Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-02-22

Naturaization-a Fallacy.
1t is a favorite idea with some people that
our naturalization laws should be so altered
as to require tweDty-one years residence Of
a foreigner to make him eligible to citizen
ship. Say word in opposition 10 this idea
and you are met by the advocate OF II, with an
air of triumph, ''why, had to live here TWEEN
ty-one years before could vote; and why
should foreigner be allowed privilege OF
which was denied. /"
1t would seem at first thought that any man
could see the falIacy of placing the intelligent
adult man, because foreigner, on level
with sucking, mutng infant; but none are
so blind as those who will not see. We
think that person can learn the art of repub-
lcanism, if apt TO receive impressions, quite
as readily as one can learn an intricate trade
and five years are considered in this country a
long apprenticeship TO any sort of handlcraft.
But this is not the point we wish TO notice
here. We would cali attention to the pracii-
cal evil which would result from such change
of the law as that suggested. A large class
of foreigners who come TO this country, partic-
ularly to the middle and western States, re
intelligent, industrious people, who bring with
them property and a knowledge of the me-
chanic arts, and who are really an acquisition
to the population of any country. The flower
of some of the German States, Hungarians,
Poles, Swiss, Swedes, Frenchmen-these are
among the multitudes who flock to our shores,
not TO impoverish us, but to become freehold
ers, and to add to our wealth, our intelligence,
and our prosperity as we'll as to our popula-
ton. Now such pepole-men OF refinement
and taste, of education and means-are en-
couraged to come by the fact that in few
years they can take their places as men, as
citizens, with all the rights and privileges of
freemen. Change your laws and place such
men on level with newborn babe, and our
country offers no advantages over their own
so far as citizenship and true manhood are
concerned. A .treeman's prospect is cut off
from them TO a great extent, and such men as
we have spoken of-the very flower of our
immigration, will turn away and give us a
wide berth, while the besotted hordes of ig-
norance, who are but grade above the brute,
and who are perfectly satisfied when they
have enough to eat and to drink 10 whom
the privilege of citizenship is just no privilege
at all, these will come TO our shores though
naturalization were abolished altogether
The practical evil then, TO which we allude,
is the fact that while the proposed change in
drive off the very class whom we would like
to receive, and who would add to the intelli-
gence, the wealth and prosperity of our ma
ton, it would present no barrier against the
waves of ignorance and brutality constantly
flowing in upon us. If we must have the lat
ter, in Heavens name, do not deny to US the
former. Allow the laws of naturalization 10
remain as they are, only guard them against
abuse and violation, and then change the laws
regulating the electivefranchse SO that no man
shall be eligible as voter who CANNOT READ
AND WRITE, and something effectual will be
done TO protect our Institutions, and to perpet-
uate the legacy of freedom handed down 10 us
by our fathers. With a system of general
popular education, and the elective franchise
confined TO those who can read ballot when
placed in their hands, freedom on this CONT
nent would have nothing 10 fear and such
laws would protect us much against that
ignorance which is indigenous as that which
is exotic.