Arizona republican., 1904-12-07

from the time this government was l founded men of foreign birth have
 stood in the very foremost ranks oi
 good citizenship, and that not merely
 in one but in every field of American | activity; while to try to draw dis
 tinction loetwen the man whose parents
 came to this country and the man
 whose ancestors came to it several gen. erations back is mere absurdfty. Good Amercanism is Q matter of heart, of conscience. of lefty aspiration, of sound common sense, but not of birth | place or Of creed. The medal of honor,
 the highest prize to be won by those who serV Q in the army and the navy of the United States decorates men Eorn here, and 1t also decorates men born in Great Britian and Ireland. in Germany. in Scadanavia, in France. and doubtless in other countries also. In the field of statesmansnip, in the field of business, in the field of phil anthropic endeavor, it is equally true that among men of whom we are most proud as Americans no distinction whatever can be drawn betwen those Who themselves or whose parents came oven in sailing ship or steamer from across the wooded wilderness at
 
 son, the Delaware, or the James nearly three centuries ago. No fellow citizen of ours is entitled to any peculiar re- gard because of the way in which he woiships his Maker, or because of the birthplace of his parents, nor should he be in any way discriminated against therefor. Each must stand on his worth as man and each is entitled to i-e judged solely thereby
 Where is no danger of having too many immigrants of the right kind It makes no difference from what country they come. If they are sound in body and in mind. and above all. if they are of good character, so that We can rest assured that their children and grand children will be worthy fellow citizens of our children and grand children, then we should welcome them with cordial hospitality.
 But the citizenship Of this country should not be debased. It 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 liv- ing and whoce personal customs and habits are su.ch that they tend to lower the level of the American wage worker; and above all we should not admit any man of an unworthy type ,any man concerning whom We can say that he will himself be a bad citizen, or that his children and grand children will detract from instead of adding to the sum of the good citizenship of the country Similarly We snculd take the greatest care about natura lization. Fraudulent naturalization. the natural ization of improper persons, is a curse to our government; and it is the affair Of every honest voter, wherever born to see that TO fraudulent voting is aI- lowed, that no fraud in connection with naturalization is permitted.
 In the past year the cases of false. fraudulent, and improper naturalization of aliens coming to the attention of the executive branches of the govern ment have increased to an alarming. degree Extensive sales of forged cer- 'ificates of naturalization hare reen as well of many cases of naturalization secured by 2erjury and fraud; and. in addition. instances have accumulated showing that many courts issue certificates of naturalization care -essly and upon sufficient evidence.
 Under the constitution it is in the power of the congress to establish a uniform rule of naturalization" and laws have from time to time ben enacted for that purpose, which have been supplemented in a few states by state laws having special applica- ton. The federal statutes permit nat. by any court of record in the United States having common-law jurisdiction and a seal and clerk, ex- eept the police court of the District of Columbia. and nearly all these courts exercise this important function. It re- suits that where so many courts of such varying grades have jurisdiction, there s lack of uniformity in the rules ap- piled in co1ferring naturalization. Some -ourts are strict and others lax. An alien who may secure naturalization in one place might be denied it in an ther, and the intent of the constitu- tional provision is in fact defeated. Furthermore, the certificates of natur- differ widely in wording and appearance and when they are brought into use in foreign counties are ire luently subject to suspicion.
 REALIZATION LAWS SHOULD
 BE REVISED
 There should be a comprehensive re- vls OH of the naturalization laws. The courts having power to naturalize should le definitely named by national authority; the testimony upon which raI u1 aliIdtIo may te conferred should be definitely p:C-cribed: pulolication of rs turalization applications should be f"c uireG n advance of their hearing n court, the form and wording of all certificates issued should be uni fo:m throughout the country, and the courts should be required to make re- turns {" the s;'-Tetary of state at stated p"riJds oi all Eatu- aIizations conferr.d. LAWS CONCERNING CITizENSHIP
 Not only are the laws relating to now defective, but those relating to citizenship of the United States ought also to be made the sub ject of scientific inquiry with a view to probable further legislation By what acts expatriation may be assumed to have been accomplished, how long