644
THE GREEN BAG
THE LAW OF NATURALIZATION BY HON. HEXRY STOCKBRIDGE NINETEEN hundred years ago impe This first found its expression in 1890, in rial Rome was mistress of the then the act of Congress intended to regulate known world. To be a citizen of Rome was immigration, and prevent the landing on the proudest boast a man might make. It our shores of those who would be undesir was alike a protection and a pride to him able, not merely as citizens, but as denizens who could rightfully claim it. Roman citi of our Republic. zenship, like citizenship in this our great, But, notwithstanding that and other re modern Republic, might be acquired in two strictive acts, the tide of immigration has ways. In each it might result as a birth continued to pour in at an annual rate of right, and that of Rome might, as St. Paul from one to one and a third per cent of our declares, be purchased at "a great price," entire population. either in money or by the rendition of dis Nor is it longer true that those composing tinguished service to the state; while ours this stream are individuals oppressed in the may similarly be said to be capable of being land of their nativity and seeking here a purchased under the legal designation of freedom and opportunity they cannot en naturalization, though a price of fifty cents joy at home. If anything is needed to paid, not by the individual upon whom it emphasize this it may be found in the is bestowed, but by the agent or committee fact, that the Austrian government not of some political party which hopes to get long since contracted with one of the great his vote, can hardly be called "a great trans-Atlantic lines, to furnish thirty-five price. " Is our citizenship to-day worth less thousand emigrants annually, for trans than that of Rome? Or do we value it too portation to this country. There will be no cheaply? Or have the changed conditions need to consult a list of the peerage or of the past century been lost sight of when nobility to discover that the individuals so we bestow upon an alien citizenship with "furnished" are not members of the first families. They may be patriots, all who us? When our legislation upon this subject take passage under such a contract; but it began we were a nation of about thirteen will occur to many that they are in all millions of people scattered along an ocean probability the sort of patriots "who leave coast. To-day we are a nation of over their country for their country's good." seventy millions, occupying a continent. And when these reach our shores it mav From one of the poorest we have become well be that under existing law, the greater one of the wealthiest of nations. From a part, or all of them, will be landed, but be state essentially agricultural we have be cause they may land is»nq reason why thev come one in which the busy hum of active should be admitted to citizenship, but industry in a myriad different forms resounds rather suggests a closer scrutiny of the from shore to shore. Greater changes than principles, laws and practice affecting natu the century has produced among us it is ralization. difficult to conceive. It is but natural, In August, 1903, Judge Clifford D. Gregory, therefore, to find that in this vast change of Albany, refused to naturalize forty-three there should have been a modification of the applicants for citizenship, and in doing so, national policy with regard to the reception said: "I will not naturalize any person who into our midst of vast numbers of aliens to comes before me and is unable to speak the form part and parcel of our body politic. English language sufficiently to make him
