New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-07-07

lie, were still to remain subjects of
the Kaiser.
Men who could take such an oath
OF allegiance to two countries are
not even lone per cent Americans"
Though they have been admitted to
our ballot, which is the Sacrament
CT American Freedom, such men are
nothing but Germans. They are
verse; they are German spies.
What do we propose to do in re-
gard to this secret phase of Gamer
ican-GERMANISM,' or rather, of
Pan-Germanism, which the Del
brick law aims to develop in our
midst?
AS one antidote, Congress ought
to meet the challenge of that in
famous law by adding a special
amendment to our Federal naturali-
cation law, providing that in the
future no German immigrant would
be permitted to take the naturaliza-
ton oath until after he had signed
a sworn affidavit that he had not
complied, and would not comply,
with that provision in the Delbriick
law whereby he was secretly to re-
tain his German nationality, even
though he had acquired nationality
in this country.
But, by way Of objection to such
an amendment, it may be urged
that the present naturalization oath
already covers the case, and that
you cannot cure perjury by statute
In reply to such a theoretical OBJ
lection let us consider three classes
Of future German immigrants in
their relation to what we might call
the "Anti-Delbriick Amendment" to
our naturalization law:
(a)--There will probably con-
tinue to be a class of German i'm
migrants who, while desiring to be-
come American citizens after a
half hearted fashion, might be
tempted, by the Delbriick law, to
hold onto their German nationality
as a matter Of sentiment. With 10
intention, whatsoever, of acting as
German spies, such men might, for
sentimental reasons, secretly pro-
cure that written permission to
retain" their German nationality
and then proceed to drug their con-
sciences into taking our naturaliza-
ton oath by assuring themselves
that they sincerely intended, in all
practical matters, to give their un-
divided allegiance to our country.
Now, honest German immigrants
of that sentimental type would re-
frain from taking advantage of the
, Delbriick law, if they knew that
before being allowed to take our
naturalization oath they would be
required to sign a sworn affidavit
that they had not thus secretly re-
ceived that written permission to
retain" their German nationality.
Affidavit Suggested
AS Prudent Precaution
(b)-The very enactment of the
DelbrUck law justifes us in assum-
ing that for some years to come
there will be another class of Ger
man immigrants, namely, those men
who would be capable of thus de-
liberately perjuring themselves,
twice over: First, by obtaining that
secret permission" to hold on to
their German nationality; and, Sec
ond, by taking a naturalization oath
in which they would not only re-
nounce that allegiance to the Kaiser,
but would also swear an undivided
allegiance to the United States.
Obviously, it would be a prudent
rrecaution if we forced such men
to sign the proposed special affidavit !;
for if through some indiscretion
such doubled-dyed perjurers were
afterward to boast within the hear
ing of a loyal American that they
had secretly taken advantage Of
that Infamous feature of the Del
brick law, our courts would then
be furnished with the evidence upon
which such men could be convicted
of double perjury and sentenced to
the long term Of imprisonment that
ought to be provided in the proposed
"Anti-Delbriick Amendment"
(c)-There would remain a large
third class Of German immigrants.
composed of thousands Of high
minded and lioerty-loving men, who
after peace is declared will un-
doubtedly seek to escape from the
bondage Of Prussian militarism by
emigrating to this free land of ours.
. Men Of that class might very
naturally resent the proposed aft
davit as a gratuitous insult, in the
face of the comprehensive, two
/ L