New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-07

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 en-
utied 10 any peculiar regard because OF the way
IN which he worships his Maker. or because Of
the birthplace of himself or his parents, nor
should ne be in any way Disseminated against
therefor. Each must stand on his worth as a
man and each is entitled to be judged solely
thereby
Ihere is no danger of having too many I'M
migrants of the right kind It makes no differ
ence from what country they come. If they are
sound in body and IN mind, and. above ALL il
they are Of good character. so that can rest
assured that their children and grandchildren
VIII be worthy fellow citizens of children
and grandchildren. 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
nigh the standard of wellbeng among our
wageworkers. and therefore we should not admit
masses Of men whose standards OF living and
whose personal customs and habits are such that
they tend to lower the level of the American
wageworker and above all we should not admit
any man Of an unworthy type. any man
corning whom can say that he will himself
be bad citizen, that his children and grand
children will detract from instead of adding to
the sum Of good citizenship OF the country.
Similarly we should take the greatest care about
naturalization. Fraudulent naturalization, the
naturalization of improper persons. is a
to our government; and it is the affair of every
honest voter, wherever born. to see that no
fraudulent voting is allowed. that no fraud IN
connection with naturalization is permitted.
In the past year the cases OF false. fraudu-
lent and improper naturalization of aliens COM
ing TO the attention OF the executive branches
Of the government have increased to an alarm
degree. Of
Gates OF naturalization have been discovered as
well as many cases of naturalization secured
by perjury and fraud; and in addition. instances
have accumulated showing that many courts Is
sue certificates of naturalization carelessly and
upon insufficient evidence.
Under the Constitution it is in the power of
Congress Ito establish uniform rule of natu-
ralization,' and numerous laws have from time
TO 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 connon-law
jurisdiction and a seal and clerk except the
police court of the District Of Columbia and
nearly all these courts exercise this important
function. 1t results that where so many courts
Of such varying grades have Jurisdiction, there
is lack Of uniformity in the rules applied in con-
ferring naturalization. Some courts are strict
and others lax. An alien who may secure natu-
radiation in one place might be denied It In an
other, and the intent of the constitutional pro
vision is in fact defeated Furthermore, the
certificates OF naturalization issued by the
courts differ widely in wording and appearance
and when they are brought into in foreign
countries are frequently subject to suspicion.
There should be a comprehensive revision OF
the naturalization laws The courts having
power to naturalze should be definitely named
by national authority;
Naturalization Laws the testimony upon which
Should Be Revised. naturalization may be
conferred should be def
nitely prescribed; publication OF impending nat
uralzation applications should be required in
advance Of their hearing in court; the form and
wording Of all certificates issued should be uni
form throughout the country. and the courts
should be required TO make returns TO the Sec
rotary Of State stated periods of all natural
izations conferred.
Not only the laws relating TO naturaliza-
ton now defective, but those relating to citizen
ship Of the United States ought also TO be made
the subject of scientific in
Laws Concerning quiry with view 10 prob
Citizenship. able 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
port. whether any degree OF protection
should be extended to who has made the
declaration of intention to become a citizen of
the United States but has not secured natural
ization. are questions Of serious import. involv-
ing personal rights and often producing friction
between this government and foreign govern
ments Yet upon these questions our laws are
silent. 7 recommend that an examination be
made into the subjects of citizenship. expatria-
and Of WI
a view TO appropriate legislation.
The power of the government to protect the
integrity of the elections Of its own officials IS
inherent and has been recognized and affirmed
by repeated declarations of the Supreme Court.
There Is no enemy of free government more dan
gerous and none so insdious as the corruption
of the electorate. No one defends or excuses
corruption, and II would seem to follow that
none would oppose vigorous measures to eradi-
cate it recommend the enactment of law
directed against bribery and corruption IN fed
eral elections. The details Of such a law may
be safely left TO the wise discretion Of the Con-
gress but il should go as far as under the Con-
stitution it is possible to go, and should include
severe penalties against him who gives or re-
ceives a bride Intended to influence his act
opinion as an elector; and provisions for the
publication not only of the expenditures for
nominations and elections of all candidates, but
also Of ell contributions received and expendl-
lures made by political committees.
No subject is better worthy the attention of
the Congress than that portion of the report of
the Attorney General dealing with the long de-
lays and the great obstruc-
Delays in Criminal ton to justice experienced
proeaou+ions in the cases of Beavers.
Green and Gaynor, and
Benson. Were these isolated and special cases