New-York tribune., 1874-04-24

wards. There is nothing In all these provisions
in the least onerOus or unjust to the Daturaized
citizen. The bill asserts to the fullest extent
the American doctrine OF the right OF every
man to change his allegiance. and of the duty
of this Government to protect tho naturalized
citizen against all claims of his former
sovereign in all cases except where he has
committed crime. 1t is disingeluors and
uncandd for the opponents of the measure to
say that it admits the obsolete dogmas of
intrinsic and immutable allegiance. Every
word in it is categorical denial OF them. 1t
is equally untrue to say that it will discourage
German immigration to this country. Ii it
has any effect, it will be exactly the contrary
one. IL will prevent the emigration OF
naturalized Germans from this country to their
former homes, and will retain among us large
numbers of this valuable and thrifty class of
the population. Mr.. Cox, in opposing the bill,
implicitly admitted this fact when he spoke
of the 10000 American citizens now living IN
Germany.
A great many Europeans come to this conn
try annually to better their condition in life.
or these vast majority come to stay. They
throw in their lot with us; they bear their
proportion of taxes, Of civil and military duty,
and hold themselves ready to respond in all
proper and legal ways to tho calls which the
Republic may make upon them, in return for
the advantages it is supposed to confer. They
are entitled to exactly the same privileges and
immunities as native citizens, subject only 10
the requirement of naturalization, as proof
of their intention TO become residents and citi-
zens of this country. They are entitled to the
protection of the American flag not only here
but all over the world. They may visit their
former homes, and remain as long as they
please, and the flag of their adopted country
will shield them from any demands of their
former sovereign. But there is another class
of persons relatively small, but amounting to
several thousands in the aggregate, who, hav-
ing made u comfortable subsistence in this
country, take their money and their families
back to Europe and settle there to enjoy the
competence they have gained in America.
They have been naturalzed here, not to become
citizens, for this implies duties as well as priv
ileges, but merely for convenience when
they return to their homes. They use
their naturalization papers simply az
means of avoiding any service to which they
would be liable without them. They do moth
ing to prove either their new or their Old
allegiance. They are Americans when they
want the aid of their legations, aud at no
other time. They are of no use whatever to
this country, out of which they have drawn
their means of living, and they are enabled by
their short visit here to shirk all responsibility
to the country where they were born. Yet so
jealous is this nation of the rights of its
adopted citizens that it extends its full pro-
lection even to these useless drones, and the
bill now before Congress only requires them
to say before q Minister or Consul of the
United States that they are American
citizens, and that they intend some time to
| resume their residence in this country. 1t
is only the eye of q politician. with lively
see any hardship in this. The objection to it
on the part OF these renegade Americans is
that they do not wish to be compelled to state
that they are Americans. They wish the mat
ter to remain in allegiance, so that when occa-
! sion arises they may profit by their doubtful
position and choose whatever nationality will
benefit them most 1t is no more oppressive
to require them to say they are Americans
and intend to remain so than it is to make
the rest of us register our names before we
can vote. The bill is necessary to define the
position of hundreds of families in Europe.
Every mail brings to the State Department
inquiries as to the status Of people claiming
American protection, whose nationality it is
impossible to determine under existing laws
and regulations.