The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-02
IMMIGRATION.

J
Immigration restriction is question
Of national policy that bulks largely in
the public eye. and, as time goes by, it
will demand more and moro of popular
attention. No one who has witnessed
the phenomenal growth and develop
ment Of our country will for a moment
venture to deny to the majority Of our
foreign born population the credit that
is undoubtedly their due. They have
gladly thrown in their lot with the
American people, and have helped to
build up our institutions and material
prosperity in true spirit of brotherly
affection The brain and the sinew Of
the oyercrowded nations Of Europe we
have always welcomed with a warm
grasp of the hand, and we can afford to
do so for many years to come. But the
public domain Of this country, vast as it
may seem compared with our present
needs and population, is not illimitable.
With the natural increase of our own
people and the tide Of immigration,
there is bound to come time when the
United States will be the home of as
many inhabitants as it can possibly sup
port. If that stage is ever passed, we
shall inevitably meet the fate that has
already befallen the teeming countries
Of Europe. Over-population entails OK
cessive competition, and that means low
wages and decrease Of comforts for the
wage-earners Of any country.
To such future possibilities it would
be the height of folly to close our eyes.
Somewhere or other We must put on the
brake. Certainly, We cannot afford to
have this county made a penal settle
mont for refugees from European slums.
To continue to permit such action is a
menace to our own law abiding citizens
We must mr. permit the immigration of
foreigners whose evident destiny and
desire it is to become public charges.
This nation is not to constitute itself a
board of trustees for the maintenance
OF a house Of refuge for the halt, the
MAIN, and the blind, that have no pos
sicle claim upon 1t. Here, at least, we
may without any charge of selfish mess
or narrowness set up Il barrier against
undesirable immigration.
That such action has become a ques-
ton of practical politics is evident from
the promised introduction of bill on
the subject by Lodge, of Massachusetts.
While the proposed measure makes no
change in ths existing laws on the mat
ter, including that on alien contract la
Dor, it goes farther. 1t wisely extends
the scope of prohibition SO as to shut
out diseased persons and all who are
liable to become public burden. AS
We have indicated, this is movement
in the right direction. OF the advisable
ity OF another clause, which would shut
out the illiterate, We are not SO conf
dent. 1t must be remembered that the
standard of illiteracy in Europe is much
higher than in this country. There are
many continental peoples who have
never tasted tho benefits OF free educa-
ton. And yet, in the light Of our past
experience, it would be foolish to deny
that many Of these llliterates are wor-
Thy, honest men and women, and would
become creditable citizens OF our great
'epublic. In course of time such bar
'ier may become necessary; at present
We fail to see the matter in that light.
It is further proposed that every immi-
grant must provide himself with GER
tiiicate from some United States consul
or representative abroad. What the
terms OF that certificate are to be, our
present information does not state. But
" would not be asking too much
70 insist that it shall certify
to freedom from conviction Of
crime, that it shall declare that it's
bearer has never been public charge,
and IS not a sufferer from any chronic OF
contagious disease or disability that will
prevent nm from earning his own liveli-
hood. Ii these barriers are erected
against an altogether undesirable class
Of immigrants, the people of this country
may regard with equanimity the future
immigration OF many years.