The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-11

| mat Amer1canism is being diluted anu
assailed in ways that are truly alarming.
We are unable to assimilate SO much ignorance,
pauperism and crime without great danger TO
the body polite. The illustrations OF this dan
ger are innumerable all around u.s. AL the
better elements OF this country are overtaxed
| in dealing with this food. Our religious. bene-
VIOLENT and educational institutions are appalled,
| in the presence of the demands upon them. The
time is propitious to agitate these questions
before it is too late, and see If something can
not be done to save our country and our institu-
tons from the peril that menaces them
Accompanying this were two resolutions,
which were promptly adopted by the club.
as follows:
Resolved. That We call upon the general gov
eminent and the several states TO use all law
full means that they possess TO prevent the i'm
portation of criminals and paupers; that we
call upon the courts to be rigid in administer
ing the laws as to naturalization and in resist
ing the opportunities Of political parties 10
clothe improper persons with the rights of citi-
Zenship.
Resolved, That we call upon the press and
the public to agitate and discuss the subject OF
the importation OF criminals and paupers, to
the end that. if present laws are not sufficient
to save our country from the great peril. others
may be enacted that shall be efectual to that
end
Later, the same com N ittee presented an
additional report which was also adopted
by the club. This report dealt more spe-
cifcally with the question of undesirable
immigrants coming here and with the
facility with which foreigners become cit
liens. 1t declared that the present laws
were inadequate to meet the exigencies OF
the case, and pointed out the loose and
reckless manner in which the naturalization
laws were administered. In regard to this
latter the report said:
The act OF admitting to citizenship in one
state is an act admitting person to citizenship
in all the states. In fact. the act makes the APP
plicant citizen of thh United States. A wrong
done in tho administration of this law in one
place is wrong done to the whole body OF the
citizens Of the United States. While there
have been numerous judges who have eonscien-
tiously and faithfully executed their trust the
great part of naturalization has taken place be-
fore judges who have recklessly disregarded The
faith that was placed in them. and who have
doEe more than any other body OF citizens TO
degrade and bring into contempt that which
should have been sacred in their eyes They
have brought the country TO a peril that is
more just alarm and anxiety for the perma-
hence of good government than any other class
Of men.
The report then proceeds with recon-
mendation that Congress be asked to pass
laws to the following effect:
lst which shall restrict the power to The
federal courts OF comforting citizenship OF the
United States. I'd, which shall require longer
residence in the United States. by all persons
desiring to become citizens, than is now pre-
scribed by law, and also provide that all appli-
cations be made in the handwriting OF the
applicant who must be able to speak, read and
write the English language. Cd, which shall
authorize any citizen to appear in open court
in order in gooi faith, TO contest the right OF
any applicant to a certificate OF naturalization
or 10 set aside any such certificate improperly !
granted 4th, which shall authorize any court |
having jurisdiction TO declare null and void any |
or order of naturalization made in |
fraud or in violation of existing laws.
Some Of these recommendations go lit
tie farther, perhaps. than some people
would want to go in the matter OF impos-
ing restrictions, and yet the evils COM
planned of have grown to such proportions
that Americans are fast getting into the
way of believing that something heroic
should be undertaken TO check what has
become one of the republics chief dangers.
Such laws as have been enacted for keeping
put undesirable foreigners are of little
service, so easily may they be evaded, and
Dur courts and politicians have held citizen
ship SO cheaply that 1t should occasion no
wonder if foreigners regard it as of small
value.
1t is to be hoped that the Union League
clubs action will result in general de-
nand upon Congress and courts to apply
remedies to evils which threaten the very
existence of the republic.