Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-06-05
UndeveIoped Citizenship.

throughout the world, the whole ma
ton was electrified with the proud sat
isfaction excited by its just conclusion
and the high judicial strain in which
it was conveyed. The essential flavor
of nationality was in it, 1t was a
broad declaration Of the processes OF
the growth of American citizenship,
Constituted as our country VIGOROUSLY
is Of every nations offerings, the time
had come to place the claims to new
citizenship on more liberal grounds
than those which restricted European
subjects, and Gov. Marcy's noble state
ment Of them was universally accepted
and endorsed as the true American
doctrine, to be enforced with all the
power Of the nation. Austria may
now claim she is avenged for the deep
wound given to her vanity by that
mastery decision Of the American
State Department. The case of De
Rojas, before the Spanish-American
Claims Commission at Washington,
has been decided directly contrary to
the rule in the Martin Koszta case,
and by Baron Lederer, the Austrian
Minister, acting as umpire in the disa.
greement Of the Spanish and Ameri-
can members Of the Commission. De
Rojas is a native of Cuba, and Il resi-
dent Of Baltimore. He has in legal
form renowned his allegiance to Spain,
and in September, 1870, declared his
intention to become citizen of the
United States. To prove that inten.
ton to the utmost, he has established
his domicile in an American city. lie
comes before this mixed Commission
with claim for damages done to his
property, on the basis Of his inchoatc
American citizenship. The Spanish
advocate argued in opposition, that
his claim would be received with equal
favor if he were to appear before the
Commission without reference to his
declaration Of intention, or, in other
words, as u Spanish subject, NJ.
Potestad, on the part of Spain, decid-
ed against his claim, and, incidentally,
against accepting the American doe
trine Of citizenship; Judge Otto, for
the United States, decided for the
Marcy doctrine.
The arbitrator, the Austrian Minis
ter, adjusted the disagreement by re-
vcrsing the doctrine Of the Marcy let
ter, and Chevalier Ilulsemann may
rest in peace. But the nation is not
prepared to surrender the ground so
bravely taken by Gov. Marcy and
consistently maintained by President
Pierce. De Roias is citizen whose
rights the Government Enthusiastically
asserts its determination to defend.
The American doctrine is, that i'm
mediately upon declaring his inten
ton to renounce allegiance to other
powers, the toreisn-born applicant be
comes invested with the nationality Of
the United States, to be protected by
the Government of the country of his
adoption. But for invading United
States territory, which would consti-
tute separate offence against United
States sovereignty, Spain might, under
the Lederer decision, come and take
De Rojas as her own subject, and his
solemn declaration of intended citizen
ship would be treated with contempt.
1t is prcposterous to say that the peo-
pie Of the United States would submit
TO anything like that, and still such is
the practical result of an acquiescence
in Minister Lcderer's decision. The
agreement of February 10Th, 1871,
between Spain and the United States
in reference to tbs Commission dis
tinctly includes the claim of De Rojas
to be considered an American citizen,
ard the Spanish laws openly assent to
the position taken by our own NUM-
cipal laws But an Austrian represen-
taive is permitted to step in and re-
verse what we were ready to go to
war with Austria for, several years
ago. Would there were a second
Marcy in the Cabinet to restate the
high American ground of acquired
citizenship in manner to compel
foreign respect. Our national flag
has been lowered by this insulting de-
cision, from the power, too, that was
made to feel the triumph of American
doctrine; and it will dip lower still if
it is suffered to stand with silent ac-
quiescence.-Boston Post.
HARpERs MAGAZINE for June graft
fies the public taste for novel, as well
as useful matters, as its custom is
II -, I A. 4