Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-25
THE ABUSE OF cIrizgEsHIp.

i paper in the North American ReUie,o
by Mr.. Edward Self is devoted to the cub
iect Of the abuseof citizenship The article
ia too long, elaborate and statistical to be
capable of adequate presentation in brief.
But one or two of the leading thoughts de-
mand broad reading. Mr.. Self points
out that in June, 1880, there were in the
United States 6.679. 943 persons of foreign
birth. A very large number OF these
became American citizens hastily and
without true comprehension of the
Importance and scope Of the obligations
assumed. As a result tney are not so
divorced from their alien sympsthies, ideas
and habits as they should be. Upon the
subject of clannisnness we have several
times dwelt at length, and have demon
strated that one Of the dangers the
Republic encounters is the disposition of
foreigners to remain such distinctively,
after naturalization, and to unite in groups
of Municipalities for the attainment not only
of political ends here, but the furtherance
of political and hostile designs against the
country with which they have dissolved
allegiance. We find Mr.. Self fully awake
TO the magnitude of this evil, for no milder
term will properly designate it. 1t must
be evident to every thoughtful person that
the recipient of our robes of citizenship
very often declines to renounce his ancient
loves, or hates, or feuds, or enmities. On
the contrary, in altogether too many cases
he carries them into American social life
and the American political field, using his
newly-gained citizenship SIS weapon to
ooerce men to his way of thinking concern
ing European politics. So, too, as cur
essayiat puts it, sit has become common
for some adopted citizens, even, while
ignoring any Identification with American
comfy and American friendship. to claim
all the privileges accorded them by Law,
and to demand protection after they have
returned to their native lands, and are en-.
gagged in aiding and abetting movements,
often violent, in opposition to the lawful
authorities. We must confess that the
object of associations of foreign-born citi.
zens in their antagonistic relation to foreign
Governments, does not so much concern US
as what appears to be the inevitable results
of permitting them. If we encourage such
combinations in our midst, we must not be
surprised to find some Of like character in
time turning against the more sacred of
American institutions. When, as was done
in 1866 by q New York Court, 500 voters
were made in a single day, and s, 46S GER
tificstes issued on the testimony of ten
witnesses as to the character of the sppIi.
cants, how can it be possible for the new.
made citizens to have correct conception
of their duties to the country Tens of
thousands of citizens have been made by
wholesale, turned out finished " in an
hour, and have never advanced from that
point in their comprehension of citizen
ship. The rapid increase of Nationality
associations" the steady tendency of for.
eign elements to form into groups, the de. |
mands, threats and menaces of such in |
elections, in the shaping of public senti.
ment, and in the direction of the policy of
the country-are ominous The crude
ideas Of America with which foreigners
come to our shores are fostered and cult
waited by the "clan spirit" which ia
awaited of oy demagogues and designing
politicians to accomplish their ends and TO
the degradation OF American eitizsnship.
The speed and looseness with which oiti.
ems are "msds." together with the false
notions of citizenship and the manner in
which "the new made" are often manip.