It wasfavored by no honest man either on the Democratic side or the Republican. It culminated in 1868. and such an election as that was never before known in the history of the world and never will be again. Up to that time the court of common pleas in New York had been in the habit of attending to this matter of naturalization. It had honest judges. and the average up to that time of naturalization was not over 5.500 a year. Reasonable examinations were made of applicants and honest witnesses were required to appear and take the oath. But Judge McCann had been elected two years before judge of the superior court of New York. a man without conscience. a man without fear. a man without virtue. a man without patriotism. Judge Barnard at the same time had been elected judge of the supreme courtJudge Barnard. so notorious and so bad that shortly afterward he was impeached and removed. Each was a candidate for reelection. and each one on the 6th day of October. before election. took off his coat. rolled up his sleeves. stopped all business of both courts. and proceeded by proclamation to say that the court would be convened at such an hour each day for the purpose of naturalizing American citizens. or rather of naturalizing foreigners and making them American citizens. Now. a scene was enacted in those two courts that neverwas before and never will be again. for the world today knows of it. Fiftyseven thousand men were naturalized in seventeen days session in each. The Lawrence committee shows only about thiryfive thousand. but subsequent to the report of the Lawrence committee a careful. rigid investigation was made and the figures which I give now are correct.
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