The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-30

relnc0rp0rateu among inc suoJ0o'S VI Iho
Emperor after a residence anywhere IN
Germany, though hundreds OF miles away
from the place of his birth, tor even day
over two years. He may be native of
Bavaria and if after his naturalization in
the United States he enters into business
relations at Hamburg or Bremen, a resi-
of two years in either of these cities far re-
mote from the country of his nativity, or
elsewhere within the empire, makes him a
subject of the Emperor, Of sohom he nerer
aoas subject before, and divests him of
the character of an American citizen with
out his consent and possibly against his
will. And it need occasion no surprise
were it to appear that this very bill has
been suggested in the interest of that poll
cy which seeks by every means to render
emigration from Germany to the United
States and the naturalization of native
Germans as American citizens less desira-
BILE and popular in the country under its
sway. The treaty on this subject of expa-
trlation concluded with the North German
Union and now extended over the whole
empire seems to have had principally that
end in view on the part of one of the con
tracing parties. The late postal conven-
ton between the two countries subscrved
a similar purpose by inferentially impos-
ing higher mail rates on American news
papers and periodicals, printed in the Ger
man language and circulating in Germany,
than upon those published in English. In
all these measures the object was the same
to prevent the spread of knowledge on
American affairs among the resident popu-
lation of Germany. The pending bill is
but an appendix to the rest. Ostcnsibly
carrying out the provisions of the treaty, il
aims at .discOuraging German Americans
from returning to the old country except
at the risk Of renOuncing the protection OF
the United States and sacrificing their
American citizenship
Mr. George Bancroft is learned and
able man, He has large if not wise exper-
fence in diplomacy but he is no match
when pitted against men like Baron Thiele,
the German under-secretary of foreign af-
! fairs or Lothar Bucher, Bismarck privy
councillor. And as compared in statecraft
with Prince Bismarck himself, Mr. Bancroft
vanishes. Under these influences Mr..
Bancroft was induced to consent to the
treaty and sign away the rights of nearly
two millions of naturalzed citizens, and
change the declared policy of the American
Republic.
Even our Senate, [ might say even our
tavorlte Senator, Mr.Schurz, was captm ed
by the transcendent renown of Bismarck 5
genius. His weil-earned rank as the first
statesman OF the age, his UNPARALLELED sue
cess, and above all his protessed friend
ship for the United States for the express
sion Of which he found a Loyalty eager
mouth piece in Mr. Bancroft OF Berlin, and
an eminent translator,in the suave Baron
Geralt at Washington, made him a para
mount power.
The return to their native country even
| for brief visit by German American citi-
zens who have founded new home here.
and by thrift and perseverance attained to
a comfortable position, is not what the
aristOcratie court of Prussia, now of Ger
many desires. That man who in his
youth who left home a poor mechanic OF
farmer, who had his place assigned him
among the lower ranks of society. should
reappear among the scenes of his early
HE after years OF successful toll in his
adopted country as a man completelv
changed in character and bearing, as one
accustomed to independence Of thought
and action, as man in fact, the proud,
self conscious peer Of any Of the blue
blOoded nobility, and as such shine bright
ly IN his own person as convincing proof of
the vast superiority of the American over
the European system, was too offensive u
contrast
Hence it came that Prussian local off
Gals always had orders from Berlin to
keep a sharp lo.k out for returned Ger
man Americans, and to treat them with
| the less respect and the more severity the
better off in the world goods they seemed
! to be. The few who came back poor and
told tales Of woe about America were sell
dom molested, and but rarely chargcd with
having abscOnded from military duty On
the contrary, most of these disappointed
people were rather encouraged to recount
| their experiences and dISappontments, and
were even hel ped along and assisted by the
authorities Returning German Ameri-
cans are always welcomed with open hands,
and invited to hOspitable homes-provided
| they do not talk too much republcanism
| If they are disposed to be lackeys to those
| in power; if they are willing to depreciate
American institutions, they are, | fear,
welcomed too cordially. Fortunately there
are but few such and for their sake Meth
er Bancroft 5 treaty nor the proposed act
OF Congress is required. But the natur-
allied citizen who has identified himself in
feeling with our country, going back there
and talking republican sentiments, is after
two years residence there, put to the trou-
bic of sort of espionage ., sir, he must
register himself! He must submit him
self to a species of police or consular reg
ulation. He must do this in order to save
himself from forfeiture of his American
(Continued on third pocr