The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-01
NO TROUBLE FOR THE FOR
EIGN BORN CITIZEN TO
VOTE NDER THE
AMENDMENT PRO
VISIONS.

VISIONS.
One of the oppo-ition's chief objec-
tons to the DISTINGUISHING amendment
i, that it will p limit the voting priv
i'ege among foreign-burn citizens They
make great capital out of this phase of
the question without looking at it, at
all, in a sensible light. The appeal to
personal prejudice may seem good po-
liticil wi,dOm, but it is so at variance
with the program heretofore adhered
TO by the Republican brand of the
"Sambon cohorts, that it makes ride
ulous the devisors of it. Our memory
is not 50 unretentive that it cannot
picture some years back v hen the hue
aud cry arose about the foreigner en-
joying the rights of American citizen
ship, and how secret bauds of these
same people did everything to oppose
him in all he undertook in either Il
business. religious or political way.
He was subjected to all kinds of n oral
iudigniti's aud was in every sense of
the word, at least with the element of
which we are now speaking, "perSond
non grdtid" Tan unwelcome person. J
This persecution was in force in lOcali-
ties where the Republican party vote
justified it, yet in Philadelphia where
they made majorities while the bulle-
tins waited, the foreigner was picked up
and naturaliZed almost before his sea
legs were out of commission and he
had a chance to realize that he was in
another country. Then he was vote d
as often as the situation required.
This much for the tender suhctude
of the Republicans for the welfare of
the for, igner for his own sake, and the
true merit of the case in point. Only
word in this vein is needed to show
that the opposition is mostly made up
of pretense and self-interest and that
it seeks in every way to besmirch the
character of those who are honestly
striving to secure better things for the
suffrage of the State and to undo in
whatever way it can the gigantic
wrong perpetrated by the Republicans
in 1870.
The Constitutional Amendment will
work no intentional injury upon any
white citizen of Maryland, be he
Democrat or Republican. Such a
course would be impolitic, unjust and
suicidal. 1t has never been contem-
plated, and even should the provisions
be stretched to admit of such a posi-
bility, public opinion and the voice of
the press would make the mental
cringe who dared traduce the pla n
intent of the instrument.
OF course the foreign-born citizen
will be subjected to a rational exami-
nation as to his qualifications for citi-
zeuship. This is reasonable and it is
right. If any foreigner, naturalized,
has not taken enough interest in the
land of his adoption, besides simple
residence here, to learn the tongue and
understand some of the principles of
its government and social usages, then
he is certainly not fit person to exer-
else the right of suffrage
Such a condition of mind will not be
found in many cases, but there will be
some. The average foreign born resi-
dent and citizen, who has been in this
country any length of time, is an
American in almost every way. He
understands the language, conforms
to the laws aud customs and does his
share towards keeping up popular ill.,
situations and popular ideas. He can
vote under the proposed provisions of
the amendment as we'll as the most
highly favored native.
He is entitled to vote, because he has
proved his right to intelligently use
the privilege. But the other kind,
they have no more right than the most
ignorant negro 10 cast ballot 10 this
land of advanced civilization. In a
Baltimore paper recently an amusing
account was given of the adjudication
of some naturalization cases before
Judge Wickes, sitting as Judge at
large. Two foreigners, one a German
and the other from Italy were before
him:
"Blumberg, the German, could not
understand what it all meant. He only
knew that he would with the sanction
Of the court, become q child of Uncle
sam. Judge Wickes rather suspected
that Blumberg was not too well ac-
quainted with the everyday affairs of
the country he would adopt as his
own. Every citizen, the Judge be-
lieves, sh ud know the form of gov
eminent under which he elects to exist.
Accordingly, he asked the applicant
what was the form of this government.
The witness passed hand across a
perspiring brow and gazed bankly at
the mural decorations. He was nudged
in the side by a friend, without other
effect than to cast his eyes on the
ground.
We'll, then, what is the difference. !"
asked the Judge, between the form
of governm MT of this aud your native
land? Is ours a republic?"