The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-01


widest effect, it merely relieved the
deseruer from claim of the United
States to the service of his unexpired
term, and can have no pardoning eff
feet, for Belknap had no powers of
this character, and even it Mr..
Strive had been pardoned two years
ago, (Which is not the CASEY it is clear
that in the meantime, aud for many
years, he has imposed upon the peo-
pie, been taking oaths OF office which
he knew he had no right to take, and
holding offices Of trust which he
knew he had no right to hold-in
fact, was living a life of fraud and
deception. 1t is claimed that his de-
sertion was "boyish indiscretion;"
and perhaps it was; and it would in
deed be unfair to call up in after lite
6oYlsh lndiscreti0ns rs reasons oper-
atlng against trusting one who in
manhood disclaimed in an otherwise
upright course all trace or sympathy
with the past. But the deception
and concealment, the impositions of
the last 20 years cannot be said to
be ''boyish indiscretions." Clinging
to the past, atfiliating with it, and up
to the last moment continuing, and
until exposed and even then, in man
hood a living lie, cannot be termed
''boyiSh indscretions." Exercising
the right of Il citizen, holding offices,
and taking false oaths, under such
circumstances cannot be termed
"bOysh indiscrctions." The ques.
ton naturally arises, ought the peo-
pie to trust such II man? Dare they
do it? If he was pardoned, why
should he Gt ever before Il citizen) on
September 10th, 1877, before Judge
Lewis, at Port Townsend, become
naturalized? Permitted to do 50
perhaps with 10 proof before the
court of deserton-for under re-
cent decision of Judge Deady's, he
could not lcih such proof before the
court have claimed the right to be-
come such, and it is questionable
even now whether the order admit
ting him is not subject to be vacated.
and whether he could even if elected
| (?) hold this or any office, and it is
further questionable under this de
cision whether Mr.. Strive, being ad-
mtted under fraud and concealmeat,
can now lawfully claim to be a citizen
We quote the syllabus of Judge
Dcady's opinion:
July Sth, 1878
| l. Alien.-An alien to be entitled to admis-
| sion to citizenship must first prove that he
has behaved as man Of good moral charac-
ter during all the period of his residence in
the United States.
| p Moral Character.-What constitutes good
! moral character may vary in some respects in
different times and places, but person who
commits perjury does not behave as a man of
good moral character, and is not therefore en-
titled to admission To citizenship.
). Pardon.-A pardon is prospective and !
not retrospective in its operation, and while |
IL abSOlyes the offender from the guilt Of his |
otfense and relieves him from the legal disa-
bilities consequent thereon, it does not oblit- |
crate or wipe out the fact of the commission |
of the crime, so that it cannot be made to APP
pear on an application TO be admitted TO cti-
zcnship.
He became naturalized just in time
to axe the oath as code coditer, which
office he now holds, and still is grasp
ing for more. 1t is strange admis-
sion for man who now comes before
the people for Office, that he has held
Office in this Territory for many years,
taking oaths of Office, and at the time
If ever before citizen-bsiDg by
l1'c diJraachised- taking oath of of
fee as Secretary, and many other
oaths, well knowing that to say the
least of it he was swearing to what
was untrue "I--do solemnlv
swear that ! have never borne arms
against the United States since / hare
bear n citizen Mereqt," DC, Gc., and now
by his own undeniable admission in
lately becoming naturalized land re-
nouncing all allegiance to the Grand
Duke Of Oldenburg, of whom he was
formerly subject nerer hacing been
citizen at aA Mr.. Strives aspira-
lions for Office, land many at the same
time) seem only to be exceeded by his
cheek-to use "A common expression
for it is but recently that he headed a
movement TO GUST Judge Greene,
strangely fancying that the same
might rebound to the glory and profit
of himself this falling through, now
whines that he cannot be successful
before Judge Greene as private prac-
ticioner, and hence wants the office of
Prosecuting Attorney. Were it not that