The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-15
THE NATURALTzA7ION LAW

recently passed by Congress, and against all
attempts to regulate the subject of
naturalization, by bringing against their
advocates the charge of Know Nothingsm.
This will not do, because the movement now
in progress for the reformation of the enor-
nous frauds and abuses of our naturalization
system-or, rather, want of system
nothing whatever in common with the often
sive features that caused the downfall of the
Know-Nothing party. If that organization
had simply confined itself to the better regu-
lation of naturalization, it would have con-
ferred a real benefit upon the country;
but instead of doing this it commenced
crusade against all foreigners; it introduced
the religious element into politics, and in
most offensive manner; and, lastly and chiefly,
it endeavored to gain the control of the Gov
ernment by means of a secret, oath-bound
brotherhood. These were the reasons for the
failure of Know-Nothingism, and SO far from
doing any good to the nation, the perform
ances of the dark lantern party only served to
send the whole foreign vote over to the De-
mocracy and to throw an obstacle in the way of
all future legislature with regard to them 1t
is too late at this day, however, for the Demo-
cracy to raise the cry of Nothingism
when an attempt is being made to prevent
the fraudulent granting of naturalization pa
pers and the swamping of honest votes at the
ballot-box by those of aliens who have no
right to exercise the prerogatives of citizen
ship. The proceedings in the Supreme Court
room of this city two years ago, were suffi-
cient to convince every impartial and unpar-
tisan citizen that a great and radical
change in the naturalization laws was needed:
and although the States have hitherto exer-
cised this power, it was felt that it ought pro-
perly be in the hands of the United States.
Congress has therefore been endeavoring to
legislate on the subject during the whole of
the present session; and if the bill finally
passed is not as satisfactory as could be de-
sired, it will be accepted by the people
as step in the right direction, inasmuch as
it gives to the United States Courts iurisdic-
dietion over cases of fraudulent naturaliza-
ton, and provides pains and penalties that if
properly enforced will do much towards put
ting stop to such practices as those which
took place in this city two years ago. This bill
is very much inferior to the one originally in
troduced, and which failed because weak
kneed members were afraid to do their
duty for fear of losing the foreign vote; but it
is beginning in the way of reform, and it
may lead the way to something better in the
future.
So far from opposing any attempt to regu-
late naturalization, we are confident that in
telligent foreigners who have been admitted
to the rights of citizenship will cordially sup
of tha Ii
ment's consideration will convince them is as
much for their benefit as for that of native
citizens. In fact, the only real opposition in
the future as in the past will come from those
politicians who make use of the most ignorant
class of foreigners for their own ends, and
who drive them like herds of cattle to the
polls. Citizenship is privilege to be granted
to, not right to be claimed by aliens; and
when this is clearly understood it will be
priced and appreciated more than it is now,
when regular mill for the manufacture of
citizens is run by politicians before every
election, for the sole purpose of securing
their own selfish ends and of overpowering
the votes of those who are best able to judge
of the men and the measures whose merits
are to be decided upon at the ballot-box.
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.
AFTER session of more than seven months,
Congress adjourned at 2 o'clock p. NJ, to-
day. and the members can now escape from
the heated atmosphere of Washington to
luxuriate at the watering places or COM
mence the more onerous task of settling
accounts with their constituents and preparing
for the fall elections. The two most impor-
tant measures of the session were the bill
to reduce taxation and the bill to
fund the national debt, both OF
which have been signed by the President.
The currency bill may also prove useful to the
South and West in increasing their banking
facilities. On the whole, the session has been
rather dull one. 1t has not been enlivened
by open struggles between the two ends OF
the avenue, like those which occurred during
the last administration, but minor points OF
hostility are gradually swelling into impor
tance, and before Grants term closes he will
probably be compelled to confront SHARP
Congressional antagonism.
NAVY YARD GRIEyANcE.-A great deal OF
complaint exists in the Philadelphia Navy
Yard owing to recent regulation which re-
quires the employees to be at their posts
ready to go to work at twenty minutes before
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