The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-13
Impressive Ceremony in Federal
Court When Crowd Is
Naturalized.
JUDGE SHEPPARD
ADDRESSES THEM
Applicants Reminded American
Citizenship a Priceless Asset
of Freedom and Liberty.

United States District Judge VIII
liam b. Sheppard, In judicial robes
yesterday morning sat upon the bench
and reviewed United States soldiers
the same as commanding officers upon
|, horseback watch the men go by, step
by step, shoulder to shoulder, in solid
phalanx, except for tn. one fact that
Judge Shepard made the men under
his observation United states citizens
and soldiers at the same time.
Judge Sheppard. IT might be said
used melting pot, He put a num-
ber OF nationalities in cauIdron la
beled America and made them all
Americans. They we're OF various pa
rentase- Swedes. Norvegians, Ger
mans, Austro Hungarians, Italians.
Greeks, Swiss, Russians. in fact those
who We're aliens in this country bur
wanted to be Americans
Every man, according TO his nation
ality, held up his right hand when told
/ to do so and swore allegiance to tha
| United States. The men appeared IN
good spirits and seemed anxious 10
| become citizens under the stars and
stripes. Each nationality was called
by turn and Clerk of the Court Marsh
had his hands fun with a mass OF pa
pers but the whole ceremony was
NOEhSu Out without a nlICn. WnGn
every man swore his faith to this gov
ernment. Judge Sheppard addressed
them. He administered the oath 81
allegiance to forty-six OF these men
and Incidentally reminded tfsen or tie
Significance of the occasion stating
eprpbatically that If was .oat sn empty
Torn but frausht with serious resron-
sibilityA
In the course OF his remarks Judge
Sheppard said:
Explains ooath.
This oath You have Just taken is
but the complement of a similar one
administered when you enlisted in the
army of the United States. BY ii. you
have renounced allegiance to whateVe.
ruler you may have been subject 10
and have assumed the responsibilities
and accepted the enjoyment OF the
rights and privileges under the consti-
tuition of the United States.
I'VE who were born in this country
understand and appreciate the price
less blessings Of the guarantees OF IN
dividual liberty under the constitution
and with the Allies. are today resisting
the eneroachments OF a government
which does not recognize them and are
seeking to defend by force of arms the
principles in which we believe and
upon which our government Is found
ed.
''You natives OF nearly every civil
lied nation under the sun, have en-
listed In this cause OF freedom and
now add to your duties as soldiers the
RESPONSIBILITIES of citizenship.
The fundamental law of the United
states insures TO each individual citi-
zen the freedom OF conscience poIiti-
cal and religious freedom. freedom OF
speech and of the press. No power
in this country can even suggest your
method OF worship. and you may say
or write anything. provided IT is
neither libel nor slander.
ITO these guarantees are added the
right of habeas corpus, a great boon
granted by the constitution which
some foreign governments grant. and
with which some OF you may be fa-
miliar.
Rights Granted Them.
Then there Is the provision for
trial jury. Whenever citizen of the
United States is charged with an Of
fense, he has the right to demand
trial by twelve impartial Jurors, and
cannot be convicted until each one of
such jurors is convinced beyond a rea-
sonable doubt OF the guilt of the ac-
cused.
lou efiteF upon IHe uutles OF cib-
in this country at time when
the PRINCIPLES for which It stands are
assailed by the greatest militaristIc
power in the world. II is your duty as
citizens to defend the land of your
adoption against its foes. foreign or
domestic. When the war is over and
you return TO your homes In this coun-
try, that duty does not cease. You
must still abide by the laws of the
United States, and must see that
others do likewise. Only by the vigil
lance OF It's citizens and the admins
tration OF justice. law and order
through the proper channels, can the
integrity Of the nation be maintained
To this task you have dedicated your
selves, and I feel certain that you viii
not be found wanting. congratulate
you upon your admission to citizen