Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-27
The Ways and Means of
Acquiring Suffrage.
An Intelligent Digest of the
Laws.
A Synopsis Of the Provisions of the
Revised Statutes.
Authorized by the Constitution-Intsr
eating Information for Aliens
Who Intend to Become Cit
zens OF This Country.

just before great political struggle
the subject of naturalization is one of
great Importance to the would-be voters
of foreign birth, and the ways and means
by which to acquire the right of suf-
frage is question Of great Importance.
This subject received the early atten-
ton of the founders of our government.
1t was provided in the clause of the con-
stitution defining the powers of the
congress that it should have power "to
establish an uniform rule Of naturaliza-
tion," and acting under that clause
congress has at various times passed
such acts; the principal ones being
those OF January 10, 1906, and April IA,
1902. These acts and amendments are
embodied in the revised statutes of the
United States of 1873, title 30,
sections 2l65 to 2l74, and it is
therein provided that before any
alien can become citizen of the
United States he shall declare ON oath,
before circuit or district court of the
United States, a district or supreme
court OF the territories, or a court OF
record OF any of the states. having
common law jurisdiction, clerk and
seal, or such declaration may be made
before the clerk of any of said courts.
two years at least before his admission,
that it is his intention in good faith, to
become citizen of the United States
and to renounce forever all allegiance
and fidelity to any other government or
ruler; this is ordinarily termed taking
out first papers.
Upon the expiration of two years from
the taking out of the first papers he
may apply to any OF said courts to be
admitted to citizenship, and shall then
swear to support the constitution of the
United States, and to renounce all
allegiance to any other government or
ruler, particularly the government
and ruler Of the country from which he
came, all of which shall be recorded by
the clerk. He shall also prove to the
court by two witnesses that he has re-
sided in the United States at least five
years, and within the territory or state
where the court is located at least one
year, and that he is of good moral
character and attached to the principles
and is we'll disposed to the good order
6uu uhppluCbb Vi tAO o6n4Cs IL UhO MP
plicsnt has borne any hereditary title
or been Of any order OF nobility in the
country from which he came, he must
and such renunciation must be recorded
by the clerk. This is the taking out of
final papers and the applicant thereby
Section 2l66 provides that any alien
oek ~ OF ov1A ord vul,c
has enlisted or who may enlist in the
the regular or volunteer forces, and has
been honorably discharged, shall be ad-
mitted to citizenship upon his petition,
is, without taking out the first papers,
more than one years residence within
cation 10 become such citizen the court
shall in addition to proof of residence
and good moral character, require eatis-
factory proof OF such person having been
honorably discharged from the service
of the United States.
Section 2167 provides that any alien
being under age of 21 years, who has
resided in the United States three wears
next preceding his arrival of age, and
who has continued to reside therein to
the time he may make application for
citizenship, may, after he arrives at the
age of 21, and after he has resided five
years within the United States; ihclud-
ing the three years of his minority, be
admitted citizen of the United States,
without taking out first papers, but he
shall make the declaration required at
the time OF his admission, and shall
further declare on oath and prove that
been his bona fide intention to become
q citizen of the United States, and shall
in all other particulars comply with the
laws in regard to naturalization.
The foregoing section says one thing,
but the courts of New Hampshire and
other states have construed it to mean
something else; to wit: That as five
years residence is all that is required
as a pre- requisite to naturalization, a
man was entitled to citizenship on ar
irving at the age of 81, if he had re-
sided here five years, or in other words,
if he came here at the age of 16 and had
lived here five full years he could be nat
uralized on arriving of age, and that is
the practice in Massachusetts,.
II an alien dies after he is actually
naturalized, the widows and children of
such alien are entitled to all rights and
privileges as such upon taking the oath
prescribed by law.
The provisions of the naturalization
law apply to aliens of African nativity
or African descent.
An alien must have resided for five
continuous years in the United States
next preceding his admission to citizen
ship.
Section 2172. quoted entire except
last clause relating to persons who fought
in revolution, is as follows: "The chill
dren Of persons who have been duly
naturalized under any law of the
United States, or who, previous to the
passing of any law on that subject by
the government OF the United States,
may have become citizens of any one
. of the states, under the laws thereof,
being under 81 years of age at the time
of the naturalization of their parents,
shall, il dwelling in the United States,
be considered as citizens thereof; and
the children of persons who now are, or
have been, citizens OF the United States,
shall, though born out Of the limits and