The native American., 1839-04-06

denlZen, oil being member OF the Prvy Coun-
Gil, or Parliament. holding offices, grants. DC.
No bill for naturalization can be received in
either House of Parliament, wilhou! such dlsa-
bling clause i'll it,"
We are too apt to forget the value even OF the
inestlmabe blessings OF nature, so long as we en-
JOY them without effort on our part. IL cam
not then, be matter of surprise, that the inestl-
mable blessings of equal rights should be afforded
at rate-as all not wilfully blind must see, that
it is III this happy lantl-too cheap to be appre-
ciated by persons born and brought up in foreign
countries, and without the enjoyment of civil or
religious liberty.
In the investigation of this subject we are nat
uraly led to inquire into the motives that induced
our Government to depart from the settled policy
of nations. in this particular.
Our fathers had but just shaken off the yoke of
oppression Many foreigners, with their vari-
Gus abilities, had rendered essential service in the
bright achievement. The country was new, of
vast extent, and with sparse population For
eigncrs were few, and generally orderly and in
telligent; and our generous sres, now basking in
the first sunshine of freedom, would gladly have
impaired the blessing to the whole world. Thus,
''the harvest being great, and the laborers few
and looking with compassion on the enslaved OF
other lands, they flung wide their doors, and
opened an asylum for the oppressed of all ma
tons; and, as an additional inducement, they de-
termlned in the exuberance of their Joy, to con-
fer on all who should ask for them, rights and Ii
berries equal with their own.
Whether this policy was strictly consonant
with the character of the emigrants of the times
in which it first put in practice, or not, one
thing is neutrality-suspicious. has proven it to be
entirely incongruous with the character of the
emigran.s of the present day. Unlike their pre-
deccssors, who demeaned themselves with be-
coming Difference for the laws, ana received the
favor with grateful emotions, they seem to regard
it, not as favor, but as a right which their ia
theirs have acquired, with their sacrifices, their
prlvatons and tolls, and with their own blood;-|
looking upon us as no more than joint heirs with
them because our ancestors who won these
blessings were from foreign lands. The Nor
mans and Saxons of the present day would claim,
with equal propriety, the rights and immunities
Of native subjects of the British crown.
Here brief history of our naturalization laws
will, perhaps, not be misplaced.
The first law on the subject passed in
1870, under which, a residence Of only two years
in the United States and testimonials of good
character were sufficient. This was very soon
discovered to be too easy; and FIVE years after it
of 1895 substituted, requiring a residence of five
years in the United States and two in the State
where admitted, and an application to be made
three years prior to admittance.
Just at this time the affairs Of Europe, and our
foreign relations, were such as to excite in the
father of his country the well grounded fear of
foreign infuence-against the baneful effects of
which he warned his countrymen in his farewell
address the succeeding year, l796,) with the most
earnest solicitude:
Against the insidious wiles," says he, =" Of
foreign influence, Il conjure you to believe me,
tellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people
ought TO be constantly awake; since history and
experience prove, that foreign influence is one oil
the most baneful foes Of Republican Govern
ment''
70 guard against such influence, and to check
the growth Of foreign population already be-
coming troublesome, the law Of 1898 was passed.
which required the alien to be resident of the
United States for fourteen years, five years re-
sident of the State where admitted, and an appl-
cation to be made five years previous to his ad-
mittance. But, alas! this salutary law was Of
short duration. Its enactment had been too long
deferred, and the warning voice of w ashington
had been raised in vain. Already that baneful
influence which he deprecated, had pervaded all
me ralnlEcatlOno OF our country, anu the DNghtng
mildew of party spirit had settled upon the coun-
ellis of the nation.
The hero Of Mount Vernon slept with his "a
thers and m 1902 this wholesome law of 1898
was repealed, and that Of 1895, with slight modi-
tications, revived. The law of 1902 has
undergone but little amendment; none for the bet
ter; generally for the worse. And the laws now
in force require residence of only fUe years in
the United States, single year in the State where
admitted, and application to be made but two
years previous to admittancc.
The dcspots of Europe who wish for the SUBJ
version of our Government, cannot desire greater
facilities to effect it than our naturalization laws
afford How easy is it for them to send their
minions to become citizens, and by intrigue and
management to possess themselves of the public
presses, and, in process of time of all the impor-
tant posts of authority. That this scheme has
been for years in operation, there can be but little
doubt.
The reasons for our naturalization laws have
ceased. And when the reason ceases, the law
also-according to an ancient law maxim
should cease. The emigration from Europe is
now enormous. The number of foreigners who
arrived in the United States during the year 1920,
was $40; the number by vessels at the princi-
pal ports during 1886, was 76,956, but it must