The San Francisco call., 1904-06-01

rocco more than once in behalf of American citi-
zens who did not speak our language or know
anything about institutions When we dealt with
the pirates of Trpol and put end to their depre-
datons upon Mediterranean commerce. the people OF the
South shore of that and others inclined there
conceived an exalted idea of the might of this country
Ii has followed that many who wished take advantage
business opportunities there have prepared themselves
by seeking procuring American naturalization The
Sultan of Morocco has wholesome respect for Ameri-
can rights and American .gunpowder. But his unruly
people and the wild tribes that nominaly under his
sway but little regard for the hot water in which they
can put him by upon the persons and property
of naturaized Americans in the midst of them.
There has been a revolution stewing in Morocco for
two years and the tribes have taken advantage of a
weak government to do they please. In pursuit of
their vocation of getting gain and making trouble they
captured the naturalzed American Ion Perdcars
and his stepson British subject, and carried them off
to the mountains The bandit chief, Raissouli
have more than frugal mind. He not only demands
heavy ransom for his prisoners but that members of his
band now held prisoners by the Sultan shall be released
and that the Sultan shall recognize the bandits terri
tora and tribal rights and that the United States
and maintain those rights.
There is nothing small about Rassouli. He Is in
cined to world politics and play the game with
the Cars and Kaisers. OF this Government
give no such guarantee We demand that Morocco
pay the prisoners and the Sultan is
free make any promises he pleases to Rassoul but
will not underwrite his paper We may cooperate
with Great Britain in military expedition relieve the
imprisoned nationals of the two countries with the
tain result that Perdicaris and his British stepson will
be killed before get them Thereafter such punitive
expedition may at great catch Rassouli and
his Morocco hide and extermnae his robber tribe, and
may make the Sultan pay the bill. An American
must be protected wherever he is and those who cap
and kill him be punished Though Perdicaris
was probably naturazed not to become American
aud dwell in our tents order get protection
while seeking fortune abroad among turbulent people,
still he has received the chrsm of our citizenship. and
whatever he is he represents it and leave him
undefended
But this case brings up quite another question Per
dicaris is probably Greek, the form of his
dicates When he became our fellow-citizen not
become American by sharing political lot at
home but order that he might be safet abroad than
he would be Greek Though he is lawfulya citizen,
his purpose was in line with the spirit in which
share our birthright. with aliens When forced ex-
paraton treaties upon of the European powers it
was to emphasize the American position that among
the natural rights of man is his right to- expatrate HIM
SELF off the allegiance. of his nativity and
another with all of its obligations 1t believed in
Europe that took this position because popua-
ton required recruiting by immigration and it de-
MED that such may have been among motives,
though it written in the treaties. We gave evil
dence of making the short time of five years the
probationary period required for final naturalization and
protecting domiciary rights after his first pa
pers were issued.
1t is now time revise methods of naturalization.
Under the present law any of record, having i
clerk and a seal. can naturaze aliens. The United
States which confers the privilege has exclusive
sight of its extension individuals Perdicaris comes
here goes before local after FIVE years resi-
dence gets his final papers and goes back the Medter-
It
ton of the law When his lot with u.s. it was
expected that he remain producing and paying cit-
zen doing his jury duty, and while of military age liable
enlistment conscripton to defend his country But
he left u.s. permanently domcied himself in Morocco
safe from jury duty and military service paying no
American and in way contributing this
country. He merely here and put American
citizenship a shirt of mail to protect him abroad
The United States protect itself against that sort
of thing only by taking exclusive charge of naturaiza-
ton The probation should be heightened and the nat
uralizaton officer should be in Washington. Federal
courts should take the testimony in each and put
it before him for final review and determination: If
American citizenship is worth seeking all, it worth
good deal of formaty and inconvenience that should
be put upon the seeker and not upon the officer We
have made it so cheap that it commands no respect
from great many who get it with little trouble 1t
should impose upon the recipient reciprocal duties and
obligations, so that he take it and go away to
embrol US with other governments, in such affairs as
this of Ion Perdicaris.
In her campaign against Port Arthur Japan has
rhe