I pause now to ask whether In conferring Federal citizenship. or whether in the enjoyment of the rights which such citizenship confers. it is essential that the beneficiary be able to read. speak. and understand the English language. and whether such qualifications (if you may so term it) are essentially prerequisite to conferring citizenship and in the enjoyment of it. I contend that it never was contemplated by theStates that any greater power be conferred upon the Federal Government in that regard than was absolutely necessary to safeguard the Government against an alien of bad character and not disposed to the good order and happiness of our Government. and that it was left to the State to enact all further restrictions. and this must be apparent. The present acts of Congress relating to naturalization of XL- 397 aliens. except as to the amendmentsrelating to the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. has been in force for more than one hundred years. It has stood the test of time and expediency. What necessity is there for engrafting upon the Federal statutes such a qualification?
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naturalization