do understand the char
| that the A. p. a. is not now, and never can
become great political party, nor even an
| important political factor in this country.
| What are the principles Of the A +. A
hsh require 5hs srea5 Ss q secret organ
| the ritual of the organization. these princi-
pies are: First the restriction OF immsgra-
| ton in such a way as to prevent the land
| ing of criminals. pauDers and anarchists:
| second. the extension Of the term for the
! naturalization of foreigners; third. an edu-
/ cational qualification for every voter:
! fourth, general. creedless. free public
| school system; fifth, no public money, no
| public property. directly or Indirectly for
| ecclesiastical purposes; sixth. the taxation OF
| all kinds of property that does not belong TO
| the government or Is not under control OF
| the government: seventh. all private schools
| converts. seminaries. hospitals. asyl9ps and
| other educational or benevolent institutions
/ must be subjected to the inspection and
/ control Of the state: ninth. American lands
i for actual American settlers.
| Admitting that some OF these objects are
| desirable and praiseworthy. Is there anv ne
i cessity for the creation Of secret political
/ association for their accomplishment? Is
! there any reason why free and manly Amer
/ lean citizens should meet stealthily IN the
/ dark and bind themselves BY solemn oaths 70
| advocate free schools, restriction OF immigra-
uou or educational Suffrage, or any Of The