The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-16

SIX months, In advance, ............... "
l.w now demands, but the very sim.
plicity aud want Of necessary formali.
;ty in our law have made fraudulent
DISQUALIFICATION not ainfrao uent, to the
discrcdit and injury al honest citi.
Zcns, whether hattse or naturaliZed.
Gases Of this character are continually
being brought to- the notice OF the
government by iour Representatives
abroad, and saiso those Of persons resi-
dent in OTHER countries. Most fire.
quentiy those, who il they have re-
mained in this country long enough
have generally not much everpassed
country of their origin, where they re-
side, avoiding all duties to the United
STATES by their absrneei and claiming
10 be exempt from all duties to the
country of their nativity aud OF their
residence by reason of their alleged
naturalization, 1t is due to this gov
=-rnMont itself and TO the great mass
II the maturaiized cirizens who entire
ly, both in name and in fact, become
citizens VI the United States that the
high privilege Of citizenship Of the
United States should not be held by
fraud or in dero satien of the laws and
Of the GOOD name ef eyerv honest citi.
zen. On many occasins it has becn
brought to the knowledge of the gov
ernment that the certificates of natur.
alizatiou are held and protection or
interference claimed by parties who
admit that not ieuly they were not
within the United states Ut the time
Of the pretended naturalization, but
that thev have never resided i'm the
United States. In others the certifi.
cate and regard of the court shew on
heir face that the person claiming te
ne naturalized had not resided the 70.
uuired time in the United States. In
,,thers it il Admitted, upon examina.
ION that the requirements of the law
nave, not been, cOmplied with. In
came casea even sueh certificatas have
i,een matters q purchase, These are
,.ot isolated cases .risfug ar rare in.
tervals, but OF common occurrence,
and which are reported from all
quarters Of the globe. such occur
rcnces cannot and do not tail to refier.
upon the government and iniure all
honest citizens. such . fraud being
discovered, however, there IL no prac-
ticabie means within the control Of the
government by which the record Of
naturalization can be vacated, and
should the certificate be taken up, A.
it usuallysis by the diplomatic and
consular REPRESENTATIVES of the xsv.
ern nment to whom 1t may have been
presented, there is nothing to prevent
the person claiming to have been nat
uralized from obtaining a new certifi-
cate from them in place of that which
has been taken from him. The evil
has become 80 great and of such fire.
quent occurrence that 1 cannot too
strongly recommend that some effec-
tive measures be adopted to provide .
proper remedy and means for the va
eating OF any record thus fraudulentlv
made aud Of Furnishing the guilty par
ties to the iransaction.
sa In this connection refer also to the
question of expatriation and the cleo.
L eu of nationality. The United States
was foremost in upholding the right
nt expatriation, and was principally
Instrumental in .everthro wing the doc
lrine OF perpetual allegiance. Con-
xress has declared the right of expa-
triation to be national, inherent right
OF ali Deople. But while MANY other
nations have laws providing what
shall be necessary to work
a change of allegiance, the United
States has enacted the provisions of
law and has in no respect marked out
how and when expafriation may be
accomplished bv it's citizens.
Instances are brought to the atten-
tisn of the government where citizens
of the United States here, not satursl-
lied or native born, have formally be-
come citizens or subjects Of foreign
powers. but whO nevertheless in Inc
absence of any provisions Of legisla-
ton on theses questions. when involved
i'm difficulties. or when it seemed to
he their interest. claim to be citizens
of the United States and demand the
Intervention of a government which
thew have long since abondoned, aud
to which, for years, they have render
ed no service nor held themselves in
any way amenable. In other cases
naturalized citizens, Immediately after
naturalization have rel u rned TO their
native country. have kecomo engaged
i'm business have accepted Offices or
pursaits inconsistent with American
citizenship, an d evince no int ntion TO
return to tho United States until called
ON to perform some dutyto the country
- here they are residing, whereupen
thor assert their citizenship and call
an the representative OF this govern
,nent to aid tliem In their unjurst pre-.
teutione. ''si..-''I
II is but Justice to all bona tide citi-
rem. that no denbt should exist On
ssch questions and that Congress
.hould determine bv the enactment of
= law how expatriation will be accom-
ulished and q change Of citizenship be
| established. l also invite your atten-
| t;on to the necessitysor regulating bv
iawt the status of American women
Who marry foreigners. and of defining
meref fully that of children born in a
foreign country Of American parents
who NAV reside abroad. and alse Of
some further provision regulating or
GIVING LEGAL eject to marriages Of