“ The body politic can not be sound and healthy if many of its constituent members claim their standing through the prostitution of the high right and calling of citizenship. ”
Theodore Roosevelt, State of the Union Address. copy citation
| Author | Theodore Roosevelt |
|---|---|
| Source | State of the Union Address |
| Topic | citizenship politics |
| Date | |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5032/5032-h/5032-h.htm |
Context
“whether it proceeds from birth within the country or is obtained by naturalization; and we poison the sources of our national character and strength at the fountain, if the privilege is claimed and exercised without right, and by means of fraud and corruption. The body politic can not be sound and healthy if many of its constituent members claim their standing through the prostitution of the high right and calling of citizenship. It should mean something to become a citizen of the United States; and in the process no loophole whatever should be left open to fraud.
The methods by which these frauds--now under full investigation with a view to meting out punishment and providing adequate remedies--are perpetrated, include many variations of procedure by which false certificates of citizenship are forged in their entirety;”
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