Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-17
our CONSTITUTION.

The Philadelphia North American, In
unqualified language, commends Judge
Butler. presiding over the Naturalization
Court at West Chester, because he re-
Gently announced "a firm determination
TO confer the rights of citizenship upon
no applicants In the future who are not
familiar with the provisions OF the ma
tional Constitution"
1T is splendid rule" says the North
American, land we hope the example
here set by Judge Butler will be followed
by all our judges in similar cases
While the washington Post is likewise
heartily in favor OF having some reform
in the matter OF naturalization. and be-
lieves that unworthy aliens should be de-
MED the rights OF American citizenship.
its editor thinks Judge Butler has gone
too far. He says that the determination
OF Judge Butler Is not only not "splen-
did," but It is both unreasonable ana
unnecessary, as a familiarity with the
Constitution is thing not one man in
five hundred possesses.
We are inclined TO agree with the Post
in the views 1t advances. A thorough
knowledge of that grand instrument
which constitutes the organic law or this
nation is something which few men enjoy
and some could never acquire. Though
comparatively short-being but little
longer than the recently-enacted bank
ruptcy Iaw-its every line contains a
world of meaning. Nay more; its very
punctuation marks have been the matter
of judicial controversy, and for over a
hundred years the instrument has been
the capstone in the arch Of American
Jurisprudence Even the common law is
subordinated TO 1T.
The justices Of the Supreme Court, the
members OF Congress, the State>legisla-
lures, and the most brilliant members
Of the bar have all seen times when this
oft-read production Of master minds was
a source of doubt and perplexity TO them |
And the late Justice Miller. in his superb |
lectures on the Constitution of the United |
States, delivered in 1887, closes one of his
as follows:
Attorneys and courts are frequently |
called upon to construe the Constitution
in pursuance thereof, as well as to deter
mine questions of the conflict OF State
and laws Herewith. Any
lawyer may at any time be called upon
to advise about all of these questions
which have been so briefly suggested. and
10 put in operation the machinery of the
aw of the Federal Government for the
protection of the rights of his client. No
branch of the law is more important to
he counsellor the statesman, or the
,itizen, than a thorough acquaintance
With the Constitution and laws of the
Federal Government as they are admin
stored. and as they affect the rights OF
he people,"
But though the learned jurist was lee
uring to young men who were preparing
or the bar, and though his subject was
favorite theme of his, he merely enjoins
thorough acquaintance with the instru
nent. Doubtless he knew from his own
experience that familiarity came only
fter years of study and thought.
The educational qualifications required
f voters by some States in our Union
My prescribe that the person shall be
BILE TO read the Constitution, or some
art thereof, and do not necessitate ia
liiarity with the instrument.
We do Judge Butler the justice to
hink that he spoke without weighing his
lords, and that many equities will
lfiuence his determination and prevent
strict adherence to his resolution.