in the following extracts from a recent writer in the Forum:

Naturalization, indeed, does not mean a change of domicile and a grant of the franchise alone. It means a great deal more than this, and the laws by which it is allowed are based upon the supposition that the person availing himself of them will become in heart and soul a

citizen of the country of his adoption. The privileges, moreover, conferred by such laws, like all other privileges, entail corresponding duties. It is the duty of a foreigner who becomes naturalized to discard the national sentiments in which he was nurtured, and to regard the country of his adoption as having an exclusive claim upon his loyalty. Upon any other supposition, indeed, these laws would be a political blunder of the gravest kind, for it is too clear to need demonstration that the presence of a large body of voters, more attached to some other country than to the one of which they are citizens, must be in any nation an injury and a source of danger. Entirely apart from the constant risk of entanglement with foreign powers which must arise from such a state of things, the domestic affairs of the country are seriously imperiled by it, for it is impossible that a man to whom the interests of some other people or country are dearer than the welfare of his own should make a really good citizen or a trustworthy voter. He cannot fail to be constantly neglecting and sacrificing his country for the sake of the land which he loves more. In short, no class of persons can safely be trusted with the franchise in

any nation unless the welfare of that nation is to them the first of all public objects. Our experience of democracy has taught us that the people are by no means always faithful guardians of their own best interests, and that they are none too careful to elect as public servants men actuated solely by a desire for the public welfare. Under no form of government, moreover, have politicians been noted for an excess of anxiety to postpone their own private advantage to the good of the community. If, therefore, among the native citizens who have no public aim but the prosperity of their country, it is difficult to maintain the purity of the government, it is evident how wide a door must be opened to corruption when public spirit is weakened by a divided allegiance, and when a large number of citizens are more strongly bound by affection to another country than to their own. This country has tried the experiment

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of naturalization on a vastly larger scale than any other nation in modern times,

and she alone is deeply interested in the problems which it involves. She has invited strangers by thousands to her shores. She has welcomed them as citizens and extended to them the franchise. She has tried to teach them her own laws and customs, and in this she has been remarkably successful; but she has not been so fortunate in her attempt to abof foreign parentage still remain very imsorb them; and certain groups of citizens perfectly fused with the native population. The worst feature of the matter is that the importance of making naturalized foreigners Americans, and nothing but Americans, is not at all appreciated by our people. They do not realize that unless this is done, the naturalization

law, and, indeed, all immigration, is a positive injury to the country; and that foreigners do not really become Americans until they have become so merged in the American people that they cannot be distinguished as a class, by opinion or sentiment on any subject, from the mass of the population of which they form a part.

The difficulty of absorbing the many foreign elements which have settled among us varies very much. Some immigrants differ but little from our own people, and readily become Americans. With others the points of dfference are resistance to the pressure brought to more numerous, and offer a much greater bear upon them.

If Germany could be transplanted to within the boundaries of the United States intact, it would be Germany still, and it would be an unhappy section of the country if they did not have Bismarck with them. It could not be an American state until American ideas and sentiments had been thoroughly imbued among them.

WORKINGMEN AND CASTE.

What important persons workingmen are and how valuable they would be considered if they were scarce, and how valuable at times

just before election-they are because they are plenty, the time when they are wanted very bad. During the next few months especially he will be treated with marked respect by those who are afraid of the vote he has. To bad, is it not, that the man who is only cut out to do work should have just

as big a vote as the man he has to serve! What if they should take a notion to vote just as they chose once, just as they talk when considering the question of a reduction in wages in the shop with their fellow workman, and should put the "Hon." handle to the name of some of their number, suppose they should go so far as to fill all the honorable seats from their ranks! what would the poor fellows do that believe they were born on purpose to fill them; it would-be a shame if they were thrown out of what they consider their birthright.

Workingmen did you ever consider that you are more important than any in the nation, that everything would stop if you stopped? Did you ever consider that those who draw a "salary" instead of wages, receive a fee in place of a piece price, as a rule, look down on you as beneath them? Did you ever notice how they patronizingly smile on you when they want to use you? Did you ever reason why this is so? Did you ever reason why those persons are generally treated with respect by you? Why you called John Smith that works beside you "Smithy" and John Smith who draws a "salary" Mr. Smith? If you have not you should; there is a difference between the two modes of speech. Does not the reason lay in the fact that you unconsciously respect appearances far more than what goes to make a man a man, and that you also recognize that, as a rule, he who respects himself sufficient to appear respectable and keep respectable company should be respected?

It is an old and true saying, "That he who respects himself is respected." One who respects himself shows it in his whole bearing, his personal appearance, company and language. Workingmen, as a rule, have paid too little atten

re

tion to such matters and the fact has not worked to their advantage as a class. Go into that part of a town or city where is located the lowest dives, saloons of the worst class, and who do you find there, as a rule, not well-dressed, gentlemanly appearing men; you will class them all as wage workers the same as yourself, and you will blush at the thought. An inquiry will show that they work when they can and they also receive the lowest pay though not any lower than many other far more respectable men. They are not there because they are low-paid workingmen, it is because they choose to be there. All workingmen are not there, because others have too much respect for themselves, and those that you do not find there you will find are better dressed, have better homes and are spected by their fellow-men. They put their children under conditions that will cause them to command still greater respect. All are effected, more or less, however, by the acts of those who are socially classed with us, and it is a matter that in the solution of the labor question attention must be paid to, as it is, self-respecting workingmen are too often taunted for the acts of such, and it has the effect of retarding the work of those who are endeavoring to place the producers in the position that they are entitled to in our social structure, and there is no reason for it. It matters not how low the wage received is, all can respect themselves sufficient to keep in respectable company at least, do better than fill up on beer after pay day, for the amount that costs will put on the outward appearances which, altogether, will cause men to respect themselves better, be respected better, and thus raising men, as a class, in their own estimation and in the estimation of others accordingly.

Workingmen, did you know that politicians boast that a keg of beer taped among you will change your votes? Did you know they boast knowingly? Did you ever consider that such being the case that it casts a stigma on your whole class; that they are held in contempt and treated as they are much because they thus show their lack of manhood and disrespect of self? There has been a sort of caste classification growing in this country the past few years, and it is on the increase, and it is being generally accepted and intensified to by workingmen. Many make open expressions that shows this; if one of their number dresses as well and looks as neat in appearance as perhaps the lawyer, doctor, clerk or his employer he is too often ridiculed behind his back, while to his face he will be treated with more respect than his more slovenly fellow. Such talk shows what the character of the speaker is, but it tends to keep timid men from adopting the same stamp of self respect, it tends to perpetuate a class distinction, in fact it is admitting that to be a workingman is to be inferior and calls for an inferior uniform. A sentiment that is entirely wrong, it is unAmerican, and it acts, too, as a stumbling-block to the elevation of the conditions of workingmen. "God helps those that help themselves."

This caste feeling has grafted itself into our social structure stronger now than many may be willing to admit. A year or two ago an American woman returning from an European trip was accused of smuggling; the Custom Inspectors having found an unusual amount of fine dutiable goods made up into wearing apparel in her trunks, and more than they considered the law allowed. The United States Judge, before whom the case was brought, dismissed it

on the grounds that she had no more goods than in keeping with her station in life.

We heard a young man, who self to one of the trades, discourwas desirious of apprenticing himaged from attempting it by a friend, who was a salary receiver, who used these words, "Why go at that business; you will be classed as a workingman and never amount to anything or be thought anything of." His friend was a practical man of the world and he founded the truth of his remarks on what is rather than on what should be. What should be is the improvement that we are desirous of seeing. It is a fact that there are those who now rank themselves in the upper caste that do not want that class over-crowded for fear of the results of comparison, hence do all in their power to prevent any ele

vations.

A lawyer, who is getting a precarious living from fees, was heard to remark to a seven-dollar-a-week clerk, not long since, "I would like to see those fellows have the pay (referring to prominent strike for an increase in wages) but don't care to see them win the strike, for the first thing we know workingmen will be holding up their heads so high that there will be no living with them." What he and his stripe really feared is, where they will stand if a new and just rating, on the basis of industrial and moral worth, is established and workingmen, like the iron-worker before Soloman in the Temple, place themselves in the seats of honor.

It must be done, and by themselves, if done at all, and it must start from the bottom up, creating through all a sense of self respect that will cause them to command it from others everywhere, standing on nothing false but on true merit.

[ORIGINAL.]

MARK JOHNSON

TRAMP.

A TRUE SKETCH.

[CONCLUDED.]

The wreck of family, home and hopes was a scene upon which Mark Johnson looked as seldom as possible. He did not posess the unflinching courage displayed by his wife. Men seldom do. It seems to be the rule that man's display of courage must be upon sudden impulse or in the heat of passion, while it is from woman that we must take lessons of courageous endurance. This cooper was no exception to the rule. While he felt that the mechanical innovation must eventually fail, he was cursed with that pride of craft that has for centuries brought disaster to workingmen. In the stubbornness of his nature, he could not for an instant entertain the idea of forsaking his trade and becoming a laborer.

But a crisis had been reached in the life of Mark Johnson, and something must be done. All the whisky he poured down could not obliterate the fact that he at times experienced the gnawing pangs of hunger, while it seemed impossible to provide for himself and family. Other and larger places might yet furnish him a livelihood; and why should he remain in Washington a helpless burden? This idea occurred to him, and, acting upon it,the future course of his life was determined.

It was a clear, bright morning in Autumn. The sun had just risen and was shedding a flood of glorious light upon the city of Washington and the surrounding hills. Nature, in her most gorgeous mood, offered a brilliant contrast to the havoc of civil war.

On one of the roads leading out of the city was Mark Johnson, a broken-down man in his prime, with a step already weary and listless, with bowed head, leaving behind the wife and children he loved with all the ardor of his simple nature, conscious of the suffering they must undergo before he could aid them, and of the uncertainty as to when he should

again be with them. He was a man of but few ideas, but felt the heavy hand of misfortune, and got the notion into his head that somehow the world, the people, society, was responsible for it. For months his mind had been concentrating upon this one idea. It had been of gradual growth, and the thought naturally prevailed that all prosperous people were in some way his enemies. That there could be a false industrial system was beyond his philosophy. So he trudged along all day, with everything about him bright and joyous, a gloomy, misanthropic man, in whose mind was germinating the monomania that often precedes the metamorphosis of an independent, proud mechanic into the common tramp.

Long before night he felt the gnawings of hunger; but he had no money, and, as yet, had never been compelled to ask charity. To be a beggar was almost more than he could bear. At noon he had stopped by a farm house as the men were going to dinner. He asked for a drink of water, praying that the farmer would offer him food. But the offer did not come, and the poor man's pride was not yet sufficiently broken to enable him to ask for it. As evening came on, however, with nothing to eat for the day, the last remnants of pride were fast succumbing to necessity. A farmhouse appeared in sight, and the struggle within the man was fast and furious; but, when the house was reached, hunger had won the day. Mark Johnson had made up his mind in despair, and, as if fearful of an instant's hesitation, he walked rapidly to the kitchen door and knocked. The door opened; he asked for food, and got a supply of bread and meat, when the door was closed in his face.

The struggle was over, and had left him weak as he was hungry. He sat down by the well, and, as he ate, weakness, despair and humiliation, crowding upon him, found expression in blistering tears. The heart of the man recently so strong, was broken. He was an outcast, eating the bread of charity. The tears were checked forever, while the iron of cruel fate had

penetrated the innermost depths of his soul. The die is cast, and he was disgraced in his estimation- the most complete social demoralization on earth.

When Johnson arose from his bed of leaves in the friendly wood, next morning, his nature had changed. It required no mental struggle to apply at the next farm house for his morning meal, and before he had reached the next city his mind had evolved the proposition that the world owed him food, clothes and shelter. While his trade was prosperous he scouted the idea that a man was enti led to anything save what he earned, but circumstances and calamity had worked a revolution in his philosophy. Henceforth he would have what was necessary to render life endurable, whether he got work or not. The tramp had been evolved, the only barrier remaining against an aimless life on the road being the love for wife and

children.

He would, for their sake, seek work at his trade in the manufacturing city before him. For himself, ambition fled when disgrace and mendicancy settled down upon him. His first night in the strange city was passed in the station-house. The next day, through inquiries, he found the establishment of a fellow-craftsman. The the shop that had but recently employed a hundred men on full time had but few left, who were working with the energy of despair in hopeless effort to compete with

machine-made barrels. Other cities were visited with like result. There was no work for a cooper, and finally the tramp satisfied his curiosity by spending the greater portion of a day in a barrel factory filled with the new machinery. It was then that the last lingering hope forsook

him.

Had this man been rich, surrounded by influential friends, he would have been placed in one of the leading instutions of the country and treated for a mild type of insanity. As it was, he took to the road with but little more than the instinct of an animal, and became one of the vanguard of that great and increasing army we have with us to day, commonly known as tramps.

Seven years later a permaturely old man, with long straggling locks of gray unkempt hair, a face unshaven and tanned with sun and wind, clothes ragged and filthy, wornout shoes fastened on with strings-all in all a most forbidding object—was seen in a listless way wandering about in the neighborhood of Mrs. Mark Johnson's house. The quick eyes. of the wife recognized the husband given up as dead. He was hurriedly gotten in and the door closed upon the world. The heroic mother had fought the battle with poverty alone and singlehanded untill her oldest boy had grown old enough to devide the burden, and now the grim visage of want had been driven from the door.

At last the poor woman's prayers had been answered in the return of the prodigl husband and father. Mark Johnson quietly submitted to the cleansing and rehabilitating process, saying nothing.

The early morning hours found mother and children up in anxious expectation, waiting to greet him.

Alas! the Mark Johnson of old was no more. The outward man from the tramp, of the night before, but was changed the old genial glance o' the eye had given place to a dull, stupid stare. He could not be interested in any of the domestic affairs of his old home, and seemed to feel

like a stranger.

The common tramp had been manufactured, and could not be unmade.

It was several days before the wife realized in its fullness the calamity that had befallen her as a climax to the last seven years of struggle. The faithful woman could resist the terrible strain no longer; her great heart broke. Another bright,. crisp Autumn morning found the heart

broken mother at rest forever, while the listless, demented tramp trudged over the road, among the scenes that had witnessed the final overthrow of his nanhood just seven years before, dead to the past, present and future.

T. FULTON GANTT.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.

"I take it to be a principal rule in life,. not to be too much addicted to one thing."