The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-21

JeCI. haoF bGCaA 80 sh0 lnoas
king her own interests the international law
She did so when she chained the first .Nape
leon to a rock in the ocean. Now the IN
terests of the world require that the question
of citizenship shall be settled 1t is absurd |
to say that a, 100000 of foreign people live
here and have become naturalized, and yet
are citizens of foreign governments.
In the oldest governments of the world,
the right to change citizenship was-ecogniz-
ed. Vattel, in his law of na'ions' says
man may ranounce allegis~ee to me prince
under which he was bc,a, provlded ne can
not gain sohs;stonfs1n his native land, or
tba s,ota Iows = religion are opposed to his
o , con.;cs.sls. The beginning of the law
~ 10 IS on This subject was, no doubt, the
sa,,a.stion of Lot and Abraham.
e is absurd that there should be a ques
ton about this matter. The time has come
when it must be settled now and forever in
favor Of the American people. tApplause.)
Less than three quarters of a century
ago, there was not more than 100000 in
habitants in this country. The greater share
of those now in the country were born in
foreign lands. Are they vet citizens of those
lands2 The revolution was fought by many
who were natives of foreign lands, and this
in order to establish the rights of citizens of
the world. These men have made the Uni
ted States what she now is, and in the next
80 years she bids fair to contain 100000
900. tApplanse.) Shall we not then de
fend our rights of citizenship?
The law of nature dictates that man shall
be free on this question, and no distinction
shall be made between native and foreign
born. Great applause.
The band played the Star Spangled Ban
rer.''
EDWARD sCHLAEGER's SPEECH.
Mr.. Edward Schlaeger was next intro
duced to the audience. He said it was the
intention of the committee to have the first
speech in English and the next in German.
This was one of the occasions where it was
proper that the Irish and Germans should be
united, APPLAUSE 1t was fit that the
naturalized citizens of Chicago should dis
cuss questions which affected them. 1t has
been the case with many inventions that they
have been invented apparently in different
places at the same time.
1t has been explained that new ideas
spring up simultaneously. So in this coun-
try, without any agreement, there have been
meetings on this question of nationahties in
varions cities of the Union, until here in
Chicago the movement has eliminated in
this great meeting.
The name of an American citizen must be
his shield of protection in foreign lands. In
England they exclude their subjects, and
then insist they shall never belong to any
other government. Applause. Tkis couu-
try has been glad to make as many natural
lied citizens as possible, especially before
election. Laughter In New York, the
naturalization mill turns ont citizens at the
rate of 900 per hour. Foreign bora citi-
zens have been hitherto content to labor and
live in this country and to exercise their du-
| ties as American citizens; bat now, when it
becomes a question of the rights OF these
people, as regards citizenship, they should
| let their voices be heard.
ge RhRh Ard9 rdfTs tie 5sy hing Af fE te
world, for he is able to go anywhere all over
the world. Now, what this little island can
| do, we, continent, ought to have done long
| ago. If England wants soldiers, she has to
| hire men, because she can't trust the Irish
! Applause But in this nation, during the
| last war sprang forth million and half OF
patriots. Applause That army, which
was so formidable once, can strike again, il
necessary. Applausel. But it is not ne
cessary; the potentates of Europe are sitting
On keg of powder and dancing on vol
|
II am a Roman citizen, "awed all opposition
and was complete defence for such man
The United States is the Rome of to day i'm
| proved and enlarged Therefore, the time
has come when men of all foreign nation:
land the gospel is preached in Chicago
every Sunday in FIVE different languages
should assert their rights.
| This nation hitherto has made but pitt
ful show in the worlds history. The mer
who represent the country in foreign court,
do not properly represent the government
| When the rights OF American citizens have
| been in question, this country has failed tC
| maintain them. Mr. Bsmark has practi
cally said that he would not observe the
rights of American citizenship. Louis Ma
poleon, 1t is said, has not advanced these
| claims, but it is so. 4 Frenchman naturali
| zed in this country, and returning to his owr
| land, is liable to be subjected to military
| aervice
| Now in Europe the state iseverything anC
the person a very small thing. In our coun
try it is just the opposite. In conformit,
| with the genius of our institutions, the people
should set forth the rights they claim.
A naturalized citizen who aided in fight
ing the battles of the late war, went back tt
| Prussia, was seized by the Prussan govern
ment, put into its armies, and had to fight a
the battle of Sadowa. Was this right? II
what government did he owe allegiance.
Certainly not to both. 1t is like the chile
| question before old Solomon-Prussia being
the mother on one side and America on the
| other.
Now that the United States has become
first class power, it is time that she should
protect her own citizens. This is not al
Irish nor German question. The lungs o
an American citizen req rire that he should
| breathe free in all lands.
1t would have been easy at the conclusion
of our late war, before the disbandment O.
| the troops, to have enforced the demand: but il
is not too late now. Let but declaration pc
forth from this government, and the Europe
| an nations will back down before it. The
| war has taught the nation its power, and
| has taught the other nations of the earth to
| respect her. Let congress illuminate, and
like Jupiter shaking his locks on Olympus
j all the other nations will tremble. I'm
Smense applause
, NOther speeches were made, and then the
: ie7'lutions were read and adopted as fol.
lows
RES oLUTIoNS.
;,Ias EXECUTIONS and statements of primo
pies r HI for the considerations of the meet
ing was then ha5ip EnrI;sb by NJ D O.,
=. Garr;.,, h., = atanittee of arrangements, and
ed unanimously sei' anu were huopt-
s = inc following IS ~ of the same
Amaricay, cit;ffa,s u G. and demands of the
We the American fnrei-s