New-York tribune., 1891-05-15
GROSS SUFFRAGE FRAUDS.
THE UNION LEAGUES STRONG PLEA.
PETITIoNING CONGRESS TO CHECK THE EVILS
OF RECKLESS NATURALIzATIoN-US-
DESIRABLE IMMIGRATION.

Mr.. <Depew presided al the regular mettlnB VI 1'p0
Union League Club last evening John Jay was
elected an honorary member Of the club. The fohow-
Ing resident members were admitted Franklin H.
Gunther J. Romaine Brown, Walter voles and VIII
lam f. Webb, of New-York City; Charles A. Russell
of Killingy, Conn, and James .woolworth' Oh oan-
duslzy IOhio.
The report Of the Committee Political Reform
on the subject of immigration was presented ior us
cnss,on A motion was made by John /. Davenport
that the petition which the committee rccommod ior
circulation be referred back TO the commttee lor
further consideration and possible amendmeh'. iiiS
suggestion was vigorously opposed py ueler'A , I,a
kns who took the ground that the form OF the peuo
nresented was only intended means OF calng lhe
a,tentIon ~ the general public to the subject ana
while some changes might at later day be iouno
sesrahle for the present 1t all that was necessary
FOR ,be nurpose intended The petition recommended
bv the committee was adopted together with the TO
port. without alteration - NIL,
The committee discuss the subject thoroughly iney
recognize in undesirable immigrants menaco anu a
burden To the country and regard the evil as groatS
increased when these people become ciotheo WIN 0iu
zenship. They say that under the Federai Cois0V
the power 10 establish uniform rule OF na'"
tom is vested alone in Congress, ana not IN any o'a0
nr other authority The laws the subject are Driey
reviewed and extracts supplied from the DISCUSSIONS
AZ the time of their enactment by which IL Is maae
that even In the earliest days OF the hepupnc
apprehenson existed respecting the results OF 700 III
discriminate admission of foreigners Inc oImcuiueS
that surrounded the question as TO VINO shouu quno
as to fitness for citizenship are dwelt upon Inese
rev ont of the fact that Federal judges were rev ana
the places for holding the courts widely separa'oa'
ence the duty passed the Federal to State courts
and nv this process the evil effects were greatly multi
piled. as bearing on the country at large. On tms
point the report says: 49, =. -
The act OF admitting citizenship in one state Is an
act admitting person citizenship in all the states
N fac. tho act makes the applicant citizen OF the ohlteo
State A wrong done In the administration Oh us ID"
In one plaee a wrong done to the whoie Douy Vi
OF the United States. While the trainers Oh @ie ia "
1900 clearly foresaw the evils OF naturenzme improper
arons thev little dreamed this trust, confded 70 te
Judiciary OF the and Territories would De oeyeu
and dreQarded the who would occupy uee hono'
h,s They presumed that the judges conducting
oh would be imbued with the spirit OF Ameri-
cansn that they would guard jeaousy and without fear
or favor the rights Of the whole United States oo ey
foreseen shameless reckless ana crinnI VI
this duty that prevailed in this country III many
courts IN recent wears no such power would have been
lodged with the Judiciary OF States and Territories Whe
there have been judges who have conscehous
and faithfully executed this trust, the great part Oh
naturalization taken place before Judges VINO nave
reeessy disregarded faith that placed In them
and who have than any other body OF CITIZENS
to degrade and bring into contempt that which shouu nave
been sacred in their eyes, They have brought the country
to peril that is menacing its peace and prosperity anu
causing more just and anxiety for the persnehce
Of good government than any other class Of men
After referring to the naturalization frauds in this
city In past years, the committee continue:
The whole proceeding has been rank offence against
the people of the United States in which the cmef
offender has been the judge before whom the proceedings
have conducted The judges would speno hours
in settling controversy Of but trifng importance be-
tween two citizens, insisting upon the most exact lega
proofs as every material fact and yet when 1t came
70 the discharge this higher and greater duty which
affects every Of this country they have oeen
either utterly oblvous their duty crmnay reckless
In a n
action had they pursued the course that they did IN
determining citizenship every one OF then
would have been impeached and driven from the Bench
IL TO be noted the everlasting credit OF Louisiana
txat as early caused the Impeachment OF Judge
Elliott for frauds committed by him between 1s41 and 1s44
In the administration Of the laws Of NATURALIZATION
The time has come TO call halt we 90 not undertake undertake
apporion between the political parties ther respective
shares this wrong. 1t is not party question III
is a question Of our country and its institutions
important to-day to appeal to the judges to con-
slider well the they have taken and to examine te
law that ty administer that every certificate
they issuse may proof that they have with an upright
purpose and with clear conscience been iudicialy sa
fed by competent proof that every alien they natnrae
has the requisite good moral character and is auached 70
the principles Of Constitution Of the United States, and
well disposed good order and happiness OF the same
ANY failure to up this high standard Is failure
10 do duty imposed upon them and one that the people
have right demand that they shall not shrk or evaoe
II IL shall urged that this imposes upon them an
amount that they unable to dispose OF with
their other duties IL is answer to the demand we make
upon them. applicants comedn such numbers ana at
such times each cannot be carefully ana con-
tousy investigated it not the fault OF the judges
1t high that the citizens Of the United States nave
the benefit Of doubt where there is doubt as TO the III
ness Of citizen, he be rejected until there
time and opportunity proper judicial investigation
Of 1t matter Of right that an allen be
naturazed but is favor conferred upon him when he
is fully qualified and is able to prove 1t in court by com
peen legal proofs Nothing is asked Of the judges that
Is impossible for them do 1t is possible for them to
refuse TO until they judciay and legally satisfied
in each case the fitness Of the applicant This the
American people require OF them.
While our naturalization laws properly administered,
would go long way check the evil that consider
ing they still need radical revision and change An ap.
neal should be made Congress TO enter into the examin-
ton OF this important question and the enactment
OF law can object provide that hereafter no such
crime committed against American citizenship as
has dsaced history in the post This question ap-
peas Americans Of all parties ana with the same ofce 10
those naturali1ed citizens nteligeny and worth
lily part parcel OF country as TO those who
are native born 1t should not be consloere1 from par
san pont Of view There should be uprising Of great
people without Of parties whose voice would be
heard and listened the representatives OF all the par
ties. The evil IS that pertains to the body polite
One important should be noted in considering this
subject The right citizenship is not the same as the
right Of suffrage seventeen States and Territories
the right of suffrage conferred upon aliens who have
only declared their intentions become citizens In
such cases the lost control OF the question o
the fitness Of electors who are foreign born
The remedy for this diflcuty is not in the Fedora
Government Each has the power Of conferrinl
suffrage within its own jurisdiction. None but citizens
should have the right OF suffrage. Good faith between
States requires that this should be the common rule
all the States fifteen States electors for Presi
dent and Vice President and Representatives In Con
eress can be voted for by aliens who have only oecarS
their intentions to become citizens, and so 1t may COM
n mass that unnaurazed foreigners who may never be
come citizens may determine who shall be President ah
Vice President and who shall have control OF the hous
OF Representatives. -. ....,,..
This question should receive the serious and mmeoa'
Of those who have conferred this eA
traordinary power upon aliens -
rhe revision OF the naturalization laws We are con
,ondno for will nct help Of these seventee
States and Territories have so unwisey as IL seem
tn us cheapened right OF suffrage
Your committee have given CONSIDERATION 70 IheUO