The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
ENGLIsHMEN IN THIS COUNTRY.
They Seldom Become NaturaIized
Citizens.
]. Cunnffe owen in the Forum.


j. Cunlffe Owen in the Forum
Loyalty on the part of Great Britain's
sons in distant lands has played so re-
markable a role in the war now in prog
ress in South Africa that 1t may not be
anlss to offer few words of explanation
concerning the position of the very large
number of English people who make their
home in the United States. OF all the
foreign born inhabitants of this country,
they furnish in proportion the smallest
number of applications to the courts for
letters of naturalization. The English.
man, especially the Englishman of the
better class, when he crosses the Atlantic
and settles in America, manfests an eX-
traordiuary reluctance 20 abjure his allie
glance to the British crown, and as gen
eIal rule refrains from taking any steps
to become citizen of the United States.
In fact, ne lives and dies in this country
as fun-fedged Englishman; and it Is
only his children, born and educated On
American soil, who grow up as citizens
of the United States, and as champions of
the stars and stripes
AT first sight it may appear ungracious,
as well as ungra teful that foreigner
should make his home in this country, en-
joying its advantages, without applying
for naturalization; and still an English
man myself, although resident for some
10 years in the United States, have some
times been called to account about the
matter in a kindly and good-natured fash
ion by my many friends here. But
have noticed that Americans who take vi,
their quarters in England are very chary
about surrendering their rights of citizen
ship of the United States; and there IS
no doubt that the few who have done so
have seriously lost rather than gained
thereby in the eyes of the English people
The latter will always prefer a true-bue
American to one who turns his back,
metaphorically speaking, upon Old Glory,
and who spurns the nestimable privileges
and prerogatives that are the birthright
of every citizen of the United States.
cannot help thinking that people here
must, on reflection, entertain much the
same ideas with regard to those of my
countrymen who are fortunate enough to
make their homes in the United States,
and that at heart they do not think the
worse for us for declining to abandon our
loyalty to our queen and our allegiance to
the Union Jack.
The majority of Americans In England
are perfectly satisfied to be governed by
English iaws, and by English authorities,
without any wish to interfere in their ad
ministration. 1t is the same with the
English here in the United States If we
do not seek naturalization, if we remain
true to the old flag, it is because we feel
tnat we can 90 SO WITHOUT BlNInR 6TSe
to our American friends and, above all.
without and conflict with the obligations
which are imposed upon us by the hospi
tally which we enjoy here. We are not
treated like Uitlanders, but with the same
degree of cordiality and friendship that
Americans invariably meet with in Eng
land.
There is so much sympathy between
our two countries, 50 great an analogy
between their Institutions, the system of
law and justice being almost Identical
that it is possible for us Englishmen in
America to remain loyal to our Queen,
and fulfil our duties Orwell, let me call
it-honorary citizens of the United Staes,
at one and the same time. If we do not
apply for naturalization, it is because we
do not feel the need of franchise and if
we do not want the franchise 1t is be-
cause we do not experience the necessity
of having any voice in the government
The English in the Transvaal only asked
to be allowed to participate in the ad-
ministration of the republic by means of
a parliamentary vote, because they con-
sidered that they were badly governed,
and We're consequently dissatisfied both
with their own condition and with the
authorities to whose rule they were sub
ject. We Englishmen in America are
perfectly satisfied with the system of
government that we find in the United
States and are content to comply with
all the laws and usages of the lanh, with
out desiring to modify them in any way.
In fact, there is no reason why we should
wish for any change We have not the
slightest objection to being governor by
nafive-born American citizens; and as
for those eminent American statesmen,
legislators judges and bosses in general
who are of Irish birth-well, we English
have long been accustomed to be ruled by
the Irish.