The morning call., 1890-05-11
FoREIGN-BoRN SENATORS.

Senator Beck of Kentucky, whose obitu-
aries fill the papers, was remarkable as one
of the few foreign-born Americans who
reached the highest station in political life
to which naturaliZed citizen can as pire.
he was Scotchman, came TO this country
as boy. thoroughly identified himself with
American institutions and the American
idea, and served his country and his State
for many years faithfully. There have not
been many like him in our history.
When the Union was formed so many
leading men were of foreign birth that the
trainers OF the Constitution could not afford
to exclude. naturalized citizens from office
and the Oeontented themselves with pro-
viding that the President-and, as a conse-
quence, the Vice President-should be a
native. In the earlier Congresses number
of naturaliZed citizens served creditably
the constituencies which chose them.
Washington's right-hand man, Alexander
Hamilton, was native Of the West Indies
and Gallatin, who was Secretary of the
Treasury for twelve years at the beginning
Of the century, was Swiss. AS time
rolled on the number of foreign-born Cab
met officers became rare There never,
however. was any prejudice against them,
as was shown by the prompt confirmation
of a Canadian, Jacob D. Cox, as Secretary
of the Interior under Grant, and Carl
Schurz, a German, as chief of the same de-
partment under Hayes Both had served
with honor in the Union army during the
war.
Within the past thirty odd years a few
fOreign-born citizens have become Senators
of the United States. The names of four
Hishmen will occur to the reader. John
x.rl,n
Senator from this State In 1868, was born in
ireland, and was 10 years old when he emil
grated. Shields, who at one time in part
represented Illinois and subsequently Miu-
nesota in the Senate, was also an Irishman,
and had nearly reached manhood when he
emigrated. Senator Fair, who once in part
represented Nevada in the Senate, is also
native of Ireland; and so was Jones of
Florida, whose matrimonial adventures
were at one time the leading topic of the
day. The West India Islands, which con-
tributed Hamilton TO our early history, did
not Increase the obligation by supplying us
with Benjamin, who was Senator from
Louisiana. deserted his post at the out
break of the war. became a member of the
rebel Cabinet and afterward repudiated
his American nationality, took out papers
of naturalization in England and died a
London lawyer. Another foreigner who
was senator from Louisiana and whose
career shed no luster on his State or his
adopted country was Pierre Soule. Per-
haps the most eloquent speaker we have
ever had on this Coast was L. d. Baker,
who was Senator from Oregon, and was
native OF England. Another native Of
Great Britain who became and is still Sem
ator is John P. Jones of Nevada; he was
born in Wales. Carl Schurz, who was Sem
ator from Missouri in Grants time, has al
ready been mentioned.
There is no reason why the accident OF
birth should impair a mans capacity to
serve the country where he lives. Indeed,
1t was said by witty freshman that be was
normally better citizen than native, be-
cause he became an American from choice.
while the native had become one from acct
dent, and because he could not help it.
Where the naturalized citizen reserves to
himself sort of dual nationality, however,
he is sometimes placed in an awkward pre-
dicament. A story runs that Senator Jones
OF Nevada was once travelling home
through Pennsylvania, when the car in
which he was seated was surrounded by a
vociferous crowd, bawling "Jones. Jones!"
The Senator, who is modesty itself, was
surprised at this evidence of unexpected
popularity, and reluctantly consented to ap-
pear on the platform of the car to bow his
thanks. His appearance led to renewed
cheers for " Parnell and Jones-they're the
boys for Ireland" The Senator instantly
understood. Boys" said he, Pm very
much obliged to you, but you're laboring
under mistake. I'm Senator Jones, [ ad-
nit; but am not the Irish Jones-hes
from Florida. Pm only the American Jones
from Nevada"