Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-31
Want to be Aliens.

Mr.. Zimmerman oil johnson COUNTY
has introduced a bill in the Legislature
at the instance Of the Reformed Pres
byterian church which provides tina
the present alien land law be 81
amended as to permit the members o
that church to own and hold rea
estate in Kansas without taking thu
oath Of allegiance. to the United
States. The members Of this churcl
claim to have some cOnscienti0u.
scruples against pledging their allie
glance to a government whose consti'
tuition does not explicitly acknowl'
edge the bible. The bill is accom-
panied by letter from committee
Of the church. After stating theil
conscientious convictions against
pledging their allegiance to a Goddess
government like ours the committee
presents a claim for the favorable
consideration Of the bill upon the
ground Of the loyalty Of the members
of that church to the government as
follows;
The attitude OF the Reformed Pres
byterian church to our country has
ever been that Of true loyalty and
purest patriotism. Our church fur
nished It's full proportion of valiant
soldiers for the defence Of our coun-
try in every war from the Revolution
down to the late Civil war, during
which war not a single "copperhead'
or rebel sympathzer could be found
in the Covenanter church. Not
stakeholder was allowed in her COM
munion.
The bill ought not to become a law.
There is no reason why class Of cit
liens enjoying all the immunities and
protection OF our government should
not pledge their allegiance to its laws
and its constitution. II these Chris
tian gentlemen are as "truly loyal
and purely patriotic" as the commit
tee could make believe 1t ought not
to strain their consciences any to say
so publicly and in the most solemn
manner. If any mans conscience is
so sensitive that he cannot pledge his
allegiance to the government OF the
United States, he is not a lit SUBJECT
for citizenship and he ought not to be
awarded the privileges of citizenship
The alien who resides among our
people and will not become one OF Us
is a dangerous man. The way to
foster and encourage "true loyalty
and purest patriotism" in this coun-
try is to teach the children that they
owe allegiance to the country which
protects them in life, liberty and
property and that when they are men
their lives and property are pledged
to It's preservation and support. We
already have too much sentimental
nonsense about "personal liberty
and conscientious scruplesN against
obeying the laws of the land. The
first step toward anarchy and national
ruin is the Introduction into the
country Of class Of malcontents who
pretend to put conscience and scruples
and church above the state. The
bible which our Reformed Presbyter-
ian friends profess to adhere to 50
says that she that is not
for us is against u.s." II this church
membership has not interest enough
in this country to pledge allegiance
to our government they cannot claim
to be for US. The fact that they are
to rcnounce allegiance to all
other countries is immaterial. There
is not room enough in this country
for any neutral citizens. We want,
we need positive American citizens
who are ever ready to pledge their
fortunes, their lives, their sacred
honor, in defense of the nation. Our
Presbyterian aliens posi-
ton seems much like that Of the dis
visitor from abroad who
found much fault with American GUS
toms and institutions;
$50 you don't like this country"
said the native Of America.
"Not Il bit, replied the distinguish
ed visitor.
you're down on the way we run
aren't youP"
"Tetotally.n
"Well," the native replied, after u
pause, during which the melancholy
cleared from his brow, "we can be
happy nevertheless. Everybody con-
oerned can give thanks that you don't
have to live here
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Russian Wheat Competition.