Speech #530032144

That is the effort which is made in this law.not to regulate or qualify voters. but to raise the standard of citizenship for these aliens and require them to come forward after residing here a sufficient period of time. and to present a case to the courts. sustained by credible testimony. which will show that the applicant is worthy of this greatboonof Americancitizenship. When that is done it will have at least a moral intluence. if notadirect one. upon the practices in our States of prematurely manufacturing voters out of aliens who are utterly ignorant of the questions upon which they have to vote. In addition to this bill having no retroactive effect. there is a provision in it of a humanitarian and proper character. that all Indians who have severed their tribal relations and who attain to a degree of intelligence that makes them worthy may be naturalized as citizens of the United States. There is also a provision that any alien who comes to this country and desires to engage in the industry of tilling the soil. who desires to take a home under the homestead laws on the public land and to engage in farming. may make his declaration of intention as a part of his application to the Land Office and receive his homestead. and then when he settles upon it and cultivates it for five years. as our own citizens are required to do before they can get title. if at the expiration of that time be obtains his citizenship by being naturalized. having resided on the land for five years. he gets the title to his homestead.