The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-07
CITIzENsHIP.

line proud title OF an American citizen il
one which, to those who are to the manor
born. as well a. those of foreign birth who
Q have accepted the great boon conferred
upon them by our naturalization laws
: carries with it greater privileges and i'm
4 munities than those conferred by any for
eign power upon it's subjects. American
citizenship is q synonym OF liberty and
= carries with it rights and privileges that
constitute the possessor OF them a sover'
eign in the fullest acceptation Of the term.
: The right OF personal liberty and the right
oil private property constitute the two
grand privileges wrested by the subjects OF
Great Britain when they were in a servile
condition, worse than slavery under the
feudal system, from King John and Charles
II, and Incorporated in that palladium OF
human rights known az the Magma Charta.
These great principles form the basis that
the enlarged liberties and rights Of american
frevmen were constructed upon and upon
which they will securely rest until Democ-
racy shall cease to exist.
Naturalized citizens enjoy the same priv.
ileges conferred upon those who are native
born, excepting only the right OF holding
the Office Of President. In other countries
the rights OF aliens are more or less re-
stricted; hence, they labor under certain
disqualiications which prevent them IRON
the full enjoyment of the limited privileges
accorded natural born subjects. The
eqality Of all under our constitution and
laws has doubtless stimulated the unparal-
leled immigration from foreign countries
TO our hospitable shores ever since America
conquered her nationality and assumed
her position as a sovereign and indepen-
dent Government. The absolution OF all
allegiance to foreign Kings, Princes and
Potentates and the assumption Of the du-
ties and obligations required OF and inn
posed upon native born citizens are what
| constitute naturalization. There has
never been any question, in this country,
as to the rights of naturalized citizens. ex-
cept during The administration of John
Adams and the Native American and
Know Nothing crusades against foreigners, |
when attempts were made to impose disa-
bilities upon them, but which in each in
stance was signally thwarted by the Demo-
cratic party.
How far the rights OF naturalized Ameri-
cans must be respected in foreign countries,
or to what extent the Federal Government
will protect them, has not yet been definitely
settled. These are matters which under
international law can only be determined
by separate treaties with other nations, be-
cause no n government can by it's legisla-
ton affect the policy or interfere with the
le wo q nd ooto h1ichod r,cfonno ~ onothor l
Diplomatic negotiations have to some ex-
tent secured certain immunities to natur-
allied citizens when visiting the country to
which they originally owed allegiance. Eng
land, by virtue ofacts Of Parliament passed
during the reigns Of Philip and Mary, and
George III, assumed to disregard the rights
conferred upon her subjects by other ma
tions, whose protection vas thrown around
them by reason of naturalization. She ar
~rogant)y claimed the right to impress Eng
Gsh sailors who had shipped in vessels sail
ing under the United States flag. after they
had declared their intention of becoming
citizens. This the American Government
Indignantly resented under James Madison,
a Democratic President. The war of1812,
which ensued, taught England to humble
her pride, respect the sovereign power of
America and recognize the rights of sailors
under our flag. Since that time England
has not attempted TO exercise any jurisdic-
tion over her subjects after they had alb
solved their allegiance and had been adj
mitted to citizenship in America. The most
noted case where In attempt was made to
compel q naturalized American to render
services claimed by the country Of his ma
tivity, was the case OF Martin Kosta, who
was seized at Tripoli, Africa, and conveyed
on board of an Austrian man-of-war, lay
ing in the harbor in front Of that city, upon
the plea that he owed military services to
the House OF Hapsburg, the ruling o
arch. Commander Ingram, in charge Of q
United States vessel, demanded his release
as an American citizen, which the Austrian
very reluctantly consented to do, only
when he found that the young Yankee COM
mander was prepared to enforce his request
at the lannon's mouth. This led to a very
exciting diplomatic controversy between
the two governments conducted by William
l.. Marcy, Secretary of State under Frank
lin Pierce, q Democratic President, on our
part, and which resulted in laying down
the principle respecting the rights
of naturalized citizens in othe countries
Austria, while consenting not to interfere
with her subjects after they had become
citizens of America, when OF other ships
and in other lands han her own, has
always displayed a kind Of bulldog per-
tinacity in subjecting them to imprison-
ment and other gross %indignities when de.
tected within the bounds OF her dominion.
Several attempts were made by the Gov
eminent, while under Republican rule, to
induce Austria to respect the rights of
naturalized Americans, but without avail.
These failures cannot be attributed to n.y.
thing other than the milk and water
diplomacy which characterized the foreign
policy OF all Republican administrations.
Count Bismarck, representing the German
Empire. taking advantage of the weakness
Of President Arthur's administration last
year. issued q decree threatening certain
penalties upon all COMMUNICATIONS resi-
dent in the domains OF the Kaiser Wilhelm,
who had not rendered certain military
services claimed from every male subject,
by his government. This act has encour-
aged the vaccilating King OF Austria to
issue a similar decree in the form OF an
edict; but going still farther, and threaten J
ing them with imprisonment If their coz
duct is not satisfactory. What does this
weak imbecile mean? Does he suppose T:
that, because Bismarck scared Mr.. Arthur, !
the Republican, he can brighten Grover
Cleveland, the Democrat, who has con-
sworn to support the constitu-
ton and enforce the laws of free America? I
much. The Austrian lilliput will lind 7
the American giant stripped to the waist {
and eager for a diplomatic triumph, or q t
victory in defending, maintaining I
and supporting the rights guaranteed to t
German-Americans, against the forces not i
only Of Bismarck and himself, but if neces- I
the whole world. 9
The Democracy have always stood by =
the naturalized citizen in defending and :