San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-04
INDIAN CITIZENSHIP QUESTION
Discussed by u. $. Commissioner
Morgan.

Morgan.
In his fourth annual report on Indian
affairs Commissioner Morgan discusses
the question of comforting citizenship
upon Indians. 1t being contended that
half breeds are citizens. Mr.. Morgan
asks what is an Indian? and controverts
stoutly the position that the common law
principle is applicable to Indians; that
the offspring of free persons follows the
condition or the father and prevails in
determining the status of children born
of white man, a citizen of the United
States, and an Indian woman, his wife.
The commissioner does not think
that children of such parents are,
therefore, by birth not Indians,
but citizens of the United States" He
thinks the question should be determined,
not by the common rule nor upon ethno-
logical grounds, but upon historical con-
siderations. The law of descent must be
determined, not after Roman or English
presidents, but in accordance with In
dian usage and our American administra-
tive sanction. Any other conclusion an
nounced now as to binding rule, having
retroactive consequences, would result in
invalidating treaties and agreements, dis
regarding vested rights and introducing
confusion into the entire Indian question.
The American Indian, native born of
the U. 5. can acquire citizenship by TAX
ing under the laws OF in their several
states. But how about the Mexican In
dian who belongs to the same race as the
native of the U. s. or Canada? We know
him as Mexican, and regard him as a
citizen of the republic of Mexico; why
not regard the Canadian Indian as a citi-
zen of Great Britain and admit him on
the same footing as the Mexican?
In the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, it
was provided that Mexicans could become
citizens of the U. s. under such laws as
congress might pass, thereby putting
them on the same footing as our American
Indians. Congress has never yet passed
any law applicable to the Mexican Indian,
yet the Mexican Indian, (for so he is rated
in the official census OF the Mexican re-
public crosses our border and becomes a
voter without further ceremony than TAX
ing out declaration paper before a
county or district clerk. In point of
fact, the poorer class of Mexicans,
who swarm oyer our border for
work and food are entirely unfit
for citizenship, being ignorant, illiterate,
and as little acquainted with the spirit and
intent of our laws and institutions as the
Apaches, the Pueblos of New Mexico or
the Mission Indians of California. If
they are to be admitted to citizenship and
allowed no cast a vote that might decide
the political fate of our country then the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo should be
invoked and congress should pass such a
law as will provide such qualifications of
residence, education and property hold
ing as will make them pertinent citizens
of our country.
1t has developed in the taking of the 5th
census district, where large proportion
of this population reside, along the bor-
der counties of the Rio Grande, in rem
dering their census they claimed to be
citizens of Mexico, but also citizens of
Texas. No effort was made by the census
bureau to investigate this matter or TO
separate this population from the white
and colored population.
We have now a national election pend
ing; the election of presidential electors
and at least two congressman may depend
on this Mexican alien vote. There seems
to besno other way to get at this question
but to take it to the halls of congress,
upon congressional contest.
Men aspiring for congress, knowing the
fact that this Mexican vote can be Sc
cured by means of money and through
the trading facilities of local politicians,
generally make use of the means to Sc
cure it. Along the border where the U.
S. custom officials reign, and the U. s.
marshal and his deputies are a power,
the Mexican is worked for the party in
power: in communities such as ours,
d
ton, the local politician of Mexican ex-
traction or connection, generally has
the pull and the Mexican voters
are colonized here for voting purposes
as was the case at the last, general cleo
ton when the Arkansas Pass railroad took
a hand in the contest, because receiver
ship was pending before one of the candi-
dates for judge.
This is a question that deeply interests
the genuine citizens OF our city and cOun-
ty. 1t is not only a political outrage to
have our polls polluted by the voting of
hundreds of alien voters, who can by
no stretch OF law, at present on our
statute books, be made citizens, even
If they had the requisite qualifications; but
it is great injury to our community and
subversive of our local governments.
Officials brought into office by the use of
such vote feel that they have no &C
countability to the real citizens and tax
payers. 1t Is q question that comes home
to our worthy Mexican residents more
fOrcibly than to any other section of our
population; they find themselves dis
credited and placed in the same boat with
the Indian tramp and beggar from the
other side. We are about to register the
homes, whose political and legal rights,
are involved, stand idly by and see hun
dreds of these ignorant aliens, who stand
in no better light, il as good, as our
American citizen Indians, registered as
voters. 1t should be protested against,
and BROUGHT to public notice. There is no
need of race antipathy or feeling of ami
mostly, it only requires the determined
assertion of a plain reason for Directing
to such bogus citizenship as is perpetrated
at every election upon our community.