The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-07

birthplace any more tnan y mas 10
do with his creed In every genera
tion from the time this government
was founded men of foreign birth
have stood in the very foremost rank
Of good citizenship, and hat not
merely In one but in every field %
American activity; while to try to
draw distinction between the man
whose parents came 10 this country
and the man whose ancestors came
% it several generations back is a
mere absurdity Good Americanism
Il a matter Of heart, or conscience.
of lofty aspiration, OF sound common
sense, but not OF birthplace or of
creed. The medal OF honor, the high.
est prize to be won by those who
serve in the army and the navy Of
the United States decorates men
born here. and ii also decorataS men
men born in Great Britain and Ire.
land. in Germany. in Scandinavia, In
France. and doubtless in other coun-
tries also In the field OF statesman-
ship. in the field of business, in the
field of philanthropic endeavor, 1t is
equally true that among the men of
whom we are most proud as Ameri.
cans no distinction whatever can be
drawn between those who themselves
or whose parents came over in sail
ing ship or steamer from across the
water and those whose ancestors
stepped ashore into the wooded wild
erness a. Plymouth or at the mouth
of the Hudson. the Delaware. or the
James nearly three centuries ago.
No fellow-citzen of ours Is entitled
to any peculiar regard because Of the
way in which he worships his Maker,
or because of the birthplace of him
self or his parents, nor should he be
in any way Disseminated against
therefor. Each must stand on his
worth as a man and each is entitled
to be judged solely thereby.
There is no danger of having too
many immigrants of the right kind.
1t makes no difference from what
country they come. II they are
sound in body and in mind. and.
above all, If they are of good charac.
Ter, 50 that we can rest assured that
their children and grandchildren will
be worthy fellow-citizens Of our chill
dren and grandchildren, then we
should welcome them with cordial
High Standard Of Citizenship.
But the citizenship of this country
should no. be debased II is vital
that we should keep high the stand
ard Of well-being among our wage
workers, and therefore we should
not admit masses of men whose
standards of living and whose person
Al customs and habits are such that
they tend To lower the level of the
american wage-worker: and above all
we should no. admit any man of an
Unworthy type, any man concerning
whom we can say that he will himself
be bad citizen, or that his children
md grandchildren will detract from
instead Of adding TO the sum Of the
good citizenship of the country. Sim
larry we should fake The greatest
are about naturalization. Fraudu-
)f improper persons. Is a curse TO
BUR government. and II is the affair
If every homes. voter, wherever born,
o see that no fraudulent voting Is
allowed. that no fraud in connection
With naturalization is permitted.
In the past year the cases of false.
and improper nasuraliza-
ion Of aliens coming to the attention
# the executive branches Of the gov
,rnment have increased to an alarm
ng degree. Extensive sales of forged
certificates of naturalization have
leen discovered. as well as many
,ases OF naturalization secured by
seriury and fraud; and in addition. In
stances have accumulated showing
hat many courts issue certificates of
naturalization carelessly and upon in.
sufficient evidence
Under the constitution ii Is IN the
power of he congress ito establish
uniform rule of naturalization" and
laws have from time To
lime been enacted for that purpose.
which have been supplemented in
lew states by state laws having spec.
al application The Federal statutes
Dermi. naturalization by any court Of
record in the United States having
jurisdiction and seal
and clerk. except the police court Of
he District OF Columbia, and nearly
al these courts exercise this import
ant function. II results thar where
so many courts Of such varying
grades have jurisdiction. there is
lack of uniformity in the rules applied
IN comforting naturalization. Some
courts are strict and others lax. An
alien who may secure naturalization
in one place might be denied it Ia
another. and the intent OF the consti-
iutional provision is In fact defeated.
the certificates Of ma
issued by the courts DIFF.
fer widely in wording and appear
ance. and when they are brought in
10 use in foreign countries, are FIRE
luently subject to suspicion.
Naturalization Laws Should Be
Revised.
There should be a comprehensive
revision OF the naturalization laws.
The courts having power to natural.