Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-17
NATURALIZATION nnd T,stinr.

" sNNNNfNNNNNANNNNW tHH WINS
There II muth misconcppiion IN tho
public mind IN regard 60 The conncc
iion between these two processes
They do not necessarily 70 together
as is generally supposed A man may
bc allowed % vote without helng nat
uraliged, aud be natnralizcd, and not
be allowed TO vote Naturalization
conicrs citizenship, not necessarily
suffrage. Tho federal laws naturnlize
tho States regulate suffrage. People
do not vote simply because thcv are
citizens. Women are citizens s.
are children. So are idiots add luna.
ties. But they do not vote Each
State controls this matter for itself
Putting this question upon its true
basis, and taking the correct view Of
il, the naturalization laws should be
regarded simply as a provision for
giving the character and protection
of citizenship to persons Of the white
race immigrating to this country for
permanent residence, so as TO secure
those who are thus adopted into our
American family against any claim OF
allegiance on the part of their native
sovereign. They should have this
character and protection extended to
them the moment they land upon our
shores with the intention of perma.
nently abiding with us and sharing
our fortunes.
We are decidedly Of the opinion
that the naturalization laws should be
amended in accordance with this idea.
This five years residence, the declar-
alton Of intention two years before
admission, and calling in witnesses to
prove this and that, are all flummery.
Let's have an end to all this noise
about naturalization frauds. Let the
certificate OF citizenship be granted
to every white man who resides here
and wants il, and leave the State con
stitutions to prescribe the qualifica.
tions for suffrage and the State laws
to guard against illegal voting This
will simplify matters, and get rid Of a
deal Of corruption in politics.
The first naturalization law adopted
by the Federal Government required
only two yeras' residence in the coun-
try, and one in the State This was
passed in 1890 In 1895 il was amend.
cd so as TO require five years residence
in the country, and declaration oi
intention to become a citizen three
years before admission. In 1898
during the Presidency of old john
Adams, the prejudice and higotry Of
New England prevailed, and the law
was amended so as to require fourteen
years residence and five years decla.
ration of intention. This was imme
diately following the suppression OF
the popular rising in Ireland, when n
large influx Of Irish exiles, fleeing
from TREASON prosecutions, was anuci.
patcd. 4 he Puritan instinct of New
England, which then controlled the
Government, not only lead to the adop-
tion OF this measure for excluding
these exiles from citizenship, but also
carried its hostility so far as 10 get a
law passed empowering the resident
by his arbitrary order, to expel all
aliens from the country. The Demo
cratic party elected Mr. Jefferson in
1900, and in 1902 it got a majority m
Congress, when this intolerant New
England legislation was wiped out
Residence was reduced 20 five years
as il stands now. Bul his condition,
as we have before stated, answer no
good end, and should at once be re
/ moved.
When the matter shall be put upon
this basis, all white men resident in
tho country will stand upon a common
footing. Most Of the States now re.
quire that, to be qualified to vote, the
citizen shall have been a resident OF
the State for one year, whether he be
a native or foreign-born Leave this
whole matter TO the States, where,
constitutionally, and in sound policy,
it belongs, and let each for itself de.
termine the period Of residence, but
make it applicable to native and
foreign-born alike. This will clear
away many difficulties, and get rid OF
deal of fraud and corruption.-Neip
York Democrat.