San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-11
SHORT STOPS.


SHORT STOPS.
What The people Are Saying.
The right of the alien Mexican to
vote is not a political question, but
a question q law.
Instead Of Mr.. Montalbo getting up
Indignation meetings to denounce the
Americans, he had better study the
question and find out who is really re-.
sponsible for the exclusion of the
Mexican alien from the right TO vote.
Who made the present constitution
of the state of Texas? not he Repub-
licans or the POpulists, but the Demo
Gratis. This constitution provides
that only native born citizens and
those who can become citizens of the
United States can vote.
Now no Indian or descendant of an
| Indian, who comes from Mexico or
| Canada. or the Sandwich Islands or
anywhere else can naturalize under
the law of the United States.
A foreigner must be either a white
man or a negro, to naturalize. The
| United States courts have decided
this over and over again.
But n state may, in its constitution.
! hermit Indians to vote, as was pro
vided i'm the constitution of CalifOr-
mia. A state can permit women to
vote.
J But the Democratic party has limi-
ted the voting privilege to males at
least 21 years of age, and to citizens
of the United States native or natur-
allied under the United States laws.
The native of Mexico, who can
proye that he is of the Caucasian or
of the negro race, can naturallzeOur
own native Indians are debarred from
citizenship, but not from voting in all
the states.
Now to settle this thing test it in
the courts, and if there is good reason
70 admit the Mexican to the American
ballot box. amend our state constitu-
ton. .. ~
The truth is no intelligent man or
! GOOD citizen, Mexican or American,
J will he willing to throw our ballot box
omen to the ignorant irresponslDle
Mexican tramps who fly their country
! in search of a living. These people
have no political rights in their ma
tive land-they have few rights OF
; any kind except to labor for % cents
J n day in deprecated silver,and once in
debt never can they get free except
by revolution, or fight.
Our immigrat ton and labor laws are
violated daily upon our Mexican bor-
der-to say that our ballot box, upon
] which depends the safety of our insti-
tutions, is also debauched on our boz
der by these same people. is
! it mild.
If Mr.. Mo1Sa&po
free sily6ano u
y his count
they can 8
/ wages and en-
j The truth is, it -
/ the intention of the
! Mexico to become citizen - 10ter
] they only ask the privilege Of work
4 ing and living here. If left alone the
1 Mexican would never attempt to vote.
il But now since the question has
1 been sprung IL rises to national I'M
! portance. Can we afford to throw
] our ballot box open to the unlimited
coinage of Mexican voters from Mex.
i leo? -
j These people are ignorant of our
i language, our laws and our institu-
tions. Voting to them Is matter of
u no importance but this vote, might
Il turn the scale of national election OF
! at least of a state election.
il Our Mexican pauper immigration is
i increasing every year-they supplant
other labOr-our country affords them
j twice the wages that they receive in
II MeXicO-the necessaries of life are at
4 half the cost; an American dollar is
worth two Mexican dollars.
4 The ease Of passing over into our
= country invites thousands more to fol-
j low their countrymen. Should Mex
co continue to be a silver country it
Y will not be long before the bare desti-
j tuition Of the common people will
i drive them in thousands over our bor-
der. Do we want them as citizens or
y voters?
i The educated, better class of Next
cans, do not immigrate, or ask to be-
p come citizens of this country.
: CALDWELL COUNTY.
Light Special. a
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