The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-07
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
 TO THE CONGRESS- OF THE NATION
Continued from Page Ten.)


 quoting 1t, ani stated further; ~"I now renew this accommodation. as the importance of the subject has steadhs grown since 1t was first submitted to you and no time should be lost in studying Tor ourselves the resources of this great ne'o for American trade and enterprise.
 The importance of securing proper infor- nation and data with view to the enlarge ment of our trade with Asia Is undiminisn- ed Our consular representatives in china have strongly urged q place for permanent display of American products in some prom nent trade center of that Empire. unoer Government control and management. as an elective means of advancing our export trade therein. I call the attention of the Congress to the desirabijty of carrying out these suggestions.
 < ymmigrnfion and Naturalixatson. t ln dealing with the questions of immis.s tion and naturalization 1t is indispensso to keep certain facts ever before tne of those who share in enacting the ". First and foremost, let us rememoer the question of being a good Americsh ns nothing whatever to do with mahs "" place any more than 1t has to do WI"
 creed. In every generation ITO" ' s. this government was founded men .. - e,sn birth have stood in the very iote"os' ranx os goo,i citizenship, and that not mere ly fin one but in every field Of Amei'esn tivity: while to try to draw . oisune''"n between the man whose parents cse " this country and the man whose ancesto's came to 1t several generations oacA
 mers absurdity. Good Americanism IN . .,s.... o, ,hesrt. of conscience, of lofty as niratfon. of sound common sense. but not or b,rthplace or of creed. The medal of non or. the highest prize to he won oy those who serve in the Army and the Navy oi the United States decorates men born here. and if also recorates men born in Great
 in nayia. in France, and doubtless in other counties also. In the field of statesman shin. in the field of business, in the fieio of philanthropic endeavor. IL IS equahy uue that among the men of whom We are H'"e proud as Americans, no distinction whatever can be drawn between those who tneih'e, ar whose parents came over In sailing ship .or steamer from across the water and those whose ancestors stepped ashore into the wooded wilderness at Plymouth or at the snouth of the Hudson. the Delaware, or th" James nearly three centuries ago. NO Ter low-ctizen of ours Is enttico 70 any culiar regard because of the way In wnich ha worshins his Maker. or because of the birth place of himself or his parents nor should he be in any way dtscriminateo against thel efor. Each must stand on ms worth as a man and each must Dc judged solely thereby
 There is no danger of having too many irn-
 
 difference from what country they come. If they are sound in body and in mind. ano' above all, if they are of good haracter so that we can rest assured that their children and grand children will be worthy feiio"- citizens of our children and grand-cnioreh. then we should welcome them with coroiai hospitality
 Rut 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 ge-workers, and therefore we snooio mt admit masses of men whose standafos of living and whose personal customs anu habits are such that they tend to lower the level of the American wage-worker; ana ahove all we should not admit any man or an unworthy type. any man concerning whom we can say that he himsen VIII DO had citizen. or that his children ana grand children will detract from instead Of addins to the sum of the good citizenship or the country Similarly we should take the .1reatest care about naturalization. Fraudu- lent naturalization. the naturalization Of im- proper persons, is a curse 10 our uo'eih ment; and it is the affair of every honest !, voter, wherever born. to see that no iraudu- &lent voting is allowed. that no fraud in con nection with naturalization is permitted
 In the past year the cases of false, fraudu- lent and improper naturalization of aliens coming to the attention Of the executNe branches of the Government have increased to an alarming degree. Extensive saaes of forged certificates Of naturalization nave been discovered. as we'll as many cases or r..uraHz,tion secured by perjury and fraud' .nd in addition, instances have accumulated showing that many courts issue certlflcates of naturalization carelessly ar l upon ih- sufficient evidence.
 1Tnder the Constitution it is ii the power If the Congress ito establish uniform ! rule of naturalization" and !he numerous Iews have from time to time been enacted for that purpose, which have been supplemented in few States by state laws having a special application. inc Federal statutes permit natuGrabzation oy any court of record in the unined states having common-Iaw Jurisdiction and seal and clerk. except the police cou,jt of the District of Columbia, and nearly all thess courts exercise this important Function. lt results that where so many courts or such varying grades have jurisdiction, there ls lack of uniformity in the rules applied 10 conferring naturalization. Some courts arc .trict and others lax An alien who may secure naturalization in one place might be aenied 1t in another, and the intent of tn" constitutional provision is in fact defeated Furthermore. the certificates or natura"@s t,on issued by the courts differ widely In , wording and appearance. and. when they are brought into use In foreAgn countriee' t~ora freouently subject to suspicion
 Naturalization Laws Should Be 7~'ised.
 There should be a comprehensive revision of the naturalization laws. The courts nav ,n~ mower to naturalize should be oerihite- iv named by national authority; the testi- ,norv upon which naturalization may oe .orfarred should be definitely prescrioea; publication of impending naturalization ap- nlications should be required in advance or their hearing in court; the form and word- Inr of all certificates issued should be uni form throughout the country. and the courts should be required to make returns to the Secretary ofFstate st stated periods or all naturalizatiohs conferred
 Laws Concerning Citizenship.
 Not only are the laws relating to naturaf- zatIon now defective, but those relating |" citizenship of the United States ought also to he made tse subject of scientific inquiry with q view to probable further legislation Rv what acts repatriation may be assumed to have been accomplished. how long an American citizen may reside abroad and re- neIve the protection of passport. wheth- er any degree of protection should be ex- tended to one who has made the declaration of intention to become a citizen of the T-nited States but has not secured naturali- cation are questions of serious import. in volvinx personal rights and ofter producing friction between this Government and for ei1n governments. Yet upon these questions our laws are silent. recommend that an examination be made into the subjects of citizenship. repatriation. and protection of Americans abroad. with view to appro- priate legislation.
 Protection of Elections.
 The power of the Government to protect the integrity of the elections of It's own of- I,clals is inherent and has been recognized
 .ss.r,,oA by ropeafed declarations