Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1894 — THE A. P. A. PRINCIPLES. [ARTICLE]

THE A. P. A. PRINCIPLES.

A Formal Declaration of Them—The Elec tion of Officer** The Supreme Council of the American Protective Association concluded its fourjays' session at lies Moines, Saturday .night, by electing the following officers: Supreme. President, Vs. J. H. Traynor, of Faucett, of Columbus, O.; Chaplain, J. J. Gbsper, of Los Angeles; Secretary, C. L. lieatts, Saginaw, Mich.; Treasurer, H. M. Stark, of Milwaukee; Past Supreme President, !!. E. Bowers, of Clinton, la.; Sergeant-at-Arms, E. H. Dunbar: Guard, E, M. Wood (colored); of Illinois; Sentinel, Wat Meeker, of Kentucky. The declaration of principles is as follows:-—-- j r 1 1. Loyalty to true Americanism, which knows neither birthplace, race, creed nor party, is the first requisite for membership in the American Protective Association. 2. The American Protective Association is not a political party, and does not control the political affiliation of its members, but it teaches them to be intensely active in thedischarge of their political duties in or out of party lines. 3. While tolerant of all creeds, it holds that subjection to ancr support or any"" ecclesiastical power, not created and controlled by American citizens, and which claims equal if not greater sovereignty than the government of the United States of America is irreconcilable with American citizenship. 4. We uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and no portion of it more than its guaranty of religious liberty, but wo hold this religious liberty to be guaranteed to the individnal and not to mean that under its protection any uu-American ecclesiastical power can claim absolute control over the education of children growing up under the stars and stripes. 5. We consider the non-sectarian free public school the bulwark of American institutions, the best place for tho education of American children. •I. We condemn the support out of the public treasury by direct appropriation or by contract of any sectarian school, reformatory or other institution not owned and controlled by public authority. . 7. Believing that exemption: from taxation is equal to a grant of public funds, we demand that no real or personal property be exempt from taxation the title to which is not vested in tho National or state government, or in any of their subdivisions, - r - .—;—«,—- 8. We protest against the enlistment in ‘.he United States army and navy or the militia of any State of any person not an ictual citizen of tho United States. 9. We demand, for the protection of our citizen laborers, the prohibition of the importation of pauper labor and the restriction of all immigration to persons who can not show their ability and honest intention to become self-supporting American citizens. 10. Wo demand the change of naturalientiou laws by a repeal of the act authorizing the naturalization of minors without a previous declaration of intention, and by providing that no aliens shall bo naturalized or permitted to voto in any State of the Union who can not speak the language of the land and who can not prove seven years’ continuum residence in this country from the late of his declaration of intention. 11. We protest against the gross negligence and laxity with which the judiciary 5f our land administers the present naturalization laws, and against the practice jf naturalizing aliens at the oxpenso of committees or candidates as the most prolific source of tho present prostitution of American citizenship to the basest uses. 12. We demand that all hospitals, asylums, reformatories or other institutions in which people ape under restraint, be at ill times subject to public inspection, whether they are maintained by tho public or by private corporations or individuals. 13. Wo demand that all National or State legislation affecting financial, commercial or industrial interests be general in character, and in no instance in favor of any one section of the country or any one class of people.