Year: 1868

American Citizens Abroad-Ths Treaty with


North Germany.


Official advices received in Washington from
the United States Minister in Berlin confirm
ths important intelligence. communicated to
the public week since by special cable tele-
gram in the HERALD, tina! the preliminariss Of
the treaty between the United States and the
North German Confederation in regard to
expatriation and naturalization negotiated by
Mr. Bancroft have been formally signed, and
that the treaty is already on Its way to
the United States capital. This Is another
proof OF The advanced views Of the
government Of North Germany. A govern
ment which shows such intelligent readiness
to advance with the advancing times is enti-
| tied to success. Henceforth Germans will be
| free 10 emigrate at will, and we are little
likely to hear more of stupid arrests when the
sons of the Fatherland revisit their native
country. This vexed question Of citizenship
as between North Germany and the United
States may now be regarded as virtually set
tied. The example is good and Is certain to
be generally followed.


AsVet, however, the difficulty remains with
Great Britain. On this question, indeed,
England is less in harmony with the conditions
and requirements of modern times than any
other European Power. It is the only country
which denies to its citizens the right Of expa-
triation. The theory of indefeasible allegiance
is still held nominally sacred. The statute law
Of the land to this day confers the character of
British subjects upon the foreign born sons and
grandsons, If not the remoter descendants, OF
Englishmen, Scotchmen and Irishmen. All
this is manifestly absurd. The absurdity OF
such law is, perhaps, best proved by the fact
that it is impossible to put it in practice. 1t is
lingering relic of feudalism which the liberty
loving people of the nineteenth century would
not for moment tolerate. It is only fair,
however, to say, If we may Judge from oil the
more intelligent writers in the British journals,
that there is no desire on the part Of the British
people to preserve such an anachronism on
the statute book. One "very superior person" "
styling himself "Historicus," does write mag
nifcent and highsounding nonsense in favor OF
what is, deprecating any change in the law,
on the ground that II would seem to be yield
ing to unjust and unreasonable clamor from
without; but, having made these excep-
tions, 1t is only truth to say that there
is singular unanimity Of feeling as to the
necessity of conforming the law TO the con-
dition, and requirements of the times, and
we are glad to see that the question is to be
brought fairly to the notice Of Parliament
by the member for Bradford. It is
not, therefore, unreasonable to conclude that
| the government of Great Britain will not
| be found unwilling to meet the government of
the United States half way 10 order calmly and
dispassionately to discuss and, if possible,
satisfactorily to settle the question.


1t is maniiestly neither for the interests of
the United States nor for the interests OF Great
Britain that the bullying system should be
carried further either on the one side or the
other. 1t is not for the British government
recklessly to resist our demands. 1t is not for
us, on The other hand, recklessly to force our
demands upon tho British government The
dispassionate and patient discussion of the
whole question is the more necessary that a
rash and hasty settlement might create other
and even more serious difficulties than those
from which it was its object to deliver. It is
above oil things important that we should not
be asking other governments to do that which
we have not done or which we are unwilling
to do ourselves 1t is claimed by certain
British jurists, on the authority of Kent,
that the law of Great Britain and the law
Of the United States are precisely the same
in regard to native born citizens. Is it true or
is IL not true that native born American can
not cast of his allegiance without permission
OF his government, to be declared by lawf II
this be the law then we are manifcstly as much
al fault and as far behind the age rs the gov.
ernments of which we complain. 1t is desr-
able that all this be calmly and diligently
inquired into. OF such laws wherever they
exist, the mildes Judgment that can s,c given
is this j. that they are totally unsuited to the
new conditions of society in the later years OF
the nineteenth century and that they ought to
be wiped out Of existence. AT The same time
il they are TO be replaced by other and better
laws the replacement cannot be proceeded
with too cautiously. AS Il Is 10 the last degree
desirable that there be not one law rs between
tHc ohi'ou Sto'Oo "nu Noi'h pcIhauy, "hu
another law as between the United States and
Great Britain, and another law as between The
! United States and France but that the rights
Of citizenship should in every case he deter
mined by the same principle or class of prin.
, ciples, ii Is a question not unworthy Of being
discussed by the collective wisdom Of all the
great leading nations In an International con.
grcss. 1t is a thoroughly International ques
: ton an international question developed in
the course of human progress and for the first
T time in history really touching the intercsts o
, all civilized nations.


Mrs. kcmbe's shahspenrian Readings.