Speech #430079170

The United States. wisely. freely. and liberally offers its Texas still frequently takes place. despite the vigilance of the civil citizenship to all who may come in good fa ith to reside within its and military authorities in that quarter. The difficulty of checkiug limits on their complying with certain prescribed reasonable nid such trespasses along tile ceuse of a river of such length as the Rio simple formalities and conditions. Among the highest duties of the Government is that to afford firm. efficient. and equal protection to all its citizens. whether nativeborn or naturalized. Care should be taken that a right carrying with it such support from the Government should not be fraudulently obtained. and should be bestowed only upon full proof of a compliance with the law. and yet frequent instances are brought to the attention of the Government of illegal and fraudulent natnralization and of the unauthorized use of certificates thus improperly obtained. In some cases the fraudulent character of the naturalication has appeared upon the face of the certificate itself. in others. examination discloses that the holder had not comeplied with the law. and in others. certificates have been obtained where the persons holding them not only were not entitled to be naturalized. ut had not even been within the United States at the time of the pretended naturalization. "Instances of each of these classes of fraud are discovered at our legations. where the certificates of naturalization are presented either for the purpose of obtaining passports or in demanding the protection of the legation. When the fraud is apparent on the face of such certificates. they are taken up by the representatives of the Government and forwarded to the Department of State. But even then the record of the court in which the fraudulent naturalization occurred remains. and duplicate curtificates are readily obtainable. Upon the presentation of these for the issue of passports. or in demanding protection of the Government. the fraud sometimes escapes notice. and such certificates are not infrequently used in transactions of business to the deception and injury of tinocent parties. Without placing any additional obstacles in the way of the obtainment of citizenship by the worthy and wellintentioned foreigner who comes in goodfaith to cast his lot with ours. I earnestly recommend further legislation to punish fraudulent naturalization. and to secure the ready cancellation of the record of every naturalization made in fraud. Since my last annual message the exchange has been made of the ratification of treaties of extradition with Belgium. Ecuador Peru. and Salvador. also of a treaty of commerce and navigation with Peru. and one of commerce and consular privileges with Salvador. all of which have beu duly proclaimed. as has also a declaration with Russia with reference to trademarks.