ese, or any class of immigrants, I
would prescribe as strict a rule as the strictest for ascertaining
whether the immigrant meant in good faith to be an American
citizen, whether he meant to end his life here, to bring his
wife and children with him, whether he loved American institutions,
whether he was fit to understand the political problems with
which the people had to deal, whether he had individual worth,
or health of body or mind. I would make, if need be, ten
years or twenty years, as the necessary period of residence
for naturalization.

I would deal with the Negro or the German or the Frenchman
or the Italian on the same principle. But the one thing
I have never consented to is that a man shall be kept out of
this country, or kept in a position of inferiority, while he is
in it, because of his color, because of his birthplace, or
because of his race.

One matter in connection with the management of the Elections
Bill I have never been able to think of since without a shudder.
The Democrats in the Senate, led by Mr. Gorman, the most
skilful of their leaders, endeavored to defeat the bill by
the tactics of delay. If the debate could be prolonged so
that it was impossible to get a vote without the loss of the
great Appropriations Bills, or some of them, the bill, of
course, must be laid aside. So the Republicans, on the other
hand, as is usual in such cases, refrained from debate, leaving
their antagonists to take up the time. Every afternoon at
about five o'clock some Democrat would come to me saying that
he was to take the floor, but that he did not feel well, or
was not quite ready with some material, and ask me as a personal
favor to let the matter go over until the next morning. This
happened so often that I became satisfied it was a concerted
scheme, and made up my mind that I would not yield to such
a request again.

But one afternoon Senator Wilson of Maryland, a quiet and
most estimable gentleman, whom I had known very well, and
for whom I had a high regard, came to me and said he felt
quite unwell; he could go on that afternoon, if I insisted
upon it; but he would like much better to put off speaking
till the next day. I was just beginning my answer to the
effect that I had heard that so often that I had determined I
would not yield again to the request. But I said to myself,
It cannot be possible that this man would undertake to deceive
me. He is a gentleman of high character, absolute