New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
THE FOREIGN ELEMENT HERE.
HOW SHALL IT. BE AssnIILATED2
THEODORE ROOSEVELT DISCUSSES THE CUES,
TIoN-Two BAD CLASSES.

p.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT DISCUSSES THE CUES
TIox-Two BAD CLASSES.
Theodore Roosevelt loctured III the theatre of the
Berkeley Lyceum last night before the New-York
Genealogical and Biographical Society His subject
was Some Features of Network City HstG ~"
Strictly speaking, he treated only onesfeature of the
history of the city, the influence and tendencies OF the
foreign element,H and the conclusions he drew and
enforced from the facts he stated and the instances
he cited were that two who are equally harmful
to us arc the man who persists In conducting him
self here, not as burgher of Newyork not as ciH
sen of America, but as an exed representative OF
somc outside and foreign race, and the man wfo In
stead of demanding that all men here should DO good
Americans tries 10 limit and narrow the aeGnslon III
America to include only those that are born
in this country, and not those ~no in their spirit and
heart and purpose are American, irrespective OF what
their creed or their birthplace may be-"
Mr. Roosevelt was at loss to find historical sup
port against the Know Nothing ssor socaed Ameri-
cam party. He pointed out, first OF all, how the
Englsh-speaking was spreading, but how In its
spread 1t hsd developed even fccef tho develop
lnent Of assmiiative qualities in the other races that
had como in contact with 10. He alluded, for I'm
stance to tho stubborn stand made BY the Dutch
against the English language after the English OBJ
tanned possession Of New-York resistance that
proved futile the city became moro and more pro-
gresstve Bnt narrow race pre1udces did not die out
with the assimilation of the Dutch and the I'm gilsh In
1862 said Mr.. Rooseyels, the last political contest
was waged in NewYork prior to the Revolution There
was the Conservative, High Church or English party
running on side, and the Radical or American on
tina other find from the records that eur ancestors
had the fear of the solid German vote that you
have sometimes expressed in the papers, and that
certain number Of the voters either looked affected
to look with particular horror on the Irish veto as
being Of a peculiarly incendiary character
AS proof, If proof were needed, that the American
Of foreign birth or parentaee has been as good a
patriot as any, Mr. Roosevelt mentioned Alexander
Hamilton MontsSe who dc q. AZ 9nsSoc ' tsa
century there was Gaatin, and among the patriotic
Americans in New-York to-day, who were born on
Boyesen, while as brilliant examples OF IN American
patriot born OF foreign parents he mentioned General
Sheridan and Colonel Joel B. Erhardt,
said There is a certain percentage among US OF
those who keep. up race sntipathes,
s ss u ns S i saa 0
the land Of their birth. OF course, those citizens are
annoying and noisy members OF body polite They
ARE @ oy ns %Su Sos S not out the
old curgess spirit, and who does not vote solely Win
an eye 70 the welfare Of the city"
aspects. Mr Roosevelt said aone Of our irish fellow
citizens told the other day that be regarded Win
gloomy forebodngs the inroads OF Italians and slavs
who do not understand our institutions. am one OK
those who think the National gizzad being tried q
the effort to digest all the foreigners who come mere
would lke to see some Kept out, Bn. ~Cuid a1s
the classes who can assmilaie with Us, ana can pe
thrown In with VS. and under conditions and IN two
heir Children 'f from the majority Of ours
Mr. Roosevelt's audience gave him vote Of thanks
for his address and by their hearty and frequent a
pase showed their approval OF the principal points