| Show qualifications FOR cm SEVERAL z EVERAL applicants for naturalization in the third district court have recently been sent back to wait until they become better informed in relation to the institutions of the country judge Sa adford seem sto be more alvon g an concerned on this question than as to the religious op opinions inious of candidates lor for citizenship this is a departure from the that course of the courts of the territory to in later times or rather a return to former probably the catechism catechi sib which applicants had bad to be able to master was more prominent than anything else in the aae minds of the applicants who have not passed examination during ehg tb vast past few days doys and this accounts for their fauvre failure we think every consistent american citizen will approve ot 0 judge sand fords course la in this matter the duties and responsibilities of can scarcely be prop properly eriV borne by one exle who has not read the constitution and who is not informed as to the and genius of republican institutions it is true that many native born Ameti americans cans are unable to give intelligent answers to questions on the gov raiment of their country and ye at they hey exercise all the rights ts and d of Citi citizenship zenshi but bhae the suffrage is a free to the ignont gd educated alli alike k e this cannot be reme eie but it is within the jimB cHon of 0 a adge in the exercise 0 of bj ahto aar r tion to require an alies iwho izavis musk e well government AM na constitution ot of the united stated to er exhibit hibit sopie some of the matters and not to talfe japp ddn himself 4 AN a to things ae an 4 bat comprehend in five years it would seem 1 ever every sane person desiring to become becom e identified with this nation could acquire all the information concerning ito AS fundamental law and principles necessary to the assumption of the responsibilities es of citizen citizenship iship I 1 if applicants ge cants h have ve not done this we think a judge is justified asti fied in refusing to issue the needful certificate aliece living in this territory should be instructed in reference to the gen eral principles of republican government and should be made familiar with the declaration of independence and the national constitution and those citizens who attend court as wit nesses for to applicant jor or see to it that tte the friend for whom fity boac Is informed to be able to pass muster and show fitness for the citizenship he desires desire to assume we think this of far more import aock to the people eople and government 0 of t the united states states than the reli Klous ioup viewer of te applicant and it no per s 0 o n were permitted to vote who could not stand the tae test of fitness such as that I 1 in a the third district court as a qualification for citizenship zen ship we think the elective franchise would be exercised in a far more and effective manner than under the present unrestricted man liboa suffrage system 01 |
