The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-24
MIR. FAULKNER:ON THE GERMAN
TREATY.

We have received a copy of the speech
of Hon. &. J. FAULKSER, delivered in
the House of Representative February
10th, in opposition to a resolution intro
duced by Hon 5. S. Cox, seeking to ter
inmate the Naturalization Treaty, now
in force between the United States and
the German Empire. The speech is IN
able and exhaustive argument on his side
OF the question, and contains great deal
of information in relation to our natural
izaton laws and treaties. Mr.. FAULK-
NEE's position on the Committee o:
Foreign affairs afford him fine oppor-
tunity to examine these questions, and
his views are worthy of consideration.
In concluding his speech, Mr.. +. says:
1T seems to me, then, so tar n | have
looked into this question, that there are
two, and but two, classes of persons who
are opposed 10 the continuance of the
present treaty They are, first the enc
mics of the United States in Germany.
| do not charge TINS class rs being gov
erned by any improper or uupatriotic
feeling; indeed, | might rather class
tnem as the Jealous friends of their own
country; they see aud know that this
treaty has operated powerfully as It
premium upon emigration from their
country. and, feeling that this drain upon
their most useful population seriously I'M
pairs the strength OF the empire they are
disposed TO arrest it.
The second class who are hostile to
this treaty are those who have emigated
here with no bona fie purpose or intent
Of contributing to the growth or promot-
ing the advancement o. our country, and
who remain here only long enough to
acquire citizenship in our country, and
then expect to return to their native
land to live the balance of their lives
free from the obligations that would
otherwise attach to them as citizens of
their original country.
at was to guard against this abuse
of our law of naturalization that one of
the provisions to which | have before
referred was inserted in this treaty. II
is they who principally want it terminal
ed, for it opposes an inyincibie obstacle
to the qualification of their selfish views.
1t is provision eminentiy just to the
German government, just to ourselves.
lust to that honest class of our naturslized
citizens who place proper value upon
American citizenship and are disposed
to conform to the true spirit OF the
treaty.
whatever is valuable will have its
counterfeit. 1t is therefore not surpris-
ing that our naturalization laws should
be resorted to for selfish and unworthy
purposes. 1t is indeed high and glori-
Gus privilege to be an American citizen,
to fee! that you are part and parcel of
great Republic which commands the
admiration ard respect alike of the
civilized and barbarian world. There is
not now power on earth that does not
acknowledge our greatness and solicit our
friendship. More far-reaching than the
boosted protection of Roman citizenship,
there is not portion of the earth where
the name OF this Republic does not assure
protection to its citizens. 1t matters not
into what nation or tribe his fate or for
tune may carry him, into what gull or
ocean he may wander, he feels, as he con-
templates our national flag, that he NAV
say of 1t in the language of the Psalmist:
If take the wings of the morning.
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the
sea, even there shall Thy hand lead ME,
and Thy right hand shall hold me"
..Sir, it is because l value this great
privilege of American citizenship that |
ain willing to see it made the instrument
of fraud and imposture. If man be-
comes an American citizen by adoption,
let him show by his residence among US
that he values the country that has made
him one of its children; let him live here
and discharge all of his duties which his
country demands of him. If he revisits
the country of his origin for the purpose
of business or pleasure, let him do so
with the intent of return within rea-
sonable time; but l will never agree to
change, modify, or terminate treaty
which is only Objectionable because it re-
fuses to recognize as citizens those who
abandon our country and virtually re-
nounce our government"