Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-09-11
ABUSE OF NATURALIZATION.


One Of the sutest signs Of tho near
approach OF political contest at the
polls Ia the great draft Of voting
recruits, who are horded aud FASTENED
and hustled through tho process Of
naturalization. The United States
courts In this and adjacent districts
have had an unusual amount Of this
business on hand during the past few
days; and while the rush for the
season may now be over there Is PER
haps enough stlll to be done to warrant
few words Of Comment.
The manufacture OF alien American
citizens on the wholesale plan and
under the auspices Of politics, Is -
practice which patriotism cannot too
strongly depfecs,s aud condemn. We
will not say the courts or their OH
generally lend themselves with rcadl.
ness TO the railroading process; but that
they might throw greater safeguards
than they do around the boz Of eli.
Eenship will hardly need argument
In the appearance Of largo batch Of
applicants, the monolony Of the ques-
tioning and the lormallly IL apt 10
prove wearitome; and by common
consent, under such circumstances, the
plan too frequently IN to "cut II short"
Moreover, the applicants on such
occasions are usually accom-.
panied, nj least into the
lobby, by persons whom "every.
body knows;" and II Ia pre-.
sumed that such parties would not upon
any confederation Introduce aud render
aid to an unworthy pcrsorl
Alas, herein lies the very evil ami
danger we complain o. The natural.
iEation managers are but human, after
oil; and M this part OF their game h
politics, they arc Ia II for winning.
Why should they concern Themselves,
therefore, about the would.be voters
morals, honesty, patriotism and regard
Tor American insti,utioni2 II accepted,
he will To allowed TO vote; II he votes,
he will vote as they want him 10;
and biA ballot will DO M big
and will count for rs much A.
that OF the Oldest and noblest and best
American In the district Cannot any
one SEQ that the temptation OF the
"practical politicians" Is great; that
the abuse OF high privilege IL easy;
and that the need i1r reform Ia crying2
II the matter OF naturalization cannot
be nj once divorced aud rescued from
its unholy alliance with politics, why
cannot the respective managers prote
as closely tho character and Illness Of
the applicants for citizenship brought
forward by their opponents, rs they do
the Identity aud qualifications Of those
opponents ON election day2 Au illegal
vote Ia a fraud and u wrong; but II Ia
infinitely less blighting than the plac-
ing In unworthy aud unoleAn HANDS
the precious gift Of American citizen.
ship. Just what party managers are
good for has not yet been made clear
to every citizen who has room for
other than political and partisan
thoughts. In the direction We have
Indicated they could win for them.
selves much credit. aud, what Ia more
to the purpose, do tho country real
service.
The fact that there are scandals and
disgfaces Of the sort referred 10 Ia Itself
aproof that the boon sought IL vAlu.
able. Men do not covet or counterfeit
useless things. American citizenship
IL priceless anu precious. And
while II Is made easy and given freely
to each one who IN dVsirous anu
deserving Of It, 1t should BIO reserved
for that kind only. We cannot too
strongly urge that every foreign born
resident, whose hopes and home and
true affections are with this broad
land Of liberty anu the institutions OF
the free, should avail himself Of the
lenlency Of the naturalization laws,
and speedily become one Of ~. Al the
same time we cannot but deploTe the
fact that when men or parties have
undertaken to throw the privilege sld
the honor heedlessly before unworthy
creatures In the pool OF politics, dig.
nifty, purity aud decency have been
made to blush at the farce aud redeem
Indignantly at the in'amy.