The record-union., 1891-06-15
NATURALIZATION AND INIMIGRA-
TION.

NATURALIZATION AND IMMIGRA-
TION.
We have on two occasions referred to
the petition of the Union League Club of
New York, now being circulated, for re-
formation of the naturalization laws.
Thus far in not one of our Eastern ex-
changes have we found adverse criticism
to the petition, except to the clauses ask
ing Congress to so enact that only United
States Courts shall have jurisdiction of
naturalization, and that the educational
test should be applied. The RECORD
UNION has also interposed objection to
the first provision, pointing out besides
legal objections, the fact that it would
work exceeding hardship upon poor men
to compel them to travel with their wit
nesses long distances to make proof of
fitness for the toga of citizenship. But
the educational test ought to apply to
naturalization, and we are surprised that
any objection should be raised to it, since
it requires only that the would-be citizen
shall be able to read the laws of the land
Up to the date of the publication of the
petition most comment upon the abuse
and misuse of the naturalization laws
had consisted in bitter denunciation. In
that there is little or no strength. This
is question of craftsmanship; and
should be handled with the dignity be-
fitting so grave matter. If there is to
be effective reform of the naturalization
laws it must proceed upon sound reason,
and it must be aimed at the correction of
abuses and the prevention of anticipated
danger to republican institutions.
Mere vituperation concerning ignorant
aliens and careless or corrupt courts will
do no more than heat the public blood.
Of the need for wholesome reformation,
we take it that there is unanimous agree
ment. We have thought that most of the
evils complained of are chargeable to the
loose methods of the courts, or at least of
great number of them among the sew
eral hundred qualified to issue letters.
Such legislation as will require of the
courts greater deliberation and more
critical examination into the fitness of
applicants, should therefore be had.
Next in order for treatment are the re-
strictive immigration regulations These
have been lately much strengthened.
But there is need for still further legis-
mate and loose naturalization is bad
enough, but worse is looseness in the ad-
mission to the country of persons unfit,
and therefore the naturalization laws
play the more important part. 1t is en-
inently wise to memorialize the law
making authority to put check upon
the wholesale naturalization work of DO
litical bureaus just prior to important
State and Federal elections, but infinitely
more important is it to apply stringent
immigration regulations. We need, in
short, to put stop to indiscriminate
work in both directions
The difficulty most prominent in treat
ing these subjects relates therefore to re-
striction of immigration. Some Of the
tests proposed are out of all reason, as
that advocated by the New York Eoe7aiplg
Post, for instance, that all immigrants
should be able to speak the English lam
guage. This has, with the longer resi-
aance" suggestion, been incorporated in
the Union League memorial as to natur-
alization reform, with the addition that
the applicant must also be able to read
and to write in English. But if, as the
Post would have it, such test were ap-
piled to immigrants, it would exclude
some of the most desirable.
The proposition advanced that immi-
grants should bear certificates from
American Consuls resident in the coun-
try of the immigrant, setting forth that
proof has been made that the immigrant
is not of the criminal class, cannot
awaken any worthy opposition. 1t is a
well-chosen remedy for a positive evil
1t might well be extended so as to re-
quire certificates that the immigrant is
not of the anarchical disturber class.
With such amendments the present re-
strictive laws against undesirable immi-
grafton rigidIy enforced, would seem to
be sufficient for the present These laws
now prohibit the entry of those liable to
become public charges, of convicted
criminals, of paupers and of those
afflicted with dangerous disease.
One of the New York boards two years
ago made public the fact that it had
shipped back to Europe in a single sea-
son S23 immigrants, blind, insane, idiots
and otherwise disabled paupers. 1t was
discovered that every one of these became
apublic charge Immediately on landing.
These Objectionable immigrants were