This case has been well and most forcibly presented by the gentleman from Illinois . and I desire to add only a few words in the line of his remarks. The point of the controversy as I appreciate it is this: Under this bill those who come here from foreign nations may at once. upon filing a declaration of their intention to become citizens. make an entry upon the mineral lands contemplated by this bill. They can not. under the law. acquire their full citizenship until the lapse of five years from the date of the declaration. but under the bill. or the law. if it were not for the naturalization statutes they might acquire title sooner. Now. our friends who have spoken against this idea seem to think that the policy of the Government. as declared in the alien land bill. should be sacrificed. as I construe it. to the opinion that these people should have immediately the same right to acquire a full title that the American citizen has. I do not think we can be charged in this country with the passage of illiberal statutes towards those who come here from abroad and locate among us and undertake to become a part of us.
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naturalization