The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-09-07
HOw FOREIGN-BORN CITIZENS ARE
TREATED In RHODE ISLAND.

The subject ct protection to foreign born
citizens. One contended that the DEM
ccratic party, while in power, did not
protect naturalized citizens who revis-
tied their native Land, while the other
cited the case Of Martin Rosetta as proof
If the contrary. Now, we respectfully
.iirect the attention Of these gentlemen,
md all others who care to investigate
the subject, to the manner in which
foreign boru citizens are treated at,
LONE in some of the States of the
Union.
Last year the United States Senate
appointed committee to inquire and
report to that body, concerning the
GENIAL or abridgement of the right OF
outrage to. citizens Of the United States.
This committee was composed of Demo
Gratis and Republicans, and empowered
10 take testimony under oath, and send
fer persons and papers. They went,
among other places, to Rhode Island,
State which is now and has been Re-
publican since that party was organ
ICED, and where Democrats are In such
: hopeless minority that they are in no
manner responsible for the laws on the
statute books. The committee found,
aud so reported to Congress, that not
less than $4,000 foreign born citizens
are DISTINGUISHED in that little State,
because they do not own real estate.
Carl w. Ernst, an intelligent foreign
Torn citizen Of the State, testified that
1850 foreign-born citizens, or % per
cent. of the whole number OF citizens
u the State, are disfranchised.
& foreign born soldier, who served as
major in the Union army, testified that
Ee was denied the right Of suffrage be-
cause be did not own real estate. A
native born citizen. white or black, can
register and vote at any election,
whether he owns real estate or not; but
tie foreign-born citizen, even though
Le fought in The Union army, is dis
fYancnisel unless he OWES real pro-
ferty.
The committee embrace, in it's report
TO the Senate. the sworn testimony of a
number OF citizens to this effect.
Colonel James Moran, of Providence,
who served three years as a commits
s.oned officer in the war, and was hon
orably discharged, swore that he was
DISTINGUISHED because be. is a naturalized
citizen and does not own real estate.
Hon. Thomas Davis, also a resident
c. Providence, testified that he was
naturalised forty five years ago. He
had been a manufacturing jeweler,
e.ned real estate; was elected to the
Legislature several times and to Con-
gress once. in 1853. He failed, lost his
property, and to-day is denied the right
ei suffrage in the State where be has
resided over City years, and which he
once represented in Congress, because
he is foreign born citizen, and does
not own real estate.
These are only few Of the many
cases reported by the Wallace Commit
zee to the Senate, where old residents
q Rhode Island are not permitted to
vote because they are not native born
citizens.
The total number of square miles in
Rhode Island is l,O54, much less than
scme townships in this county. The
lumber Of inhabitants to the square
mile, according to the local census taken
il, 1875 is "a, yet unless it's foreign
lorn citizens own Sl34 worth of its
limited real estate. be is treated like a
Cainaman, 30 far as having voice in
the selection Of officers and law makers
IA concerned. The 10000 voters of
Rhode Island are allowed two represen-
tatives in Congress, while in the other
States the average number of voters in
each Congressional District is at least
$4,000. and in Connecticut in 1878 it
was over 10000 Florida, one Of the
alleged bulldozed Southern States,
where it is charged men are kept away
foni the polls by force, because they