The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-23
IS A. P. A. b|G0TRY
TO Be REVIVED
Guardians of Liberty" Organized in
New York das Ear Marks of
the Old society.
Six Of the Eight Principles Set
Forth are Concerned With
Religious Questions.
The Eighth Article Aimed Directly at
Cathollcs-Would rrevent Them
From Holding Office.

A movement is on foot tn establish
a nation wide organization to be
known as the "Guardians OF Liberty"
the purpose of which seems to be to
oppose the Catholic Church. The fact
that the name of Thomas Watson OF
Georgia is connected with II is in it.
self Il confirmation of the foregoing.
Other prominent mon said 10 he con-
nected with the organization are Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, U. S. a., retired; for
mer Congressman Charles ID. Haincs,
wealthy railroad builder and former
Democratic leader of Columbia county.
New York, and Charles r. Skinner,
former state superintendent of public
instruction in New York.
Principles Of the Organization.
The principles OF the order as set
forth in the constitution are as fol-
lows:
First-We declare it to be our un-
alterable purpose to preserve, defend
and forever hold sacred the blood
bought legacy of liberty inherited from
our forefathers.
Second-We united as u non-scc-
tartan, a non-partisan moral force for
the enactment and enforcement or
such laws as will abolish class legis-
latfon. We oppose granting to any
corporation or combination IF individ-
uals preferential rights or privileges
which stitle competition, sacrifice the
independent business man, or monop-
olize trade and transportation.
Third-Wc stand unalterably for the
complete separation of church and
state.
Fourth We unite to protect our
country and it's free institutions from
the efforts of any religious political
organization which may .ttcmpt to
manipulate or influence the political
or social development of our country
Fifth-We concern ourselves with
n religious faith, but we Jake issue
with any church or other organjza-
ton interfering with established
American institutions and civil gov
crnment.
Sixth-We maintain it to be the
right Of the state to give free educa-
tlon and public instruction, but the
religious instruction of children we
hold to be the exclusive duty and pre-
rogative OF parents.
Seventh--We are opposed to the use
of public funds, local or national. for
any religious purpose whatever
Eighth-Wc maintain it to be incon-
sistcnt with and destructive of free
government to appoint or elect to no.
litical or military Office any person
who openly or secretly comedies su
pcrior authority to any foreign polit-
ical or ecclesiastical power whatso-
ever.
When General Miles was asked ia
explain the purpose of the order and
reminded that the eighth princjple
seemed to refer directly to Catholics
he said that he had very little to do
with the active work Of the order but
That he was under the impression that
1t was purely patriotic and not in
tended to raise any religious contro-
versy.
On being informed of the articles Of
tho new organization Cardinal Gib-
bOns said:
Il am amazed to learn that Gen
Miles should have lent his name tc
such an organization. cannot be-
lieve that he has done so IN the ful]
knowledge of what these so-called
Guardians of Liberty" forsooth have
set down among their principles, and
particularly In view of what is printed
In Watson's magazine.
"This order is plainly nothing more
than an attempt to revive the bigotry
of the A. P. A., which was presumed
to have died of inanition. Surely nc
sensible man will be misled by the
thin and threadbare arguments OF
such people"