San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-20
MUST COME TO 1T.

mitted, on the subject of restricted
immigration are sufficient indication
of the general interest which is being
taken in this matter. There is no
avoiding the conclusion that the
country demands some radical legis-
lation on this subject and this action
of congressman only indicates their
sense of this general demand. The
expectation from all sources is that
some action will be taken by congress
and as this expectation is gener-
al so is the proposed relief general,
the bills covering this subject being
confined to no particular locality.
Various plans are proposed, but it is
too early in the session yet for any
thing definite to be evolved from the
mass of suggestion presented, for as
yet but little form appears to the
chaotic mass. Representative Brew
or of Michigan would prepare the
way for legislation by a congress
sional commission on immigration.
This would not advance the matter
and it is legislation, not reports from
commissions that is needed. The
Ford investigation committee did all
that a commission would accomplish
and the country is as well
satisfied of the need of restrict
stricting legislation now as it would
be a year from now, after the COM
mission had presented its report.
Some of the plans are impracticable
and if not impracticable certainly not
desirable The real thing to be aimed
at is discrimination. America does
not need any foreign immigration for
years to come, hut it is not probable
that any wholesale measures of pro-
hibition will be passed. All that will
now be aimed at will be such restric-
ton as will prevent the coming to
these shores of the undesirable thou
sands who every year leave Europe
for their country's good. All pau
pers, all contract laborers, all felons,
all anarchists, and all polygamists
could be excluded wholesale and this |
country be only the better for the ex-
clusion. Whatever shape the legisla-
ton may take. anything less than
the exclusion of these classes of Euro
pean immigrants and the utter exclu-
sion of all Chinese will be at all sat
isfactory to the country. By what
ever means this exclusion may be
reached the legislative provisions |
must be ample and the regulations
so plain as not to be misunderstood.
These regulations must include SUI
pervision of all immigrants by the |
American consuls abroad and a GER
tificate from such consul as an indis-
pensible condition of landing. These
regulations must extend also to the |
ships bringing over these immigrants
and any evasion or infraction of law
by them must be met by heavy fine
and forfeiture OF past privileges.
The poor, the manned, the halt,
the blind, the leprous, the convict.
the ticket of leave man, the
pauper, the revolutionist, the an
archist, the mormon and the mongo-
liam have come to these shores in
troops about long enough. 1t is high |
time that the flood of this destroying |
element cease t. pour its cOrrupting |
tides upon American soil. The cation
does not need denationaliZing to any |
greater extent. We are too much to-
day a nation of foreigners in language, |
feelings, sympathies and !
ideas of society. The nation has been |
flooded with this stream ofun-Ameri-
can influence as long as is healthy |
and much longer than is wise. The
classes not desirable abroad are GER
tainly not desired here. A most rigid |
of all immigrants must |
take place by American agents across
the water, and none permitted to land |
here not licensed and duly accredited |
by such agents. An immigration tax
should also be imposed at least sufii-
Gent to meet all the expenses of the
most rigid supervision and provide a
guarantee fund out of which might |
be paid the return passage of any,
found to be undesirable immigrants,
who had escaped the scrutiny abroad