Valdez daily prospector., 1915-10-15
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1915
THE HYPHENATED PERIL.

government anu peOpIe o1 tue OAiIoo States, than that of amending the inn migration laws, promptly and amply, so that the status and obligations of the immigrant resident shall be defi- aitely and permanently fixed, that fact has not been established in current public discussion. The country has for the last thirteen months been treated repeatedly to the spectacle of departing ships laden heavily with men of military age responding to the service call of other nations. They have gone by tens of thousands, these iconscripts, utterly forgetful, appar- ently, of the conditions which they assumed when they landed on the shores of this great republic, the land of their hearts desire; utterly un- mindful, apparently, in perhaps ma iority of cases, of their voluntary re lunciation of all previous allegiance IS a condition precedent to the grant If American citizenship.
 Farcical however, as this uncere- nonious exodus has made the immi- ,ration and naturalization laws of the United States appear to the observ- mt and thoughtful onlooker, his ense of the eternal fitness of things aas been less shocked by the depart ire of the men who dropped allegi- nee to their adopted country as read ly as they might have divested them elves of coat or shoe, than by he continued presence in the coun- ry of others, who while boasting of itizenship, have been no less respcn- i've in their way, to orders from the overnments they have renounced han were their compatriots. who rom the day of their departure were aldom out of touch with their con- ulates. These people have never cen citizens of the United States, al -aough they have taken the oath of llegiance, become naturalized per ilrers, and in many cases helped run ne economic and political affairs of .iar nation. They have been at the eek and call of their consuls, ready 5 sever all ties, leaving families and alatives in mary cases. to become larges of our charitable institu- ons. while they returned to take up ms for the land of their preference. ney have never been safe residents. 1ey have attempted in some in ances, honestly perhaps, to divide cir allegiance between two codn
 ies, only to find themselves inevi- bly in the position of those who un- rtake' to serve two masters of any nd, and who end by clinging to one d despising and probably betraying @ other.
 Dual allegiance, dual loyalty. dual .;zenship are things repugnant to e single-minded and the true. They things utterly incompatible with essence of American citizenship.
 ey involve conditions, adjustments, mpromises that have nothing in mmon with frank. free and unques- ming devotion to the country and
 flag There are times when the al citizen must be for or against
 things for which one or another the countries sharing his allegi- ce stands. There are times when
 must make his choice, and well him If he. shal. make his choice
 anly, for an ugly name and a last
 stigma attach to one who at such
 ime chooses secretly.
 Patriotic, thoughtful papers all
 sr the country are realizing the
 .il existing under the present im-
 grafton laws. The fact that the
 lntry has been flooded with cheap
 or, which at a nod from it's coun-
 deliberately turns it's back upon
 country which has succored and
 Uttered, and oftentimes protected from extradition by a tyrannical . .ion, causes the person who is real interested in the country's welfare,
 stand aghast. The Christian Sci
 se monitor, in discussing the mat
 from a patriotic standpoint says
 St responsibility does not lie alto
 her with the individual. In the
 sent instance it must be shared by
 government which has thrown it's
 rs over to all corners through
 ny years, asking few questions, , as rule, paying little attention . Inc answers received. The con-
 pts who have gone out, 1t should
 remembered, have also come in by
 items of thousands. In more than
 sense the immigrants crowding
 pugh the open doors have been re-
 lists. They have in many cases, ., vered all questions with reserva-
 ,is; they made declarations and