The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-30
POPULAR TALKS ON Law.
Interesting Talks On the Subject Of
Naturalization by Wm.C
sprague.
Citizens or Mountains Are Not Nee
essarily Citizens Of the
United States.
-
MAY he NaturalIxsd Under the Laws
Or the Genera az vernmsnt--Priy-
LEGGED Persons.

One may be a citizen Of Z state and not 9
citizen Of the United Staten. Coxapliance
with state laws OF naturalization do nor
make 4 man a eitizon Of the United States.
This power Is vested solely in congress-, and
yet, strange to say, one may not DO a clt'-
zen Of the United States and yet vote Tor 9
senator or u member OF congress. Ano
should the power to choose q president ~
any chance be thrown into congress-, as ~
deed it may under tho constitution, thsre
il given persona not citizens OF the Unlteu
States, indirect influence insths choice OF
the president. This comes about by the
constitution declnringt that electors of mem
bers Of the lower house of congress-, navs
the qualifications requisite for electors
Of tho lower house Of tho state
legislatures. So that in order for an
alien to vote for a member OF congress-
ma indirectly for a senator or q presloeho'
it is only necessary for him to pc apie 10
vote for a member Of the moro numerous
branch OF the state Legislature. Inc stats
may prescribe what qualifications IL may
see fit for state citizenship. but congress
alone can make an alien a citizen OF tho
whole country. II il difficult, IN view OF
what has been said. however, to rec wherein
lies the distinction between the privilege OF
a citizen of the United States and q citizen
Of ono Of the states. One privilege at least
the state could not confer. and that is, sho
could not give him ns a citizen, q titie 70
those priyileges and immunities OF cltizens
of the several states which the federal con
stitution guarantees and secures.
We will state briefly who may be natural
izea under the laws of tho United States.
ANY alien friend who is a free white person
or a person OF African nativity or dsscant,
who has IN the legal preliminary decia-
years next preceding his application. IN
tho United Stntss, and for ono year next
preceding such application, in the state or
territory in which the court sits 70 Wnom
he makes application, ana Who, curing
that time, has been of Q good moral cnar-
constitution Of tho United States, and we'll
disposed to the good order Of the same,
may become q citizen of the United States.
This excludes Indians, Mongolians, half
Indian blood, and Chinese. A married WO-
man may be nntutallZed Wltnou5 ING con-
currence Of her husband.
There are five classes Of privileged per
sons.
First, minors.
Children of n%aturalized citizens, under
age Of q at the time Of the naturalization
of their parents, are deemed citizens ~
dwelling in this country. Minor children
Of foreign parents. whose mother. after tho
death Of tho father, marries a citizen. pa
come citizens. Children Of citizens,' VINO
are born abroad, nre citizens Of the United
States. In regatd to the five years quallh-
cation, a portion of this time may be years
OF tho applicants minority in such case,
tho previous declaration OF intention is not
necessary if he makes q declaration at the
time Of his admission, and proves and de-
clares on oath that for two years 1t mas
been his intention to become a CITIZEN.
Second, wives Of citizens.
An alien woman OF the race or class en-
titled to naturalization, who marries a
citizen, becomes by that act a citizen. Ii
makes no difference if she is less than
twenty-one years Of age. When an alien Is
naturalized his wife thereby becomes q
citizen, though she may never come to the
United States until after his death. This
latter statement is, however. questioned in
Eone courts.
We have talked on the subject OF natur--
nlization, as to where the power 10 vested
and who may be naturalized. we found
ttat there were five privileged classes, and
two of these-minors, and wives OF cltlzena
were specially referred to. The three
last clnases Of privileged persons are: lst,
The widow and children of one who has
made the preliminary declarations, bat
VINO Qleh DSIOrb HIS duMlscAOA w VALAASA
ship; I'd. Aliens in the military service OF
the United States; and Sd, Seamen. AZ
stated in the preceding talk. the alien must
make a preliminary declaration OF his IN
tention to become q citizen. Now. when he
has made this deo!ayation, but dies before
hia admission as u citizen, his widow and
hia children become citizens upon the tax
ing of the oath prescribed by the law. Az
to the second class, the declaratfon OF inten-
ton is not required from the alien who il
over q years old and has been honorably
discharged from tho military service Of the
United States. All that is required OF him
is that he prove one years residence pre-
vious to hin application. He ls required
also to show good moral character. 1t has
boon held in a federal case that this law
does not apply to marines, bus the law hat
been held to include tbs navy 40 we'll ms the
army in at least one case, arising In New
York. We do not know that the matter ii
entirely settled. Inasmuoh So the law doe!
not specify as to what races are includec
under the term ~''alien," it is thought tina
there are no qualifications rs to race re-
quired, and that tho discharged soldier o.
out regard TO his race. Third, as to sea
men: In order for the foreigner who is Z
Heaman to become a Citizen, he must do
clare his intention to become such in
competent court, and must have ssrvet
three yours on board of 4 merchant vessel Of
buS SAltS0 DuOoCdNVAo y suS ~oe
the declaration. and must produce a certif
cate of discharge and good conduct during
that time, together with the certificate o
his declaration of intention to become
citizen. A seaman who ia q foreigner, afte
making his declaration and after serving
three years, is deemed a citizen for the pur
pose Of manning and serving on board
United Statcs merchant vessel. Such sea
man ia for purpose of protection as Al
American citizen doomed such after the I'll
ing of his declaration of intention to be
come suoh citizen. 1t is held that none o
the provisions of the law as to senmen q
abovo referred to apply to sail or steam
vessels engaged in the coast trade, excep
tho coast trade between the Atlantic an,
Pacific; nor in the lake going trade touch
ing at foreign ports or othsrs; nor in tn
trade between the United States and Brit
ish North American possession; nor in an,
case whero the aeamen are by custom o
agreement entitled to participate in tn
rrolits or result of the cruise or voyage
The law does not apply to naval service.
Now Try This.
1t will cost you nothing and will surely
you good if you have II cough, cold or an,