The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06

gress 10 the desifabilty OF carrying out
these suggestions.
IMMIGRATION AND NATuRALizA-
fhr TIoN.
In dealing with the questions ~ i'm
migration and naturalization IL Is in
dispensable 10 keep certain facts ever
before the minds OF those who share In
enacting the laws. First and foremost
let us remember that the question of
being a good American has nothing what
ever 10 do with a mans birthplace any
more than II has 10 do with his creed.
In every generation from the time this
government was founded men OF foreign
birth have stood IN the very foremost
rank OF good citizenship, and that not
merely In one but In every field Of Amer
lean activity: while to try TO draw
distinction between the man whose par
ents came to this country and the man
whose ancestors came to II several gem
era ations back is mere absurdity. Good
Americanlsm is matter of heart. OF
conscience. OF lofty aspiration, OF sound
common sense. hHtHat= of =hirthplace=eE
OF creed.
The medal Of honor. the highest prize
10 he won by those who serve I'm the
army and navy Of the United States deco
rates men born here. and IL also deco
rates men born in Great Britain and
France and doubtless in other countries
also.
In the field OF craftsmanship. In the held
OF business I'm the field OF phianthropic
endeavor, IL is equally true that among
the men of whom we are most proud az
Americans no distinction whatever can
be drawn between those who themselves
or whose parents came over I'm sailing
ship or steamer from across the water
oNa aghn
into the wooded wilderness at Plymouth
or at the mouth OF the Hudson, the Della
ware or the James nearly three centuries
ago. No fellow-citizen Of ours Is entitled
To any peculiar regard because Of tho way
in which he worships his Maker, or be-
cause OF the birthplace of himself or his
parents nor should he be I'm any Way dis
criminated against therefor. Each must
stand on his worth as man and each
is entitled TO be judged solely thereby.
There IL no danger OF having too many
immigrants OF the right Find II makes
no difference from what country they
come III they are sound I'm body and i'm
mind. and above all. IL they are OF good
character SO that we can rest assured
that their children and grandchildren
will be worthy fellow-citizens Of our
children and grandchildren, then we
should welcome them with cordial hos
pitality
But the citizenship. OF this country
should not be debased. II IS vital that
we should keep high the standard OF
well-being among our wage-workers. and
therefore we should not admit masses OF
men whose standards OF living and whose
personal customs and habits are such
that they tend 10 lower the level of the
American wage-worker. and above all we
should not admit any man OF an unworthy
say that he will himself he a bad citizen.
or that his children and grandchildren
will detract from instead OF adding to the
sum OF the good citizenship or the coun-
try. Similarly we should take the great
est care about naturalization. Fraudu-
lent naturalization. the naturalization of
improper persons. is curse 10 our gov
ernment: and II Is the affair OF every
honest voter. wherever born. 10 see that
no fraudulent voting is allowed, that no
fraud in connection with naturalization
Is permitted.
In the e-past- -year-the- ~-of-fafse
fraudulent and improper naturalization OF
aliens coming to the attention OF the ex-
ecutive branches OF the government have
increased 10 an alarming degree Exten-
sive sales OF forged certificates of natl-
ralizat tion have been discovered as well
as many cases Of naturalizat ton secured
instances have accumulated showing that
many courts issue certificates OF natu-
ralization carelessy and upon insufficient
evidence
Under the constitution IL rs In the power
OF the congress "to establish a uniform
rule Of naturalization" and numerous
laws have from time to time baen enacted
for that purpose. which have been supple
mented In few states by state laws hav-
I'm a1 ko
statutes permit naturalization by any
court OF record I'm the United States hav-
ing common-law Jurisdiction and n seal
and clerk. except the police court OF the
District Of Columbia. and nearly all these
courts exercise this important function
II results that where so many courts Of
such varying grades have jurisdiction,
there Is lack Of uniformity I'm the rules
applied comforting s-rt.+ +4irA4 44s-++4 +4t,-,-
Some courts are strict and others lax An
alien who may secure naturalization in one
place might he denied II i'm another and
the intent OF the constitutional provision
Is I'm fact defeated Furthermore. the
certificates of naturalization issued by the
court differ widely I'm wording and an
pearance, and when they are brought in
to use in foreign countries, are frequently
subject TO suspicion
NATURALIZATION LAWS SHOULD BE
HeNlSED.
There should he a comprehensive revi-
sion OF the naturalization law The
courts having power TO naturalize should
be definitely named by national authority;
the testimony upon which naturalization
may he conferred should be definitely pre-
scribed. publication OF impending natu-
ralization applications should be required
I'm advance Of thair hearing I'm court: the
form and wording of all certificates is-
SUI, should be uniform throughout tho
country. and the courts should he required
TO make returns 10 the secretary OF state
at stated periods OF all naturalzatlons
conferred
LAWS CONCERNING CITIZENSHIP.
Not only are the laws relating 10 natu-
ralization now defective but those relat-
ing to citizenship OF the United States
ought also to he made tho subject Of
scientific inquiry with n view TO probable
further legislation. BY what acts ex-
patriation may be assumed 20 have been
accomplished. how long an American
oil AZ Oh