Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-05

PRIVILEGE OF CITIZENSHIP.
81
(San Antonio Express.

Since the passage Of the law. ~ l!ub-
nlacine The naturalization of foreigners
nndrr the administrative authority of
the bureau of naturalization Of the DE
partment Of Labor. 2-50O. 900 foreigners
are said 10 haye@aSked for citizenship.
OF this number. ii II said, 5000 have
been refused largely because ot mental
on moral u~niiincss.
1t i estimated by the bureau thai OF
the lI.OOU. GEO az aliens in the United
states. l.G.j0.O00 are illiteratc and IL
appears to be- assumed that education as
10 the obligations and duties Of citizen
snip should precede their exercise OF the
rights and privileges conferred by nat
uralizati0n-
The conviction has been growing. ap
parcntly, that in some of the States
where 4 declaration of intention for a
foreigner who has been in this country
for a year Tor even less. ~ some lnStail-
ccsy to qualify as a voter, without any
obligation on his part 10 complete his
citizenship al any time thereafter by
taking ont final papers, the privilege is
too lightly esteemed.
The purpose Of a conference to bc
held in New York il to consider ways
AMI means of teaching foreign born res
itttisi~. " ufinfi fiiiEti~ vi nVi. wv ~
write and speak the language of their
adopted country. and 10 git them :
better understanding Of the obligations
imposed upon them ~ the transfer of
their allegiance from their native ~
their adopted country. The presumption
here il that American citizenship il
something too precious to throw away
oh the unIcScrvin. ~ the unapprecia
M fl.a- fhDf IN - "A r.YtNflnn. for which "a.
return i asked except good conduct and
loyalty 10 the country comforting il. and
that. even ~ II were not worth the cost
of proper preparation for it, investment
the alien should be assured a sufficient
understanding of his oath Of allegiance
before he makes il. or ii least. very soon
thereafter.
In our foreign horn population are
some IF our best and most patriotic cit
liens. men 81 the highest character and
nf largest Influence. II il no RECEPTION
upon them that others of their country
men are deficient in education and i'm
the ability t. measure up 10 the require
mcntS ~ a higher standard If citizenship
than ai present obtains in this country.
~ the estimation If those who would i'm
pose 2 more stringent test. We have IL
l~iirratcs NJ home whose illiteracy does
net bar them from the ballot box. We
have also. the iencrant. the vS-inu~ and
cnrrnrtibic whose participation i'm our
election does i great deal to diS.rtdit
our electoral system and ~ bring the
popIlar ballot into di~rcputc. That evil.
however. appears to 10 in>cparablc from
any SNtcm Of universal suffrage: but the
aspiration VI The best citizenship III the
country il. and has ever been. toward
Z more exalted idea Of manhood suffrage
ant 4 purcr ballot.
It's instruct the foreigner who i seek
ING citizenship M IA H. duties ana obi
cations which 20 with ii. alnm. with the
Soicmnity If an oath nr allcginncc FOL
lowing remuneration Of any other power
nr potentate. more especially Of the ~.
tive laul. should BE- part ana parcel III
The ceremony IF naturalization. and in
The meantime the conference which pro
poses 10 take measures III this behalf
might consider WAYS and means for pn-
rifNing The ballot 5v SOM advantageous
teaching, compiled with considerations If
fitness for The ballot where there have
hrrt."r may he. evidences ~ misuse ar
abuse I'M native or adopted sons with
"hl 4 >cntblancc of prejudice or partial
itv.