Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-12-08
Lawn coreernina citi.en,hIp.

countries. are frequently subject to
suspicion.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to
naturalization now defective. but those
relating to citizenship Of the United
States ought also 10 be made the sub
iect of scientific inquiry with view
to probable further legislation. BY
what acts repatriation may be assum-
ell to have been accomplished. how
long an American citizen may reside
abroad and receive the protection
OF our passport. whether any degree
o; protection should be extended to
one who has made the declaration OF
intention to become n citizen OF the
| United States. but has not secured
naturalization. are questions Of Sc
rious import. involving personal rights
and often producing friction between
this government and foreign govern
ments. Yet upon these questions our
laws are silent recommend that an
examination be made Into the sub
jects Of citizenship. expatitation. and
protection of Americans abroad, with
view to appropriate Legislation.
Protection Of Elections.
| 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 dangerous and none
SO insidious as the corruption of the
electorate. No one defends or excuses
corruption. and It would seem to fol-
low that none would oppose vigorous
measures to eradicate It, recommend
the enactment of law directed
against bribery and corruption in
Federal elections. The details of such
law may be safely left to the wise
discretion OF the Congress. but It
should go as far as under the Consti.
ton 1t Is possible to go. and should
include severe penalties against him
who gives or receives a bribe Intend
ed to influence his act or opinion as
an elector and provisions for the pub.
lication not only OF the expenditures
for nominations aud elections Of all
tions received and expenditures made
by political committees.
Policy towards other Nations Of the
Western Hemisphere.
1t IL not true that the United States
feels any land hunge. Or entertains
any projects as regards the other ma.
tipns Of the Western Hemisphere
All that this country desires is to sea
the neighbortng countries stable. or
derly, and prosperous. Any country
whose people conduct themselves well
can count upon our hearty friendship.
II nation shows that Is knows how
to act with reasonable efficiency and
decency in social and political mat
ters. II 1t keeps order and pays it's OBJ
legations. II need fear no Interference
from the United States. Chronic wrong
doing. or an impotence which results
in general lOosening OF the ties OF
civilized society. may In America. az
elsewhere, ultimately require inter.
vention by some civilized nation. and
In the Western Hemisphere the nd.
herence of the United States to the
Monroe Doctrine may force the Uni.
ted States. however reluctantly. In
fragrant cases Of such wrongdoing or
impotence. to the exercise Of an inter
national police power II every coun-
try washed by the Caribbean Sea
would show the progress In stable and
Just civilization which with the aid
OF the Plntt amendment Cuba has
shown since our troops left the island
and which 30 many OF the republics
In both Americas are constantly and
brilliantly showing, all questions OF
interference by the Nation with their
affairs would be Mt an end Our In
terests and those OF our southern
neigbbors are In reality Identical They
have 'GTsab natural riohes. and If
within their borders the reign Of law
and justice obtains. prosperity is sure
to come to them. While they thus
obey the primary laws Of civilization
they may rest assured that they Will
be treated by us in a spirit Of cordial
and helpful sympathy We would in.
terfere with them only in the last
resort. and then only II 1t became
evident that their inability or unwill.
ingness to do Justice at home and
abroad had violated the rights Of the
United States or had invited foreign
aggression TO the detriment OF the
entire body OF AmersGka 1t is
II mere truism to say mat every ma
tion. whether In America or any
where else which desires TO maintain
its freedom. its Independence. must
ultimately realize that the right of
such independence can not be separ-
ated from the responsibility OF max
ing good use OF It,
In asserting the Monroe Doctrine,
In taking such steps as we have TAX
en- In regard to Cuba, Venezula, and
Panama. and in endeavoring TO cir
cumscribe the theatre of war In the
Far East, and TO secue the open door
In China. we have acted In our own
interests as well as in the interests OF
humanity at large. There are, how
ever, cases In which, while our own
interests are not greatly involved,
strong appeal Is made to our sympa-
thies. Ordinarily IL Is very much
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