Arizona republican., 1909-03-03

citizens. speaking only the Spanish | language. Those speaking the English language were few and. naturally, be-
 cause the Spanish was so largely the
 predominant language they at once learned the Spanish language them
 selves, and our Mexican citizens did not learn English for the very simple
 reason that there was no necessity for it and little use for it. The treaty of
 cession by Mexico to the United States provides that MeXicans who remained
 in the ceded territory for the period
 of one year from the date of the treaty
 without declaring an intention to re-
 main Mexican citizens. should become
 citizens of the United States And they became so, notwithstanding they did not speak the English language. It would have been gross injustice and a direct violation of the spirit of the treaty to have denied them any of the right of American citizenship be- cause they could not speak and read 1 the English language. I do not deny that they should have as speedily as possible learned the language of their adopted country. But it seems to me some regard must be had for condi- tiOns. At first the Spanish was prac-
 tically the only language spoken in the territory. 4 people does not. nor in
 deed do individuals. usually change
 their speech voluntarily. The acquisi- tion of a new language voluntarily is
 a refinement of education confined to
 few individuals as a mere accomplish
 ment. That a whole people should
 1lor rlaf- h,
 there was a necessity more or less ur-
 gent to do so, or the acquisition is
 the result of years and often of gen.
 erations of association and intercourse
 with a people speaking different Ian
 guage who have become predominant.
 As I have said at first, there was
 no necessity that the Mexicans should
 learn English. it was easier and was
 natural for the few Americans to learn Spanish. As the English speak
 ing people grew in number that lan-
 guage has become predominant and
 the use of Spanish is growing every
 year less and less prevalent in the territory. As time goes on the neces- sity for all our people. including those of Mexican descent, to speak the Eng fish language. increases, and before long the English will be practically the only language spoken in Arizona. This process of acquisition by peo- pie of a new language has not been de- layed longer in Arizona than has been the rule where like conditions have prevailed. The process is a natural one; it's completion in due time is inevitable The process is accelerated or retarded very much in proportion as the English speaking population in creases or lags. In some localities the Mexicans are fast acquiring the use of English because it has become the predominant language. In others the Spanish Is yet the predominant Ian guage and the transition is slower, but, I am certain, not less sure. These are natural conditions, and they can be changed only by natural processes; and I cannot feel otherwise than that it is unjust to disfranchise our Span sh-speaking people because of the eX- istence of these natural conditions.
 The earliest land owners in our val leys, the earliest miners in our hills, i the earliest live stock on our ranges ] were Mexican. speaking only the Spanish language. In those days that 1 language was the predominant lan- | guage. was the language of trade and | of social intercourse, and they had no i use for any other. and had no time | to acquire any other as a mere re- ! finement of education. But they have l all along been American citizens.
 do not wish to be misunderstood. ! l believe that the language of any | nation is a national institution: possi- | bly, one of the chiefest, and that all | who claim the rights of citizenship i of the nation should understand it's language. What I do wish to be un- derstood to say is that I think that 1t is unreasonable to require of any people the acquisition of a different national language faster than is the due, ordinary and natural course; and | that to impose the penalty of disfran- chisement for not doing so is rather harsh and ungenerous.
 But even if it were to be conceded that all our voters should be English speaking and able to read in that lan- guage, this bill is open to very grave 
 The new qualification required is the ability to read the constitution or the United States in the English language in such a manner as to show that the voter is not being prompted nor recit- ing from memory.
 The law requires the voter to be registered. The registration officer must in the first instance be the judge Df whether or not the proposed voter reads so as to show that he is neither being prompted nor reciting from 
 This decision by the registering of icer is one of opinion and not of facts.
 cannot conceive how a man can tell IS an indisputable fact whether an other reads so as to show tliat he is lot reciting from memory. The mere