Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-25

iroB constitutions, loyal hearts, rid in
dustrial skill.
And In reading the history of the Uni
ted States I find that in every emergen-
ey they Joined with the natives IN
battling for the stars and stripes A
mong the signers Of the Declaration OF
Independence find Norris, Thornton.
Smith, Gwinnett and others who were
born across the ocean. and such men as
Albert Gallatin, Generals LAFAYETTE,
Steuben, Seigel and many others were
also foreigners by birth.
During the late war, We took foreign
ers right from the ship and sent them to
the field to battle against native rebels.
And while the history OF our country
records the dark,traitorous deeds of many
of her natives, there Is not a solitary in
stance of an adopted citizen of promi-
nence who ever proved disloyal to the
flag OF the Union.
In view Of these facts, have for sew
eral years advocated such modification
of our naturalization laws as to material
ly shorten the time of probation before
voting. The long probationary period
required by the present law was proper
ard necessary during the infancy of the
Republic, but no longer so. in my hum
BILE opinion, as the only effect of it is to
prevent the honest MASSES of immi-
grants from enjoying the right of suf-
frags, while the dishonest part of them
vote ut the very frat election after
alighting from the ship.
Igo further. am in favor of the abo-
lition Of that clause of the constitution
which prohibits citizen OF foreign birth
from ever becoming President of the
United States. [Applause.l
Aud, Mr.. President, I am sure that in
this / will be accorded entire disinterest-
edness. for 1 am not aware that the peo-
pie Of the United States have as yet ex-
pressed any decided desire to make your
humble servant a nominee for the next
Presidency. [Laughter.l
Rut sir, in advocating the aboli tion OF
this provision of the Constitution, 1 ex-
pect bitter aud determined opposition !;
therefore. l am willing to compromise
with my opponents by proposing the
10th Amendment as substitute. name
ly, that no bachelor shall ever be eligi-
BILE to the Presidency of the United
States. I.aughter.l
1 do hold, however, that if foreigner
comes to the United States and by his
cemeanor, patriotism and brains proves
80 eminently qualified that decided
majority want him TO be President, l say
there ought not to be anything in the
organic law Of the land to prevent it.
While few curiosities i'm the shape of
Knownothings may yet be found in
our broad land, / am proud to say that
the great heart of the American people
is boundless in its liberality and gener-
osity, and our adopted citizens are every
where treated with marked respect and
consideration.
Of witnessing the Inauguration as Lieu
tenant Governor of our noble state of a
patriotic. talented son of that great coun
try to which we are indebted for the in
vention of the Art of Printing.
But, remembering that on occasions
like this responses should be brief.
shall conclude with the single remark
addressed tn young men who may be
about to enter upon the career of active
life. namely. that in forming an estimate
of their characters. the people will not
be governed by considerations of birth,
possessions or color, but they will ask /:
Are they honest? Are they dilligent /:
Are they meritorious? and if the an
sw ers to these questions shall he in the
atfirma tive, L can assure you that YOU
will have no trouble IN speedily esrab-
fishing yourselves high upon the popu-
lar mind and heart. [Applause.l
FOURTH REGULAR TOAST.
The laW--4 shield to tie honest eiti-
zen-a sDord to the ofenier.
This was responded to in an iDim
table manner by our fellow citizen
E B. Finley Esq The wit and sbiI
ity of this address will be manifest to
the reader as it assuredly WAS to the
delighted audiaDoe.
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMRE-
That is a very dry toast 1t is dri-
er than am, and that is pretty ory.
The law is always considered q dry
subject to deal with aud what makes
it still worse in this case I did not ex-
pect to. he present to night until a
very short time before coming. and
consequently did not get my i'm
promptu response prepared: laugh
tsr1 and seeing the hungry faces
around this inviting supper, l am ad
monished that whatever is said on
this dry subject ought to be short.
I certainly can subscribe to tho
foregoing sentlmeHt-as a sentiment
it sounds and reads well. Ihave been
in this sword and shield business, off
and on, something near ten years,
and must say that the sentiment as
expressed is about correct, theoret
ically.
Our school books abound with
good moral stories, presenting hon
estv in the light of always being
shielded and rewarded, and dishones
ty ard crime as being universally de
tected and punished by the sharp
s,cord of the law and justice.
Such for instance as the story of
Peter, the honest boy who woulden't
steal oranges. and got rewarded for
his houestv with hat full, and Jack
tt, - &h 80 .x-l IN ..a.,1I etaal oranroo uao
kicked by a horse for his dishonesty.
So mnch for the theory-but prac-
tictllv speaking 1 doubt if any of US
are prepared to saw i. works just in
that way as a general thing. As of
ten g. any other way, the law oper-
ates as shield to the wrong doer.
and a sword to the honest citizen.
In other words in law the knave walks
off victor with the spoils, leaving the