Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-25
THE UNPOPULAR BILLS.

The Germans. Protest Before Con.
eress Against Proposed Measures
Believed 60 be Unwise and Preju.
dieial.
Mr.. NJ. J. Rohlfs, of Davenport. who
went to Washington as representative OF
the Upper Mississippi Turn Bezirk. which
met in this city March 3. to act with
representatives of other German societies
in protesting against certain measures be-
fore congress. reached home last night.
Over fifty delegates were present at the
meeting, representing Turner. Saenger,
benevolent and religious societies. Ses-
sious of the conference were held on
Tuesday aud Wednes day. and commit
tee was appointed to draw up a protest.
They did so as follows:
To the Hon. Senate and House of Represents
tives of the United States.
A conference of delegates of German
American societies, held in the city of
Washington March IS and 10. 1890, re-
specially, but most earnestly, remon-
of the measures now before your honor
able body, designed to materially change
the present national laws on immigration
and naturalization.
As some OF the reas ons (amoDg many
for our protest, we mention the follow
ing:
l. All such legislation is directly OPP
posed to the very spirit OF our institu>
lions. and cannot be defended upon any
mere plea of expediency or self-interest.
The industry, thrift and honest in
telligence Of the immigrant have. for
more than a hundred years past. been a
chief factor in developing the mineral,
agricultural, commercial and industrial
It sources of this country. and in raising
ii to its present proud position among the
nations of the world.
3. The patriotic devotion of those
who have in the last century emigrated TO
our land and acquired right of citizen
ship among US has been such as to win a
proud place in its history. What right
have we TO assume that the character of
| those to come under a continued liberal
policy of immigration will be one particle
lower than of those who came before?
A. The proposed change of the nat
uraliZation laws as embodied in bills now
pending in congress, must be regarded as
uncalled for and mischievous deviation
from the policy first established under
Washington's administrator. Not mere.
ly should we encourage those who have
cast their fortunes among us TO soon be-
| come loyal members of our body polite
but the very existence of large bodies o!
unnaturalized residents would seem to
constitute menace to our institutions.
Love of free country can best be bred
in men by securing to them the fill and
early enjoyment of its privileges and
blessings.
5. The scheme proposed, of emigrant
inquisition through our consular and
governmental representatives abroad. is
iinpracticable. 1t will aid the uudesir>
able merely, and deter the good. No
European government will assis; in re-
tanning its bad elements and in forward
ing the desirable.
6. Our existing laws, if rigidly and
honestly enforced. afford ample protec
ton against all undesirable and criminal
immigration; but no such system of laws
as now proposed, can be enacted without
violating the fundamental principles of
our national compact and darkening the
brightest pages of our national history
By order of the conference.
RICHARD BARTHoLDT, President.
EwALD SCHMITT. Secretary.
A. committee, consisting of Mr.. Roh!fs
and eight other delegates, were appointed
to present the protest. and on Thursday
they were given a hearing by the house
committee on immigration, The impress
sion produced was favorable, so far as
Mr.. Rohlfs was able to judge