gration and Immigration, 1-11. Mayoof foreigners. The admission of aliens belonging to the Smith, Emisame race as the natives is ordinarily an important cause of national progress. Just as necessary is the exclusion of undesirable persons of the same race, of classes that represent ideas especially dangerous to the country to which they come, and of foreigners who belong to radically different races who are accustomed to a standard of living that will undermine the economic and social institutions in the land of their proposed adoption. Present laws. At present all Chinese laborers, idiots, paupers, and persons with contagious diseases or under contract to work in competition with American labor, are excluded from entering the United States. The number of immigrants is nevertheless very large, 1,285,349 persons being admitted in 1907, and only about 1 per cent of that number being sent back. The next year, however, the net immigration fell to less than Hall, Immi- 100,000, showing the influence of the hard times of that year. Gauss, Am. Gov't, 803-807. gration, 339-355. The character of the immigrants is unfortunately less satisfactory than two decades ago, and even more stringent laws have been proposed. Change in The number of German immigrants decreased from 109,717 in 1887 character of to 37,807 in 1907. During the same period the number of inhabitants immigrants. coming from Austro-Hungary, Russia, and Italy rose from 131,856 to Commons, grants, 68-106. 883,126. While the second generation of these latter peoples will probably be capable of assimilation with Americans, the older immigrants are unable to drop their former customs and habits. Ships coming from Europe are met by inspectors who make as careful a medical examination as seems necessary. Applicants for admission are taken to the immigration stations and cared for by the government until the officials are satisfied that they do not belong to any Administra of the excluded classes. As the steamship companies are compelled to take back those who are debarred from entering the United States, each transportation line makes some examination of the immigrants before leaving Europe. tion of the immigration laws. Need of a wise naturalization policy. 291. The Process of Naturalization. - The status of these new Americans-their legal position, their rights in regard to the holding of property and exercising political privileges, and, more than all else, the conditions under which they shall be admitted as full citizens - constitutes another subject of vital importance. Except for four years' (1798-1802) our policy always has been to admit foreigners to citizenship after a very short period of residence in order that they may identify their interests with ours. In addition to this individual naturalization, we may have collective naturalization, the latter occurring when a large number of foreigners are made citizens by a single act, such as a treaty or Amendment XIV of the Constitution. under pres ent law. Hunt, G., in No. Am. Rev., 185 (1907), 530–539. Under the present naturalization act, passed in 1870, only Methods persons of the white or the negro race may be naturalized, and these can become citizens only after a residence of five years in this country. The process includes two important steps: (1) The applicant for citizenship must first declare, before some court of record, that he intends to become a citizen of the United States, that he will support the Constitution, and must renounce his previous allegiance to any foreign State or sovereign. (2) Not less than two years Rossiter, W. after making this declaration, he must prove before a similar court by means of witnesses that he has resided in this country at least five years, and has conducted himself 469–471. properly. He then renounces his allegiance to his former sovereign and swears to support the Constitution. His wife and minor children become citizens without further formalities. S., in Rev. of Revs., 35 (1907), Carelessness and fraud in papers. As in the case of many other American laws, those connected with naturalization have been enforced laxly. In issuing addition there has been an immense amount of fraud in the form of forged papers or of genuine papers sold by bribed officials contrary to the law. It is estimated by one investigator that more than one million fraudulent or defective 1 The law of 1798 required a residence of fourteen years before an alien could become a citizen, but it lapsed in 1802, and five years has been the time required since, although attempts have been made to lengthen or shorten the period. n Cooley, A. W., in Rev. of Revs 37 (1908), 464-467. Reservations. Indian agents. papers are in existence. During recent years the government has taken steps to prevent the repetition of these serious evils, and at present the laws are being enforced strictly. 292. Indian Affairs. The duty of our people to the red men who have been driven back by each succeeding wave of Western advance has not received the attention it deserves. Until 1871, the relations with Indian tribes were arranged Colgrile OREGON IDAHO Ft. ME. NEVADA NEBRASKA * UTAH IND. COLORADO VA. N. CAR. ARK. S. MISS. ALA. GA. in treaties which were broken quite frequently. The tribal Indians have since been considered wards of the nation, and have had certain rights to lands on reservations. Indian affairs now are intrusted to a Commissioner who looks after the lands, schools, and moneys of all tribes except those that by former treaties are free to care for their own welfare. The government appoints Indian agents who oversee the distribution of funds and the allotment of lands, hear complaints, and have general charge of Indian affairs, great and small. The success of the present system depends to a very great degree upon the character and judgment of these agents, many of whom are conscientious, capable men, al |