The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-11-24
NATURALIZATION LAWS.


Nearly all the trouble resulting
from immigration is caused by natur
alization being granted before the per-
son understands the privilege. There
can be no objection to foreigner from
any part of the world coming to the
United States and enjoying the fran
chise if he is. qualified to exercise it in
an intelligent manner. If he is a
German by birth he should renounce
attachments which he may have
formed to the institutions of fader-
land, and be in thorough sympathy
with this form of government. The
same is true of the Frenchman, the
Scotchman, Irishman or Englishman.
After naturalization they should be
considered Americans, the same as
natives of the soil, and not be distin-
guished as German-Americans, Irisn-
Americans, Anglo-Americans, etc.
They whould be thoroughly Ameri-
canized in political sense, and mingle
with the sovereign people in perfect
equality before the law.
The elective franchise is not an in
herent right. 1t is privilege which
may be granted or withheld by the
sovereign power in any state. and
should be most carefully guarded in
all free governments. The foreigner
is welcome to our shores; but before
he is clothed with all the rights of
citizenship he should be competent
and qualified to perform the duties.
No one will deny the privilege of domI-
cile to the subject of any empire, or
citizen of republic; but the state has
the unquestioned power to throw any
safeguard around suffrage that 1t may
deem necessary. This is the general
view taken of citizenship in The east,
and we are glad to see courts taking
move IN the right direction in this
important matter.
Judge Dallas, of the United States
court, lately rendered noteworthy
opinion concerning the law of natural.
ization. He holds it 20 be the duty of
judges to hear evidence concerning
the fitness of candidates for naturali-
zation, and by inference, at least, he
holds 1t to be the duty of the states
attorney or some other law officer to
act as council for the nation and to
see that evidence as to un6tness is
presented properly.
Judge Dallas opinion is on parallel
lines with that of Judge Yerkes, of
Pennsylvania. who recently put his
opinion into force by giving notice
that he had set apart days for hearing
applications for naturalization, and
that he would require all applications
to be filed in advance, in the manner
of civil suits, so as to give the manag-
ers of political parties, or to citizens
interested in the public veal, time and
chance to bring evidence against the |
unfit.
1t is in the power of every judge
having jurisdiction In naturalization
cases to do as Judge Yerkes has done,
or to act upon the opinion of Judge
Dallas. But the question rises as to
whe ther 1t is not time for congress
,tonal enactment defining the prac-
ice of courts in regard to this import
INT matter.
1t has been recommended wisely
hat the Republican organizations in
arge counties shall have permanent
committee on naturalization constantly
n session and continually seeking
Ifter fit candidates and presenting
hem for admission to citizenship.
This plan will work well in two ways
lit will secure q more numerous
of the fit. and it will
live the party in opposition ample
ime and full chance to object to the
init, if any such be presented.
The hurry-scurry process by which
thousands of aliens are naturalizsd in
few days prior to snch election
certainly is vicious. The act of
should be solemnity.
Under present conditions it often
,artakes of the character of farce