The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-10

Pays Your Money and You
Takes Your Choice.
As eventful November, big with the fate OF
President of some scores of thousands Of on1cias,
Of Governor and countless State and city place.
holders, draws NIGH one OF the most Important
branches Of American politics begins to break out
into even more than its usual Autumnal activity.
The branch referred to is, of course. the manufac
ture OF American citizens, which, in this city es-
pecially possesses some very curious and interest
ing features. .rr
IN OLD TIMES,
which ancient fogies persist in regarding as the
"palmy days of the Republic" this was very
solemn and august ceremony 1t was then believed
by the men who sat at the feet OF the fathers OF
our country that to be admitted into the family Of
free American citizens was, for foreigner
honor only inferior to that OF being allowed to
pass through the peariy gates into the Kingdom Of
Heaven. The naturalization OF an alien, therefore,
was not only, as 1t is Still legally supposed to be,
Aedged round about with imposing formalit1es in
the shape OF oaths and Official seals and appear
ances in Court, but the ritual Of initiation
Tied out with rigid strictness and precision. Any
nav in q candidates character was fatal to his
success, and he had no chance to rush through the
door In mob, and thus In the press Of people
over the walls was an utterly impracticable and
absurdimpossibility.
.r THE DEGENERATE PRESENT.
But the stream Of emigration was then
small, and American life was scarcely
30 filed as 1t is now with the
cares Of material prosperity. In these days
foreigners arrive in small armies each week, and
the task of receiving them formally into American
citizenship has to be done by wholesale. The work
Ia, therefore, performed in a somewhat perfume
tory manner, and there would be little difficulty in
snlss :. gGssasEsl e sys9 eassE aEs passing
successfully Into the enjoyment Of every right and
privilege Of American freedom; for the quaifca-
lions laid down by the law as necessary-good
character, certain length Of residence and
settled intention Of permanently residing In the
or. at any rate, have been evaded in former years.
II would be impossible for the sitting Judge In tho
Pleas to exercise tS anynng Ke a rg6
whose papers he Is called upon to sign IN the half
dozen weeks before election; all he can do Is to re-
sure that there should be evidence given personally
BY citizen that the candidate Is In every way entt
tied to the distinction he seeks. And such wit
In the country year or 50, no matter what may be
hts social status or moral standing. Bill Sykes, Of
ns sixth Wr can N,s %s aay lear o. tine
partner Is highly respectable, industrious and
worthy man. What, then, are we going to do about
only consolation must be that the vast bulk of the
foreign element are peaceable, honest folk who
leave their native land simply because they were
too enterprising to be satisfied with starvation
wages and pauper's grave.
NATURALIZATION BUSINESS AS YET DULL.
ia little early in the season as yet; but
already one political party has begun the work Of
drumming up aliens and putting them through
course, that the men whom they thus o6lige are
going to vote the right ticket For several days the
ton Committee is sitting at rs Chambers street. No.
Is is store on the Moor level with the street and
writer yesterday started in quest Of the committee
through the building. No outside indications
him where sat the objects Of
legal dens in vain. No one seemed to know
anything about it, and. indeed, looked some
su%aDly Candidate for naturalization, and about
whom there was, therefore. prtnsa y5,cte evidence
.. DISCOVERED LAST.
But at last, in a very small room, he came upon
young gentleman who was amusing himself while
he waited for business-and what a business that
"waiting for business" is for a young New York
lawyer l-by reading the HERALD.
''Uan you tell me where can see the Republican
Naturalization Committee ~ inquired the writer.
The smile which had lit up the young lawyers
Of q client faded sadly away, but he politely re-
"Down in the lager beer saloon below, sir, be-
THE RIGHT SALOON.
- And It turned out upon a closer examine
ton of the premises that there was, indeed
though IL was by no means Obtrustvey cOnspicu
GUS. II was very much like oil other lager
beer saloons in it's general appearance. There
we're half dozen round tables. adorned with wet
rings of superabundant lager and weiss, and at
them were seated few choice spirits-probably
clerks and printers-who were willing away the
nGSnas hours ana coon n the heated Ms aso
lunch counter, Iedoent OF sausage and limburger
cheese, and potato salad and similarly unsubstan-
tial dishes. The bartender was the most obliging
.'The Committee pr quoth he, cheerfuy, 'you
will find them In front, Sir down those steps,"
"aUIDEs, PHILOSOPHERS AND FRIENDS,
At last the guides, philosophers and friends ''of
in cool cellar, lighted by grating and by side
windows opening upon the beer saloon. They were
reclining gracefully on high desk so nxe e. against
supposed that they do their work standing In the
back room, however, there was table, with some
cane chairs and some empty lager beer glasses.
The committeemen-as many OF them, that is, as
were visible-were two in number, one of whom
long. large and conspicuous nose. The man with
the very red face seemed to act as chairman, and
i
iinguist of the establishment, and can recite the
constitution OF the United States In more than
dozen languages.
NOT PUTTING MANY THROUGH
'Is business brisk ~ inquired the reporter.
ing,n said the gentleman with the red face. I'VE
only began to-day, and shant do much, ! guess,
for another month or six weeks yet-not until q
little nearer the election"
Here he produced some pink cards which he said
he was going to distribute among the chairmen OF
the various ward organizations. 1t read simply
{ To the NATURALIZATION COMMITTEE
OF the REPUBLICAN GENERAL COMMITTEE:
recommend Mr.. - for Naturalization.
Signed -. {
Office No. 25 Chambers street.
Hours from 10 to O'Clock.
AUG. SCHAFFEL, Clerk.
This is about all he had to tell and lie and the
Hnguist fell away to the back table with an air
very highly suggestive Of their ardent wish that
three O'Clock had already arrived, and that they
could wend their way uptownward.
The viait mn a xva IN