Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-19
The Foreiqn-Born in Politics.

The death of Ex-Governor Altgeld
of Illinois calls attention to the I'M
limited political opportunities Offered
in this country to the citizen Of foreign
birth Nothing shows the true
democracy of our republic more clear
Iy than the rise to position ard power
their own accord or as cxi;es, from
over the sea. And by this W. make 10
reference to men of the Croker stamp
who become bosses OF the city SUM,
or of the foreign born VINO become
policemen or fill so many offices ana
collect so much Doodle i'll the great
cities. but we refer to the higher and
better type Of foreign-born who win
on their merit the highest places of
trust and responsibility in the land.
In commercial and professional lines,
and in general in all no2-political
walks. of life, il is only natural that
the foreign-born has an equal chance
with the native. There competition is
given full sway and success usually
comes to the man who deserves il.
There national origin is factor only
so far as national characteristics give
the individual character and capacity
the earth that call themselves civilized,
but in no land except our own does
this rule go over into political life.
Many nations which tolerate the sue
cess of the foreigner in business and
give him fair treatment in all else will
not sanction his public and official
prererment. What would be the polit-
ical opportunities of an American III
England, France or Germany? Even
qured by him only with much diff
Guilty, and then on the whim of some
official. 1t Is true that two or three
Americans have sat in Parliament
and as many have received the honor
of knighthood, but this about cXhausts
the list.
From the first it has been altogether
different in this republic, the land of
the free and the refuge of the OPP
pressed No barrier has been set up
by law or by custom against the ad-
yancement of the naturalized citizen.
In politics, as in business or in the
trades or professions, the whole field is
open to him, with the presidency
alone beyond his reach and that may
be won by his son as well as by man
shores for a dozen generations. The
number of those who, born in other
lands. have come forward to claim and
to receive our highest political honors
is legion. Beginning with Alexander
Hamilton, born q British subject, and
Albert Gallatin. a Swiss, who was sec
rotary of the treasury in the early part
of the last century-for a longer time
than any of his successors in that
OHlce-We Ilnu THAT cdDiHeI pidNco N'iS
several times the reward for worthy
adopted citizens. The cabinets of Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt contain the name
of James Wilson, Scotchman by
birth, while Carl Schurz, German
exile, served under Hayes and in
other capacities distinguished him
10
in honor to the presidency itself, is held
by Mr. Henderson, a Scotchman. Alt
geld, German; Lind, of Minnesota, d
Swede, and Greenhalge, of Massachu-
sets. an Englishman, have been of
late governors of states; while the
present United States Senate numbers
Patterson of Colorado, born in Ireland,
Nelson of Minnesota, born in Sweden.
Simon of Oregon, born in Germany,
Jones of Nevada and Wetmore of
Rhode Island. born in England, the
latter. however. of American parents,
and Mcmillan of Michigan. Willard of
Nebraska. Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire and Kearns of Utah, all born in
Canada. The late Senator Sewall of
New Jersey was born in Ireland. Thus
the present Senate has had 10 foreign
born members. 1t is formidable list
and could be made much more so by
examining American biographical his
tory.
This is the day when we commemor-
ate the evacuation of Boston by the