Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-21
THE TRUE AMERICAN DOCTRINE.

The San Francisco Report says that as a
people we believe in the Bible statement
that from those that have not shall be
taken away-eyen the right to come to this
free country"
No one has the right" to come to this
free country" What our contemporary
reads as a right" is simply privilege.
The Report further says: 1.-THE views of
Che American people are little peculiar on
the sahject of pauper immigration. In
theory, this country is the asylum of the
down-trodden and oppressed of all nations.
Those whom the governments of Europe
have reduced openury can come hither and
find a land Of freedom, where one man is as
good as another Such is theory. In
reality, we very much prefer the immigra-
ton Of those who are not too much down
iTodden and oppressed We don't want
the poor ones; We don't want those who
nave been sunk TO The greatest depths.
We want those who have been able to save
M little store of coin, which they can
bring with them TO increase the wealth of
this glorious Republic"
We are willing 10 accept the defense. in
the main, of this view of the reality" as
against the theory" Probably the Report
agrees with US that no one is able to show
by any line or syllable of our laws or by
any letter Of our organic Act, or bv the
sr,irj- y, which A., po..,,1l Il. - =,
that tie United States is the asylum, of
right, Of the down-trodden and oppressed
of all nations. II has been a flvorite SEN
umental notion OF roslrum statesmen; a
platitudinous stream Of gusl on the part of
red, white and blue" orators, and all
that; but there is nothing to Justify this
" hospital doctrine. This Government.
from lis inception, has permitted entry into
its confines on the part Of foreigners, bat
has never, by act or word, conceded the
right 70 exist in any one to come in. In
the earlier years of the Republic. because
of It's need for population, the people were
careless Of the comers-in. but the priceless
heritage we possess should, now that the
need Is no longer pressing, make us careful
of whom we invite to sit at our hearth
stone. There has been no objection raised
to the entry of the poor man simply be-
cause he is poor in worldly goods, but the
voice of the nation Is rightly being lifted
against theattempt TO dumpupon our shores
the aged mendicants, the pauper hacks, and
broken down and yalueleSs men and women
OF the back alleys of Europe, to be sup-
ported by taxation levied upon industrious
Americans. Very iruc, we prefer the men
with some means; who will venture 10
doubt The wisdom OF the preference? The
oppressed under monarchies will indeed
linda refuge here, and have a hearty well
come, but let no one run away with the
idea that by " the oppressed is meant the
rakings of European hospitals, refugees and
poor-houseS. This people have now enough
to do 70 cure the rsiseries of home paupers :;
to care for the afflicted already at their
doors; to house and feed the Icpers. and
blind and lame and halt and decrepit who
have claims upon us. When America sets
up in the Sister Mercy business as n ma
ton, it will be time enough to hang outa sign
upon the walls ofourports free hospital"
When, therefore. Mr.. Blaine said The other
day TO the people Of Michigan that while
be was glad to welcome Che weil-to-do inn
migrant from Europe, he deprecated the
assisted = immigration Of Transatlantic
paupers ana criminals his words found an
echo IN The American heart. There is no
inconsistency, as the Report assumes, in
the position. On The contrary, the incon-
sistency, it thinks it finds between the