The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-03-06
Rev. Harcourt and A. P. A.-ism.

his calling, has persisted in offending
the better nature of the people by his
eXtravagant and sensational allu-
sions to the principles of an order
called the american Protective Asso-
ciation," organized for the generally
recognized antagonism to the social,
business and religious doings of men,
bers of the Catholic faith in this coun-
try, and whose inf1ammatory and I'M
christian-like utterances have been
widely circulated by the press, and a
few persons here and there, who either
sympathiZe with, or have enlisted in
the same cause. The visible functions
of this order are similar to those of the
Know-Nothing party which existed
many years ago, and which, because
of its obnoxious pretensions and fire.
quent abuses of the relations and priv
ileges accorded to every denomina-
tional order and society, by the Consti-
tuition of the United States, after
brief, stormy and unsatisfactory eXis-
tence, ended in smoke. But as the old
saying has it, where there is smoke,
there must be fire." and the sparks
kindled under that disgraceful regime.
have but smouldered under the ashes
and now threaten to break forth afresh
AS for the association itself, it is clearly
in violation of the Constitution of this
free and independent Union. and a
relic of the barbarism of the dark ages.
In every sense of the word, it is cry
/ ing disgrace to the maintenance of our
free institutions, the exercise of relIg-
ious thought and action and if allowed
the freedom of legislative interference,
which lately has characterized its eff
forts, threatens to transfer our system
of government to that of one denying
free rights to men-a sort Of proscriptive
religious monarcy. OF course, such a
condition is impossible, but to read the
daily TRADES of A. p. A. supporters, and
the circulars insidiously distributed to
catch the unwary, one is absolutely
amazed at the preposterous charges and
language used. They are, without
mincing words, insulting and unwor-
thy of anything but the most con-
temptuOus denunciation, and from be
ginning to end, chaotic mass of inge-
MUS fabrications. They call them
selves Americans, and yet the very es-
sense and basis of their existence gives
the lie to their claim. We would as
unhesitatingly deprecate similar pro-
ceedings directed against any other de. I
nomination as readily as we do in the !
present instance, and in doing so now,
feel that we are actuated by true
spirit of Americanism, which is synon-
imous with justice, charity and indie
pendence, and which name is grossly
misapplied when used to express the
sentiments of the Protective Associa-
ton. The opposition to this alliance
is not entertained solely among the
members of the religious faith against
which it operates. but also by intelli-
gent people of all classes and creeds.
Without going into an exhaustive
treatment of the many and absurd
charges of the A. p. A. in support of
their chief object, the total disfran-
chisement of Catholics and the tramp
ling under foot Of their religious lib
erty, let us quote from The remarks
made by the immortal George Wash
ington, in answer to an address of AM
erican Catholics, presented to him by
the grandfather of Gen. Meade, the
hero of Gettysburg:
"As mankind becomes more liberal,
they will be more apt to allow that all
those who conduct themselves as Wor-
thy members of the community, are
equally entitled to the protection of
civil government. / hope ever to see
America among the foremost nations
in examples of justice and liberality;
and l presume your fellow-citizens will
not forget the patriotic part which you
took in the accomplishment of their
Revolution and the establishment of
their government, or the important as
sistance which they received from
nation in which the Roman Catholic
faith is professed."
In the days of the Revolution, in
the trying times of the early colonial
wars, in the late struggle between the
North and South, members OF the
musical Irish aacGafS Ma5 silent a; ne
went about oiling and inspecting the
machinery, and North looked like a
man going to his own funeral.
The train came in on time, drawn by
100. and she stood with calm dignity on
the siding while her wild, wayward
and disreputable sister. all gaudy in
her new paint, with changing bell and
blowing steam. with polished head
, light and new flags fiuttering at her
. shoulders, glided backward like gay