The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-06

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 American activity; while to try
to draw a distinction between the man
whose parents came to this country and
the man whose ancestors came to Ii
several generations back is a mere alb
surdity. Good Americanism is a mat
ter of heart, of conscience, of lofty as
piration, of sound common sense, but
not of birthplace or of creed. The med
al of honor, the highest prize to be won
by those who serve In the army and
the navy of the United States decorates
men born here. and 1T also decorates
men born in Great Britain and Ireland,
in Germany, in Scandinavia, in France,
and doubtless in other countries also.
In the field of craftsmanship, in the
field of business, in the field OF phllan-
thropic endeavor it is equally true that
among the men of whom we are most
proud as Americans no d1st1nctlon
whatever can be drawn between those
who themselves or whose parents came
over in sailing ship or steamer from
across the water and those whose an
cestors stepped ashore into the WOODED
wilderness at Plymouth or at the mouth
of the Hudson, the Delaware. or the
James nearly three centuries ago. NO
fellow citizen of ours is entitled to any
peculiar regard because OF the way In
which we worship his Maker. or be-
cause of the birthplace OF himself or MS
parents, nor should he be in any way
must stand on his worth as 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 coun-
try they come. If they are sound in
body and in mind, and, above ALL II
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 grandchil-
dren, then we should welcome them
with cordial hospitality.
But the citizenship of this country
should not be debased- 1t 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 whose personal customs ana
habits are such that they tend to lower
the level of the American wage-Work-
er; 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 grandchildren
will detract from instead of adding
to the sum of the good citizenship OF
the country. Similarly we should take
the greatest care about NATURALIZATION
Fraudulent naturalization, the natur-
alization of improper persons, is a
curse to our government; and it is the
affair of every honest voter, wherever
born, to see that no fraudulent voting
u.
ton with naturalization is permitted
In the past year the cases of false,
fraudulent, and improper natural1za-
ton of aliens coming to the attention
of the executive branches of the gov
eminent have increased to an alarm
ing degree. Extensive sales of forged
certificates of naturalization nave
been discovered, as well as many cases
of naturalization secured by perjury
and fraud; and in addition, instances
have accumulated showing that many
courts issue certificates of naturaliza-
ton carelessly and upon insufficient
evidence.
Under the constitution it is in the
power of the congress ''to establish
uniform rule of naturalization" and
numerous laws have from time to
time been enacted for that purpose,
which have been supplemented in a
few states by laws having special ap-
plication. 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
courts exercise this important func
ton. 1t results that where so many
courts of such varying grades have
jurisdiction, there is lack of uniform
naturalization. Some courts are strict
and others lax. An alien who may
secure naturalization in one place
might be denied it in another, and
vision is in fact defeated. Further
more, the certificates of naturalization
issued by the courts differ widely in
wording and appearance, and when
they are brought into use in foreign
countries, are frequently subject to
suspicion.
Naturalization Laws Should Be
Revised.
There should be a comprehensive re-
vision of the naturalization laws. The
courts having power to naturalize
should be definitely named by national
authority; the testimony upon which
be definitely prescribed; publication of
impending naturalization applications
should be required in advance of their
hearing in court; the form and word
ing OF all certificates issued should be
uniform throughout the country. and
the courts should be required to make
returns to the secretary of state al
stated periods of all naturahzations
conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to nat
uralization now defective, but those re-
lating 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 an
American citizen may reside abroad
and receive the protection of our pass
POi NhCNhCi any 0SSAGS VI PIOlGCllOd
should be extended to one who has
made the declaration of intention to
become a citizen of the United States
but has not secured naturalization, are
questions of serious import, involving
personal rights and often producing
friction between this government and
foreign governments. Yet upon these
questions our laws are silent. I recon-
mend that an examination be made in
to the subjects of citizenship, expatria-
ton, and protection of Americans
abroad. with a view to appropriate
legislation.
Protectfoy, of Elections