The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-01-23
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF MAssAcHU-
SETTS

| A1-SS<@SH " &~~H w sHAsNo~s " &A&ASS&>~~~S-
| SETTS.
The most prominent subject before our State
and Nation at the present moment, and that
which most naturally comme' DIS itself to day,
and in this place, to our attention, concerns
our foreign population; the duties of repub-
cahisih towards them, its dangers from them.
The immigration to this country was
From 1890 to 1870 100000
1910 to 1920 es lI4O0O
1920 to 1880 203979
| 1880 to 1910 77S500
| f" lS4o to 1850 l,542,s5O
And statistics show, that during tho present
decade from 1850 to 1860, in regularly increas-
ing ratio, nearly four millions of aliens will
probably be poured in upon us.
With this alarming decennial ratio of in
crease-with the astounding statistical fact
that nearly four ffths Of the beggary, two-thrds
of the pauperism, and more than three-filths
of the crime spring from our foreign popula-
tion,--that more than halfthe public charities,
more than half the prisons and aims houses,
more than half the police and The cost of ad-
ministering criminal justice, are for foreigners,
-the people demand of their statesmen, and
wise craftsmanship suggests, that National and
State legisla ion should interfere to direct,
ameliorate and control these elements, so far
as il may bo done within the limits of tho
Constitution.
The remarkable spectacle presented to the
eyes of our people, naturally and wisely jeal-
ous of their nationality, of foreign immigra
ton in the ten years from 1910 to 1850 out
numbering the whole previous infux since the
organization OF the republic, progressing too
| IL an equally increased ratio since the latter
date, and probably European convulsions
threatening a steady augmentation of this
| flood, tend naturally to attract and bind to-
| gether tho people in one united national, not
party, movement.
1t is great problem in statemansip wisely
to control the mDgl;ng of races into one ma
tionality. The dominant race must regulate
tho incoming class. Such is political destiny.
and history pi owes it. 1t is the only salvation
of both. 1t is the compact of the incoming
| race. Legislation must co operate with time
and circums,ances IN working out this decree
| If God, this axiom of political philosophy, this
the 'ry OF nationality.
To dispel from popular use every foreign
language, so great preserver of unassima-
ting elements of character--to print all public
documents in the English language alone--to
ordaiG that all Schools aided by the State shall
use the same language-to disband military
companies founded on and developing exclu-
sre foreign sympathies-to discourage impor
| tod po'iiica! demagouges, the broken down
leaders of insular agraranism or red republi-
| canism whose trade here is to put themselves
al the head of their deluded connirymen. to or
garize prejudice TO vitalize fnrogn feeling aud
Inor id passion, and then sell themselves to
The llgh' st partiz' n bidder--to purify and en-
noble the elective franchise-to adopt care
fully guarded check list throug hout The nation
Ito cultivate living and energetic nationals.
iy-to develop a high and vital patriolism--to
/ - Il. a 49, 4.
our common schools-to keep entire the sepa-
ration of church aud state--to Batiunalizo be
fore we naturalIze, and TO educate before 9th
er-to guard against citizenship becoming
rheap.-all these constitute work transcen
ding tho ordinary platform of party. and rank
ing with tho roat movements that originally
found nations. ri.r -..
1t has been said that tho times are propitious
for the successful prosecution of this great
work. All who are friendly to these vital meas.
u.es should remember that if they tail now,
they are lost during this generation--perhaps
forever Unanimty of purpose among their
advocates, a a patriotic sacrifice to duty of
partisan attachments, alone are needed TO in
suro success.
The prodgalty with which citizenship and
its franchises are lavished upon foreigners in
this country, clearly tends to lower the tone OF
on lis pri, ieges, and to deaden national spirit
aud the pride of country. Neither tho policy
of other nations at pr, sent. nor the recorded
experience of the past, affords us any parallel
and scarcely an analogy.
When we witness the profuse !lberaliIy with
which the sacred right of citizenship is boz
slowed upon us, the slender guards that exist
against its unworthy or fraudulent gift, and tho
great interests in the hands of those who re-
ceivo, as We ] as those who grantt, we should
pause and calmly consider the possible conse-
Quences. lf r raf e..rt
To a Republican Government, there is noe
essarly cause for greater alarm than TO others.
Here the adopted citizen is invested with both
the right of choosing and being chosen to of
fee. Not only must he be an elector, but he
may be, and oiteD IL, an officer. Every add-
tional naturalization tends to denationalize. to
Europeanize, America. The universal record
of History teaches that all republics that have
risen and fallen owe their destruction to foreign
influence, unseen at first, permitted till too
strong for resistance at last fatal. ., .
Acting then on my conviction of duty, OK
press the opinion, that the people ofour Com
monwealth believe our rights. privileges and
liberties are endangered by these causes, for
long time seen, but yearly growing more alar-
ming. They dlstrust foreign influences nursed
in customs and creeds antagonstcal to repub-
licsnsm, venaI voters controlled by alien lead
ers for Office and honors, ignorant voters misled
by designing politicians for place and power,
vicious voters bought by promised impunity
and license for their wrong doings
Legislation for this purpose is not Influenced
by prejudice against the foreigner. bu rather
by tho iruest regard for his as much as our
own interests, and those 100 of his and our do
scendauts, whose common birthright will be
citizenship. Leaving tho old world Of his own
volitIou, because he can here find happier and
better home, and because the old world re-
gious and political and social systems, with
their temporal aud spiritual shackles upon
body and mind, kept him impoverished with
out decent home, sufficient food comfortable
clothing, or mesns Of education for himself or
children, he gladly flies to these shores, where
he is told education and land are public gifts
and every necessary of life are as certain to tho
industrious as is personal protection itself
Coming as he does, then because our civil,
social and religious systems are better than his
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