The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-01
LAWMAKERS
Representatives in
Were Born Abroad.
To Be a Capable Set Of Legis-
No viii Compare Well with
DUAL Number of Natives.
hs rndrnnapoIls yourna1.


born citizen to the chief places IN the execu tive
brancn of the government. No person who first
ices the light of day under foreign flag can
a&pire to the presidency or vice-presidency of
the. United States, but any other position may
be reached by any citizen whose allegiance is
due TO the stars and stripes.
The President could, if he saw fit, appoint the
Hon Patrick Collins Of Massachusetts, to the va
can't chi justiceshIp Of the Supreme Court He
might go farther and fare worse" too, for Mr.
Collins 10 a man OF brains who Is learned in the
law and well posted in legal procedure in all the
courts Besides Mr.. Collins has upon more
than one occasion, shown himself to be thor
oughly competent to preside over BODY of men.
whsther an ordinary caucus, gathering of the
Clan-na~Gaol, the House of Representatives.
There il no foreign born justice on the Supreme
Bench to-day and no naruraiized citizen sits in
tbs Cabinet couneils Of the Nation. But this is
net because the Constitution prohibits. but be-
cause tas appointing power has found native
judicial talent and native statesmen VINO have
suited the inches which they are filling.
With the large preponderance ST Irish and
GerTnan-born citizens in this country, as
compared with those of other nationalities, it is
natural to expect that the two countries named
would furnish the majority of the native
members Of Congress Yet such is not the fact.
The numbered Irishm and Germans com bined
just equal the number of English and Scottish
born members, although it is true that one Of
those born il England, namely Mr.. Crisp, OF
Georgia. is a constitutional American" as his
parents were Americans, temporarily residing
in England at the time of his birth.
The birthplaces of the thirty non-native mem
bers distributed through the world as fol-
lows: Eight first saw the light of day in ireland,
seven In Scotland, five IN England, four in Ger
many, three in Canada lone each in On tario.
Quebec and New Brunswick), two in Norway,
and one In Sweden Two EDglishmen, Pasco
Of Florida, and Jones, of Nevada, and
Scotchmsn, Beck, of Kentucky, have seats in the
Senate One Euelishn.an, Came of Utah. is a
dhleRate without vote while the other twenty
six are members of the House. having all the
rights and privileges enjoyed by native citizens.
OF the twenty-six members of the House, in
cluding delegate Game, who were born abroad,
only one, Mr.. Crisp, Of George. fought on the
Confederate side during the war, and he was
really an American from the time of his birth.
William III. Grcnt of Vermont, who born
in Quebec was also born of American parents.
He served in the Union army There were
seven of the actual foreigners who took part in
che struggle, and IL Is a remarkable fact that OF
thu seven six were Scotehmen-the entire
Scottish delegation in the House-the other was
Knute Nelson, born in Norway.
glance at the list of names of distinguished
generals on the Union side during the war will
reveal an extended list of the Of "Auld
Scotia" The Grants, the Shermans, the Me-
Phersons, the McClellans the Burnsides and
4
found there. as well many Of the sons of the
Emerald Isle. 1t is not strange therefore, that
offered in defense of the Union,
although il is strange that the
names Of every OF the six members of the
House who were born in the Land-o'-cakes
should be found inscribed on the Nations roll of
fame. They are jolly lot of fellows these six
Scots Five are Republicans and one is q
Democrat. and all make excellent members
David B. Henderson, of Iowa, heads the list in
terms Of service. He is stockily- built man of
forty-eight years. He enlisted private ia
an Iowa regiment ia 1861; served until he won
his heutenADts shoulder-knot and lost leg in
1863. He was later commissioned as Colonel
and served at the head of his regiment until the
close of the Henderson is of kindly |
face and magnificent voice He is cordially |
liked by everyone and. although strong parti- |
san. has personal enemies in Congress. The |
newspaper men al like him because OF his nose |
for news and his affability.
Major John NJ Farquhar of Buffalo. n. Y, /
was the president of the international |
Typographical Union. he enlisted a private
IN the first regiment that went to Cairo and /
fought with the Fourth Army Corps in every /
battle IN which inst corps was engaged, except |
Missionary Ridge. Re left the army major
when he returned to the case. Mr.. Farquhar is
q man Of sterling integrity. who makes hosts of
friends, and during the three years he has served
IN Congress- he has shown himself to be thor
oughly equipped for debate. and has occasionally
taken the floor TO explain bill technical
subject when its advocates were at a loss to find
q champion.
William G. Laidlaw, who is serving his first
term as the REPRESENTATIVE of the Thirty fourth
New York district, came to the United States
when twelve years of age. He served two years
in The navy during the war, and has held q
number of Offices in western New York since.
De Is lawyer by profession, and for several
years was district attorney OF his county It
reported Of him that he never lost case while
he filed the Office. Mr.. Laidlaw is full of that
dry hamor for which some of his countrymen
are celebrated he does not claim to be liter |
airy man, but is 90 we'll read as any in Congress
He spends his spare time reading Addison or
DIR. Johnson, and absorbs the best thoughts of L
ekAaA 1te.~
and meat He boards around" now, although
when be first came here ne tried of the
many boarding houses of Washington. One
morning the waiter had just brought him piece
Of STEAK which had very weary appearance.
when the landlady, who is great on literature.
came and sat beside him. MIR. Laidlaw,H said
she, ''can you tell me whence came tho aphor-
isp, Know thysefP"
mo. madam. / unable to answer your
question in the affirmative My education in
that respect has been neglected, but / should
like 10 ask you question Tell me, IL you
please, why it s that you do not inaugurate a
system Of checks for the steakP
Il do not understand you sir. replied the land
II mean, said the Congressman, shat you
ought IN check this steak when it goes back TO
the kitchen, and give me the check correspond
ing By that method should always be sure
fellows steak. The owner of this piece might
be offended If he knew that had been hacking
at if.R
BE left the house the same day
Messrs- Kerr, OF Iowa, and Macdonald, or
Minnesota, two more sons Of Scotland are serv-
ing for the first time in Congress. Air. Kerr has
been IN this country since he was five years old.
lie studied law, WAS admitted the bar and
Immediately enlisted He came out of the army
bs second lieutenant and made a good soldier.
He is q fighter still. and willis he has not had
much of an opportunity to make his mark in the
House, he has been heard on several occasions,
and probably will be heard again.
Judge Macdonald. of Minnesota, IL the only
Democrat among che six Scotehmen. Gnd one If
The drst OF bis party to be elected from hs
IA rwad nc n rn uata r-Of9 Htrtp |
tns war, and since that unpleasant affair has
proved himself 70 be an excellent judge for i
more than ten years. He has been editor,
Ind is a forcible writer and is making an ex-
,elent Congressman.
The last OF the six Scotchmen is Capt James q
B. White, Of Indiana. who defeated his opponent
ahr urad a1,a ind