The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-12-10
IMMIGRATION.
Mans Birthplace Not q Qualification
Of Good Citizenship.

Mans Birthplace Not q Qualification
Of Good Citizenship.
In dealing with the questions 81 smni-
grafton and naturalization II Il indlspen-
sable 20 keep certain facts ever before
the minds OF those who share IN enactinK
the laws First and foremost let as re-
member that the question OF being q
good American has nothing whatever 20
90 with q mans birthpiaca any more
than u has 70 do with his creed. In
every generation from the time this Gov
eminent was founded men o. foreign
birth have stood In the very foremost
rank o. good citizenship, and that not
merely In one but In every neid Of Amer
lean activity; while to try 10 draw = dis
Junction between the man whose parents
came 20 this country and the man whose
ancestors came 20 u several generations
back - mere absundity- Good Amer
icanism Is q matter Of heart. Of con-
science. Of lofty aspiration. OF sound.
Of creed Tbs medal Of honor. the high
est prize TO be won By those who serve
In the army and tina navy Of the United
States deeOrates men born here. and Il
also deoorates men born In Great Brit
ain and Ireland. In Germany. in scandi-
navia. tn France and dOuoticss In other
countries also
"a the neId Of statesmanEhip, IN the
nei6 Of busiaesa. IN the Geld OF philan-
thropie endeavor. q 10 equally true that
among ths men Of whom we are moha
proud as Americans no distinction
whatever can be drawn beswesn
those who themselves or whose
parents casne over in sailing ship or
steamer from across the water and
those whose ancestors stepped ashore
10 the wooded wilderness al Plymouth or
Al the mouth OF the Hudson. the Della
ware. or the james nearly three centuries
ago No fellow citizen Of ours IS eati-
tieo 70 any peculiar regard because of
the way IA which he worshipa his Maker.
or because OF the birthplace Of himself
or his parents. nor should he be In any
way Disseminated against therefor.
Each must stand on his worth as a mar
and each Il entitled 10 be judged solely
thereby.
mere IL no danger OF having too many
immigrants OF the right kind II makes
40 difference from what country they
come. ~ they are sound In body and IN
aind, and. above all. u they are Of good
character. that we can rest assured
that their children and grandchildren viii
be worthy fellow citizens OF cur children
and grandchildren. then we should wei
come them with cordial Hospitality.
Must Keep Up the Standard.
Bat the eiuEenshlp 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 llv-
ing and whose personal customs pnd
habits are such that they tend 20 lower
the level Of the American wage work
e.. and above All we should not add
nit any man Of an unworthy type. any
man concerning whom we can cay
that he will himself be a bad eitisen.
OF that his children and grand
chndrea VIII detract from instead Of add
ing to the sum OF the good citizenship OF
the country. Similarly we should take
the greatest care about naturalist ton
Fraudulent naturalization. the natural
iEation Of improper persona, Is curse
to our government. ana IL IL the affair
81 every honest voter. wherever Dorn.
10 see that no fraudulent voting IL al.
lowed. that ne fraud In connection with
naturalization is permitted
In the past year the cases OF false.
fraudulent and Improper naturalization OF
aliens coming 70 the attention OF the ex-
eeuuve branches OF the government
have increased 20 an alarming degree.
Extensive sales OF forged certificates OF
well az many cases OF naturalization Sc
cured by perjury and fraud. and IN az
dillon. instances have accumulated
showing that many courts Issue eertta- |
Gates OF naturalization careiessly snd
upon insufficient evidence.
Under the constitution e IL IN the
power OF the congress TO establish a
uniform rule Of Naturalization and nu-
meroan laws have from time 10 time been |
enacted for that purpose. which have
been supplemented in a few states BY
state laws having special application. The /
federal statutes permit naturalization BY |
any court OF record In the United States
having common law jurisdiction and a
seal and clerk. except the police court OF
the District Of Columbia. and nearly ell
these courts exercise this important fuse.
ton IL results that where SO many
courts OF such varying grades have jur- |
,sdiction. there is lack Of uniformity IN
the rules applied In conferrlnE NATURAL.
Gation, some courts are strict ard Others |
lax. An allen who may secure naturaIi-
nation In one place might be denied Il in
another, and the intent et the c0nstltu-
ttonal provision Is IN fact defeated. Fur
thermOre. the certificates OF natnraiisa- |
tion issued by the courts difger widely |
IN wording and appearance, and when |
they are brought Into use Ia foreign |
countries are frequently subject 70 sus- |
pieion.
Laws Should Be Revised.
There should be a comprehensive re- |
vision OF the naturalization laws. The
courts having power TO naturalist should |
be deinitely named by national author |
ltyl the testimony upon which natural |
nation may be conferred should be def |
lnitely prescribed; publication OF impena- |
ing naturalization applications should be |
required In advance OF their bearing Ia |
court; the form ana wording OF all GER
fasl ~ -
throughout the country and the courts |
should be required 20 make returns 70 /
the secretary OF state az stated periods /
OF all naturaliEations conferred