The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-09-17
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION
IN THE UNITED STATES.

some facts in regard to the policy of
the United States Government in
favoring or restricting immigration
into that country. The Declaration
of Independence charged that the
King of Great Britain had 'en-
deavored to prevent the population
of these States: for that purpose,
obstructing the laws for the natural
ization of foreigners; refusing to
pass others to encourage their mi
grafton hither; and raising the con-
ditions of new appropriations of
lands" Encouragement to people
of other nationalities to seek new
homes in the States has been the
handspring of much of the advance
ment and prosperity of the Amer
lean people during the first century
of its history under the Constitu-
ton.
1t is only within the last decennial
period that occasion has risen for
the development of different senti-
ment, and the necessity for a policy
of restriction. By the census of
1880 there were 100000 native
born citizens; and 100000 of foreign
birth. But while the native popula-
ton was more than six and one-half
times that of foreign birth, "this
one-sixth of the population fur
nished nearly one-third of the in
sane, more than one-half of the
paupers, and nearly fourth of the
criminal class. This disproportion
of evils and ills, constitutes a con-
slant menace to the peace and good
order of society, a serious tax upon
the public revenues, and an intoler-
able burden on the penal and chart
table institutions of the country"
But this condition of things has
not been brought about from any
lack of sound legislation in regard
to this matter. The naturalization
law enacted April IA. 1902, provides
the method and conditions, accord
ing to which-and not otherwise,
says the statutes-an alien may be-
come a citizen of the United States.
1t prescribes among other conditions
that the court before which he ap-
pears shall be satisfied that he shall |
have resided at least one year within |
the State, ''and that during that |
time he has behaved as a man of |
good moral character, attached to |
the principles of the Constitution of |
the United States, and well-disposed /
to the peace and good order of the
In view of such require
ment how could any official be salts
fed to admit to the rights and privi-
leges of American citizenship immi-
grants just landed, ignorant of the
English language, paupers, an
archists, 1T Is self evident that he
who cannot read and write cannot
intelligently take the oath of citizen
ship: he who cannot support him
self cannot support the Constitution
Of the United States: be, who is
guilty Of immoral or disorderly con-
duet, cannot be well-disposed to the
peace and happiness of the country"
1t is notorious, however, that the
courts OF Justice have been prosti-
.uted to the encouragement Of the
political bosses, who have rail
-oaded" thousands Of aliens into the
privileges Of citizens. Good men
AVE Eiaked at this sscriligious
rsvesty Of justice, in order TO Il
ecure the success OF their political
1arty. no matter how unjustifable
he methods of the p1litical manipu-
stOrs. General Grant in his annual
Message in 1874 called attention to
he growing evil Of fraudulent as
veil as Illegal naturalization; for ,
he negligence and inattention Of
,ublic officials has made the Law
tself contemplate, and from the
,zsest Of motives legal documents
ave been made and sold, which i'm
,erl the honor Of the nation and
nay embroil at any time it's rela-
ions with foreign powers.
As the law now stands. no Chinese,
japanese, OF other Asiatic can be
naturalized The law at .
irst limited the privileges Of natur-
lizstion 10 free white persons.
This was modified July IA, 1870, by !
pplying its provisions also to
aliens Of African nativity and TO
,ersons Of African descent" In
rider to make this point perfectly
lear, Congress passed . Law May 6,
So, that mo court shall admit ,
rhSnoso tn cffszorst;n Whste-o~