Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-12
ATHEISM AND CIriZ GNSHIP.
Col. InGersolI on the Rejection of a
Man Who Would Not Swear.

Prom The NelC York HsFd'd.
"Have you noticed the decision Of Mr..
Nathaniel Jarvis, Jr., clerk OF tho Natu-
fahzatlon Bureau Of the Court OF Common
pleas, that an atheist cannot become a
lcltizen?" Col. Ingersoll was asked yester-
day by reporter.
"Yes, sir" replied Col. Ingersol, ''but
4 do not think 1t necessary for man 10 be
o theist III order TO become or to remain u
Fitizen of this country. Tue various la US,
IRON 1880 up to 1875, provided that tie
kerson wishing 10 be naturalized might
make oath or affirmation. TIE first eX-
ception you will lind in tue revised stat
ntes Of the United states passed in the
WINTER of 1854, section 2lGj, as
follows; AN alien may be ad.
united to become citizen OF the
Unued States in the following manner,
and not Otherwise: First, he snail de-
Glare on oath before 4 Circuit or District
court Of the United States etc. / sup
bose Mr.. Jarvis felt it to be his duty TO
comply with this section. In this sec
1Ion there is nothing about affirmation
only the word 'oath' is 'used-and Mr..
Jarvis came 10 the conclusion that nm
atheist could not take an oath, and,
therefore, could not declare his Intention
legally to become IA citizen of the United
States. Undoubtedly Mr.. Jarvis lelt it
bis duty To stand by she law and to sec to
d. that nobody should become citizen of
this country who had not well defined
belief in the existence of being that he
could not define and That no man has ever
been able to dttine. In other words, that
be should be perfectly convinced that
there is a being without body, parts or
passions who presides over the destinies
Df this world, aud more especially those
pf New York in and about that part
a all RI
WAS not Mr.. Jarvis right in standing
by the lawV
''lt Mr.. Jarvis is right neither Hum
bOldt nor Darwin could have become a
pitizen of the United States. Wagner,
tue greatest OF musicians, not being able
to take an oath, would have b en- LETT an
allen. Under this ruling Haeckel, Spen-
Ger and Tyudall would DO denied citizen
ebip-that Is 10 say, the SIX greatest mea
produced by the human race ia tue nine
tsenth century were and are unit 10 be
Citizens OF the United SAFES. Those who
have placed the human race IN de I can
not be citizens Of the republic. On the
other hand, the Ignorant wife beaten, the
criminal, the pauper raised in the work
house could take the necessary oath and
would be welcomed by New York with
arms outstretched as she would n.y."
"fOu have quoted one statute. Is there
no other applicable TO this casep'
81 am coming TO that. IL Mr.. Jarvis
will take the pains TO read not only the
law OF naturalization in section Z, 1866 of
the Revised Statutes Of the United States,
hut the very first chapter IN the book,
p1itle H. ne will lind In the very first sec
ton this sentence: the requirement. Of
Rn "oath" shall be deemed complied with
by making affirmation in official form!
This applies TO section 9, l6J. Or course
an atheist can affirm, and the statue pro-
Nides that wherever an oath Is required
Affirmation may be made"
''Dld you read" further asked the re-
porter, ''the recent action OF Judge O'Gor-
man, OF the Superior Court, in refusing
naturalization papers 70 an applicant be-
pause be had not read the constitution OF
Ahe United s,sIesW