Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-27
BETRAYED TO BISMARCK.

An American Minister'S Infamous
SURRENDER BfuraIized Citizens of
German Birth Prescribed and Dis
0Wned.
The infamous treaty which Mr.. Geo.
Bancroft concluded with Prince Bis
marck In 1868. and whicha Republican
Senate with q majority Of three-fourths
ratified without objection or amend
ment, except to make it apply as well
to those alleady uaturaliz0d in either
country as those hereafter natural
lied, Is an insult u, and an outrage
upon, the rights Of every American
citizen Of German birth. 1t not only
violates and restricts the privileges Of
citizenship abroad, but it attempts
to uullify the operation Of former
treaties of protection which are still
obligatory, and puts a brand of dis
graceful discrimination and InferiOrity
upon the Germans as & class.
The Bancroft surrender provides:
nIf a German uzturaliZei in America re-
news his residence in North Germany
trjttOut the intent to return to America, he
shall h held TO have renowned his natUr-
alizatiOn la the United States.
"The intent not 20 return may be held 70
exist when the person uatuTaliZed ia the
one country resides more than tlrO yCIrs in
the other country"
This clause deprives the naturalized
German Of his free agency, and by an
arbitrary and outrageous condition Of
two years residence, assumes his en-
tent not TO return and fOrfeits his
citizenship for that reason only. He Is
treated as a serf, TO be disposed Of by
masters after the fashion IF the middle
ages. He must 20 and come as they
order, with pass ike that which the
overseea gave to the slave before eman-
c:pation, and a penalty attached re.
handing him as a foreign project for
overstaYing his short allowance of time.
Under the laws Of the United States,
a declaration Of intention is the first
step toward citizenship. Nothing IS
assumed on the part of the Govern
ment The application is voluntary,
and expresses the intention and free
viii Of the person seeking to become a
citizen. When the formality Is per-
fected By & residence Of five years, If
he be a German, and returns to his old
home and kindred, Prince Bismarck at
the end Of two years may, without his
consent or knowledge, reclaim him as
German subject, and If he has a son
young enough may c0nsign him to the
CONSUMPTION, though ne was born in
the United States and the child of
American citizens
Russians, Frenchmen, Spaniards,
PortugIese, Turks, Swedes, Dan s,
Irisbmen. Austriaus, Dutchmen, and
fba peoDle Of other Municipalities who
bava become American citizens, may
-, The lands Of then birth, and re-
SIDE tbers if they think proper for a
short or for a long time, without tie
fear of molestatioD, under the shelter
of the American flag. The German
alone is prescribed and branded as an
inferior citizen. with imperfect rights
and a spurious protection, which MN
istar ike Bancroft Davis, the bride
/ taker. Is too glad to betray, small IS
Grey are, IL the hope Of cOnciliatng
Prince Bismarck and winning a guady
decoration. rs his uncle did for tins
treaty. without caring to know that
every American citizen must look upon
| If as a badge Of personal dishonor, and
an insult to the country which this
time.serving creature is allowed to mis-
represent and disgrace before the eyes
/ Of the world.