Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-22

er who applies TO be made an Ameri-
can citizen must in his petition show
to the court that he is attached to
the principles Of the Constitution OF
the United States" He cannot, OF
course, be attached to principles Of
which he knows little or nothing.
President Wilson has said:
No more vitalfruth was ever ut
tered than that freedom and free in
stitutions cannot long be maintained
by any people who do not understand
the nature of their government.
CWoodrow Wilson's Congressional
Government" LIST edition, page $50
The following questions and ans
wers cover the least that an applicant
for naturalization should know about
our government and IT'S history.
I. Who discovered America, and
when7
Christopher Columbus, an Italian, in
1882.
z. What people then held the eoun-
try now occupied by the states Of the
United States7
The North American Indians.
g., What 10 the birthday Of the Am
erican nation?
July 4, 1776, when delegates from
the 13 English colonies, meeting in
Philadelphia, passed resolution that
1.-THE United Colonies are and of right
ought to be free and independent
States" This resolution is called the
Declaration of independence"
But the American colonies were not
recognized as an independent nation
until the treaty, signed in Paris, Sep
TENDER 8, 1888, at the conclusion of
the war of the Revolution. 1t was in
this war against England, the power
which had ruled over the American
colonies, that the colonists won their
independence.
q. What does the United States
now include?
The 4S states of the United States,
which are all on the continent or
North America, with the territories OF
Alaska and Hawaii, and the posses
fppine Islands.
(The applicant should be able to
name some IL not all of the States and
the most important cities.)
5. What Is the Constitution Of the
United States?
Having won their independence, the
American colonists desired central
government to rule in national affairs,
but without taking away the power OF
the colonies (which became the states
Of the American goyernment) to rule
in local affairs. BY document or
writing adopted September II, 1887,
which went into effect In 1883, a CEN
trail government was secured. This
document is called the Constitution.
It is a grant of powers by the States
(originally colonies) to the central or
national, sometimes, called federal"
government. and limitation OF pow
ers of the State governments. Accord
ingly, 1t is mainly taken up with q
statement OF what the United States
central or federal government and
it's officers can do and what the State
governments cannot do.
"The Constitution" says James
Bryce, late British. ambassador at
Washington, rs document OF the
first importance in the history of the
world, because it has not only determ-
ined the course of events in the Am
erican Republic, but has also influenc-
ed. or become q model for, other con-
stitutions, such as those of Switzer-
land (1S48 and 1870, Canada (1S67),
Australia $1,000, besides Mexico and
the numerous republics of South and
Central America" Encyclopedias
Britannica, 18th edition, volume q,
page 65l, section 14.)
6. What kind Of government has
the United States?
The Constitution provides for re-
publican form of government, or a
republic, that is, a government in
which the people rule through officers
chosen by the people to represent
them. 1t differs from a monarchy,
ruled by an emperor or king, whose
office is usually hereditary, l. e.. who
is not chosen by the people. Presi-
dent Lincoln, in his speech at the bat
tie field of Gettysburg, called our gov
eminent "a government of the people,
by the people and for the people"
Z. What does the Constitution Sc
cure to the people7
Liberty, justice and equal rights to
all. No State can take away life, lib
erty or property except according to
law, nor deny to any person the equal
protection Of the laws.
8. How are the rights OF citizens
protected?
II law Is passed by State legis-
lature or by Congress taking away
any right guaranteed by the Constitu-
tion, the courts of the United States
will declare that law of no effect
Such q law is said to be unconstitu-
tional. The writ of habeas corpus
may also be used as in cases named
In the answer to Question IL, below.
Generally, ones rights are protected
through the courts.
9. How 10 the right to vote pro.
teeted?
The right of citizens to vote cannot
be taken away by the United States
or by any State On account of race,
color or social condition. For in
stance. no one can be denied this
right because he is of the Negro race
or color. or because his social condi-
ton was formerly that of Negro
slave.