Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-04
CORRESPONDENCE
For the Independent.
So We Enter the Ending Year of the
Decade-Where Shall We Be at
its Close?


The Baltimore Sun of December
16, has succinctly given the views of
the President and several Congress
men and Senators on the restriction
of immigration to this country. The
President in his message urges that
avowed socialists and anarchists shall
ssnot only be denied citizenship but
a domicile," and such as apply for
naturalization shall have their moral
character and disposition examina-
ton made "more thorough Sena-
tor Mitchell, of Oregon, has introdu-
ced bill re-, wiring, in addition to
other things, bat the intending i'm
migrant, before leaving his native
country, shall obtain from his gov
eminent a passport, identifying and
giving his name, title, rank, occupa-
tion, &c. Senator Blair's bill goes
further: at requires in respect to
naturalization, that the application
for citizenship shall speak, read and
write the English language in the
presence of a Judge, shall have been
of good morals for five years next
preceding the date of his applica-
ton, and shall renounce and ALLURE
all allegiance to any foreign state,
prince or potentate, and any power
or organization whether civil, eccle-
siastical or religious, or claiming to
be such" In the House, bills will
be introduced in Congress by Fetch,
of New York, and Oates, of Alaba-
ma, which will be just as rigid and
radical, all showing the desire of
public opinion in this land to pro-
vide in the future for the better gov
eminent of this country. The Sun
says: "We are still hospitable as a
Nation, but we are already, we begin
to feel, sufficiently numerous for
practical purposes, and abundantly
able to govern ourselves"
TX Xxx Xxx
According to the Manchester, N.
H., Union, (Dem.) Dec. 18th, the
North Dakota people are framing
laws that are very radically in favor
of inficting severe punishment on
any who violate their prohibitory
laws. The penalty for selling, offer
ing for sale, or giving away any in
toxicating liquors will be not less
than 5000 nor more than $1,000 for
the first offense. While at least one
years confinement behind the bars
will suit the second offense. The
restrictions thrown around druggists
are formidable. The buyer must
make an affidavit of intentions before
every purchase, while the druggists
record of sales must be open to pub
lie inspection during all business
hours. Public officials are made
spies and informers under penalty of
fines and the forfeiture of their off,
.ces. So they appear to have put
prohibition into the constitution to
purpose fit be a sinecure any,
where it is not intended to be so in
North Dakota. The Manchester, n.
H., Union is bitterly opposed to such
rigidity of law, and we suppose that
ere long it will be published all over
the land, as it has been concerning
prohibition in Maine and Kansas,
that sit does not prohibit" and many
will swear that black is white, but
that they will have their way and do
their best to flood such places with
the curse of whiskey, and for the
sake of some whiskey money, that
may come into their tills. The knowl-
edge of such men as Governor Bea-
yer, of Pennsylvania, concerning
Maine, or the Congressman of Kan
sas. with Senators included, will all
have to be set aside as falsehood,
though it be the essence of truth, be-
cause it does not please the whiskey
traffic,-and we may be sure that
nothing will satisfy the whiskey traf-
fic but license to do as it pleases.
~ *** Xxx
Rumors have reached us this far
in the East, that there is a move
ment in Kansas to resubmit the ques-
tion of prohibition to the people.
The two Senators and seven Con-
gressmen in Washington have been
interviewed on the question and their
answers are opportune and ought to
be satisfactory to all concerned and
we think will be to such as want the
truth. Senator ingalls, thinks that
the idea Of resubmission is Demo
cratic project, and unworthy of the
consideration of the Republicans.
Senator Plumb, who has travelled ex-
tensiyely through Kansas in the last
six months, says II have not yet
observer any widespread desire for
resubmission within the State. Ger
tainly not SO much Of a desire for Il