The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-15
THE LECTURE SEASON.


pr. Hopkins, Episcopal Bishop OF Vermont, delivered
lecture At Hope Chapel before the Young Mems Chris
tian Association.
The subject announced by the Right Rev. Prelate
the Administration AT the Law in the Naturalization OF
Foreigners" lie commenced BY referring to the public
excitement at present upon this matter, and al
luding to the order on Know Nothings, said
that there must be at the Of tho popularity AMI
power Of this body some truth. That truth was, the
abuses TO which We, nation had been subjected by
the admission to citizenship Of masses Of unworthy Co
reigners As remedy, the abolition OF all naturally
ton laws had been proposed but that unnecessary
and impractcsble The law Of naturalization, he
tended, was wise and just but he evils complained Of
had arisen from the unrghteous mode in which it had
been administered Universal suffrage is the grand
ponent OF the genius Of nation but in its applca
ton competent degree oil virtue and intelligence in
the people assumed by the trainers of the constitu
ton The statesmen Of the Old World have faith in
the practicability Of national principle because
they have faith in the suciency Of the virtue and
intelligence Of the people, but every friend the
stituton denies the low estimate of the capabity of
the popular mind and demands from society the means
Of its true deveopement for wise political action But
yet 1t Is we'll to consider the facts Of history aud
condition, that tho present question may BE- wisely
met The lecturer spoke Of the character OF the colo
nists, and that they brought what better than
wealth the sword, both united, for the we'll
being OF the state--virtue and intelligence and
ns,s ni@ Ssi ho1a whose
But the sixty years of cur existence,
minded, Is but brief period in the history of nation
already hearing complaints from every quar-.
ter Of the land that institutions in danger, aud
the eclipse OF our glory Is approaching With those
fears the speaker did not sympathzc At ALL All the evils
complained OF came from another class of than
those Of principles laws II i not that the principle
touching the elective franchise wrong i'm practical
be but the power involved has been lightly conferred
large class Of unprepared foreigners The law is good
enough. but the people not the samsthey not
Of the character contemplated in the law which provided
for their admasce To the administrative power Of the
country. Here then, is the great evs charge must
be preferred against the Judiciary Of the country ser
ous as the act Of making such charge really IA. The
naturalization law demands certain qualifications, and
the court must be satisfied TINT the applicant has these
qualifications, or citizenship must not be conferred.
But how does the matter stand? Two witnesses
coming forward to testify Of the character of tho app
cant is sufficient, without any effort being maze TO dis
cover whether these witnesses have any character at all
whether the applicant read or has had read N
him the Consttuton is attached to lis principles and
is well disposed to the order and we'll being Of the United
States.
The lecturer would the judiciary from an-
enton to do wrong but the fact is too palpablc for
denial that one OF the most important Of all acts is
made the pest Of forms. The judges have reluc-
lance to exercise juccial prcrogaves Custom s pow
erfnl Many outside influences operate TO prevent due
attention to the obvious meaning of tho law. II is
matter of just pride that system refuses to demand
any property qualification, but II makes demand
something better It demands in the foreign character
understanding of and attachment to the constitu-
ton and disposition In behalf Of the we'll being Of the
country. Tremendous issues here folded up. The
and therefore Inc ures should be made by which ii NAV
be asccrtaiHed whether the applicant has been good
citizen at home whether he IS capable Of understanding
being well disposed to good order in the nation. The
native lie born amid influences favorable TO the
institutions Of the republic; he early learns TO
read; the newspaper is familiar to him, and he
may be supposed to have become acquainted with the
main scope Of the various political questions of the
tme and the entire training he receives is favorable TO
the system OF government. Hut how much of ALI
this BIZ taken for granted in the Of crowds of
foreigners who land upon shores; and what .
few years Of mere residence do towards accomplishing
10 them the fitness for citizenship We have among us
over million who were born amid the most AFFECT
circumstances; who have taken everything from those
they bindly follow and who the subjects Of priest
hood which requires complete subsection. Here is
force not contemplated by the genius OF the consttu
ton as taking part in the administration Of the nations
affairs: and hence here is Justification for feature
Of the Know Nothing 10 the RI.
faith. The lecturer confessed that the greatest
evils to be apprchended were from, the influence Of tho
Roman faith but the true position Of the political
ton is not opposition to the Roman faith, but
demand for the true intent and just ad-
ministraton of the naturalization laws. But
the Know Nothings have right to make
the Roman priesthood towards the political action Of the
people. No class in this country the subjects OF
this prizes hood pay Difference TO their spiritual teachers
in political matters and in any other portion OF the
Church universal the pastors would lose their influence
spiritual teachers by attempting such interference in
political action What these priests who stand thus
apart from ali other spiritual teachers in the lan They
the subjects OF foreign power and the prac
ical influence Of these bishops priests well known
courtei it is wen understood No objection is made to
these priests for possessing this power but the grand
70 me arey M
1t is not question with whether there any fit
ness 10 this system when II first organzedwheth-
cr it did good in the dark ages, suited to the
condition Of Europe nine hundred years ago. but whet
err IL suitedto our age, our country institutions.
As for himself the lecturer confessed that he did not
TUT lntv gnfr IL Rn
could stand together Still it Is part If
political duty to make against any form Of religious
faith but with faithful administration Of the natura
cation law he was willing to eavc the rest with perfect
trust In Divine Providence The comforting the right Of
citizenship should be most soemnly imposing csre
mOny There should be specific days for it.; names Of
applicants should be published for thirty days previous
the day appointed, address should be delivered
the nature, intent and Importance of the Law; full time
should be taken for due examination Of applicants; and
the labor Of the Judiciary should be to teach the whole
community what none can tesch well thcy-the
dignity duties, and honors Of citizenship showing that
the demand far better than property
most wise and just. When this is done, then may
hope to find corrective infused into the fostering
Of corruption in our midst, and will be made 10
thing to the Importance Of this trial for Citizenship in
the republic suppose the courts had acted this rule
what Of evil would the nation have been deliver
ell from. Immigration would not have been kept from
yenturng here Tor better wages greater advantages for
improving their condition, &c. would havc pre-
sentcd Inducements enough. Individual justice is
cred thing but national Justice yet sacred aud
DecAuse Vi Its ihr r"hcIiing consequence IL tnouW be
most sacredly regarded An unworthy representative
in Congress be got rid oil in two years unworthy
Senator in six an unworthy President In four; but
unworthy citizen is fastened upon the ton FOR lie
Here in this most momentous matter Of comforting
citizenship, there no opportunity for new trial. no
chance for appeal and should II be said that great
delay must ensue II the law rightly ADM nstcred
let the applicant wait suiors have wait sthe laws
delay" Let more judges be appointed, and our large
cities let there he court for this purpose alone but in
the name Of all just things, lei have with this
haste TO confer citizenship ,hese oscourngs Of Europe
When all these reforms carried into effect, there
would be need Of secret organizations 10 maintain the
purity Of the elective franchise aud these orders would
die natural death. The lecturer in favor app
ing strong tests TO candidates for citizenship, and would
have admitted who were atheists. panthests, or
who did not believe in the doctrine of future rewards
and punishments He believed that IL the law pro-
perly carried out tho political abuses from which
now suffer would he entirely removed and tho Consti
tuition would be executed according TO the intention Of
its Trainers. The law good cnough-the standard OF
ciiizt nship needs 70 be elevated
The Rev. Antoliscttc l.. brown orr Slavery.
THIRD LECTURE BEFORE THE NEW YORK ANTI SLAVERY
ASSOCIATION, IN THE BROADWAY TABEliSAcLn.
An rtvvo tbou nuJ HAL