The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-23
AN oSTENSlBLY PATRIOTIC SocI-
ETY. THAT AIMS TO REVIVE
"A. p. A.-ISM.
Its Members Pledge Themselves to
Oppose Catholic Aspirants for Pub
lie Office-Lieutenant General Mel
son A. Miles, U. S. A., Retired, One
Of the Leaders.

In our last issue we referred brief
| ly to new society called, euphemisti-
cally, Guardians of Liberty" The
chief purpose of which seems to be to
revive the principles which were adj
vocated by the A. P. A. and similar
organizations which fiourished some
years ago and helped to perpetuate un-
American bigotry.
The new society, recently organized
in New York, has opened Offices in the
Masonic Temple from which litera-
ture and instructions for forming
local and state courts is being sent
broadcast throughout the country.
Local courts have already been estab-
lished at Washington, ST. Louis, New
York, Kansas City, Tacoma, Cincin-
natl, and other places. Lieutenant
General Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A., re-
tired, is one of the leaders of the or
ganization and with him are associ-
ated former Congressman Charles D.
Haines, Charles R. Skinner, formerly
| State Superintendent of Public In
struction in New York, and former
Congressman Thomas e. Watson of
Georgia, whose anti-Catholic biogtry
has manifested itself on more than
one occasion.
They assert that the object of the
Guardians of Liberty is to preserve,
defend and forever hold sacred the
blood-bought legacy of liberty inner
tied from our forefathers," as the first
article of their Constitution puts it.
In spite of the declarations of it's
founders and leaders that the organi-
cation is purely patriotic one there
is evidence in the Constitution itself
that, whatever it's ostensible purpose
may be, it's real aim is to oppose
Catholic aspirants for public Office
whether municipal, state, or national.
The fourth article reads as follows:
1--WE unite to protect our country and
it's free institutions from the efforts
of any religious-political organizations
which may attempt to manipulate Or
influence the political or social devel-
opment of our country" The fifth ar
ticle declares that eve concern our
selves with no religious faith, but we
take issue with any church or other
organization interfering with estab-
lished American institutions and civil
government" The eighth article sets
| forth what is said to be the primary
object of the Guardians of Liberty in
these words: 1--WE maintain it to be in
consistent with and destructive of free
government to appoint or elect to po-
litical or military Office any person
who openly or secretly comedies SUI
perior authority to any foreign peliti-
cal, or ecclesiastical power whatso-
ever"
| The animus of these declarations is
evident. They aim at restricting the
political rights of Catholics and would
debar them from holding public Of
fee. This is further evidenced by the
fact that among the duties of the
officers of all local and state courts
is ito ascertain the character and
qualifications of all candidates for
public Office who are not members of
the order, regardless of party affilia-
lions, and to report their finding to
the members thereof, at meeting to
be called for such purposes, and those
present shall decide by vote whether
such candidates are found worthy of
the support of the order. The find
ing and the result of such vote shall
forthwith be sent to the state or
national court The endorsement of
candidates by local court, approved
by the state or national court, shall
pledge to such candidates the support
of the order, but only on condition
that they give allegiance to and agree
to sustain the principles espoused by
the order"
It is evident from this that no Catho-
lie aspirant for Office can receive the
endorsement of the Guardians of Lib
erty because he cannot conscientious
ly advocate the principles of the order.
When General Miles was inter-
/ viewed by newspaper reporters he
would say very little about the order.
He admitted being present at its or
ganization some weeks ago and said
that his attention had not hereto
fore been called to its religious aspect.
He would not discuss it's principles
but referred his interviewers to Mr..
Haines and Mr.. Skinner, neither of
whom could be found.
His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons,
commenting on the new society said:
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 no
sensible man will be misled by the
thin and threadbare arguments of
such people.
I'm his spiritual affairs, every Rom
an Catholic owes allegiance to for
eign ecclesiastical power, namely His
Holiness the Pope. But it is only in
his spiritual affairs. In matters con-
corning his civil welfare, or that of
1sa 001rnfru 0uorry D0ro0r Ga@h@I;o -