The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-16
CRISP AND THE PRESIDENCY.
Georgia Democrats Taking Of His Candi
dacy, But Is lie Ineligible?

WASHINGTON, April ia special
from Atlanta, Ca, received in this city
says:
Speaker Crisp is being freely talked Of
among Georgia Democratic politicians as
an available candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination. That the subject has
been carefully discussed among Mr..
Crisp's associates. if not in his very
presence is beyond question. Perhaps
the most striking testimony is the f. CT
that Mr.. Crisp has had his eligibility
carefully examined by such 'egal fights
AS would secure him from trouble On
that score Mr.. Crisp, 1t iappc ~, was
born in England. OF American parcntage.
his father and mother having been mem
beers Of a theatrical company. When he
was elected to the speakership, there
were those who predicted for him pro-
motion to the White House. The fact
Of his foreign birth then came up. and
IL was recollected that in 1872, when the
Democrats desired TO run General Meade
against General Grant, the debate was
dropped upon the suggestion that Meade
had been born in Spain. But times change.
as well as men, and Mr. Crisp is now in
possession of satisfactory legal opinions
that he is entirely eligible. and that the
ty. There is hardly a doubt that the
next Georgia delegation TO the national
Democratic convention will present the
name OF Charles +. Crisp for the presi-
de-a-y."
The statements In this atlanta dis
patch Ter materially from the v!cws
express -'e...er Crisp's friends here.
They asscg. l.,l Judge Crisp is clearly
convinced that lie is barred from cllgi-
bTity TO the presidency, by reason OF his
foreign birth, and the option thus con-
ferred upon him of selecting another ma
tonality had he so chosen. Article III.
section l. Of the Constitution OF the
United States provides that mo person,
except natural-born citizen. or a cil-
zen OF the United States at .he time OF
the adoption or this Constitution. shall be
eligible to the office OF President
No recognized constitutional lawyer has
ever placed himself on record as holding
otherwise than that the President CT the
United States must be an Amer Fan citi-
zen, born on American soil. ~ eaker
Crs1,, himself. in the most sigAihcant
manner has given his adherence 10 this
construction OF the Constitution, an. IN
such a manner as TO indicate that he felt
its full significance. At the Rose Of
the Fifty-third Congress. In responding to
the vote Of thanks rendered him by his
associates IN the House OF Representa-
tyes, ne said, with distinct emphasis.
the import OF which was thoroughly un-
derstood
Never In my life, no matter what may
be- its future, can / expect 10 attain so
high an office as that which l owe TO
your kindness. 10 your consideration, 10
your partially"
Every one who heard that declaration
interpreted It to mean that Speaker Crisp
regarded himself as constitutlonaliy de-
barred as a presidential candidate
The Constitution uses the term mat
urai-born." This word the standard die
tionary defines as meaning. born in the
allegiance: being a citizen by birth" The
word native" II defines as born or pro-
duced in region OF country IN which
one liyes.s