The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-06-18
sAUK CENTRE HERALD.
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1891.
REsrRIcrEp IMMIGRATION.

RESTRICTED IMMIGRATION.
There are many and very serious OBJ
jections to unrestricted immigration, ant
its twin evil, unassimilated citizenship
and are attracting thoughtful considera
ton none to early. 1t needs no argu
meut to convince even the most casual
thinker that the vicious and dependent
alien classes should be rigidly excluded
from landing upon our shores under any
circumstances. This country is not
Botany Bay nor vast eleemosynary
institution for Europe and Asia. The
principle of restricted immigration has
been recognized in the laws absolutely
prohibiting the Chinese from gaining resi-.
dence here, and this principle, in modi'
fed form, could be very proftably ex.
tended. Not all Italians, Hungarians OF
Russian Jews are undesirable residents
and citizens, but among the troublesome
foreign element very many of these clas-
ses are to be found-so many that the
strictest surveillance should be exercised
in admitting them. They overstock the
unskilled labor market with a COMPETE
tive element trained to live in such abb
ject squalor that even the lowest OF
American wage-schedules seem to them
pricely incomes. 1t is clearly the duty OF
the government to protect its own citi-
zens from demoralizing and destructive
competition, which breeds unrest. disor-
der and open defiance of law. Another
evil which needs correction is ovel .Stimu-
lated immigration into the agricultural
districts, where cheap land, vast tracts
acquired by special grants and govern
ment scripts the inducement to bring
them to this country. The competition
in agricultural pursuits thus built up is
a grieyous injustice to the farmer, tend
ing to overproduction and consequent
depression OF prices, This great state OF
Minnesota needs no stimulus of this kind
to develop it-nor is it necessary or de-
sirable that it be developed by unnatu-
raj means in a decade or two. For bet
ter for its ultimate welfare and stability
that the process be slower along lines
which will insure better citizenship.
There is no objection to immigration
such as we have had in central Minneso-
ia providing it does not come faster
than it can be assimulated; but there is
great danger in rapid colonization by
any nationality which brings with it
foreign methods. speech and institutions
and transplants them into solid COM
munities with determination to com
bat all efforts to make them conform to
the practices, usages and language Of
this country.
And there is no class of residents more
deeply interested in restricting immigra
tiot; than those who have come from
abroad. As rule, the..mass of them to
day are not as well equipped to success
fully withstand this competitionin labo,
and agriculture as the native citizen
The interest in the matter is mutual an6
common, and when this fact is apprecia
ted it will be better for all concerned. II
is natural that prejudice be aroused II
the breasts of alierl-born residents OF the
country against party or person ad
gocatipg restricted immigratioh-ior the
first impression is that the party or per
son considers all foreign-born person:
unwelcome intruders. But maturer re
Fiction will convince anyone that sucl
is not the case. To illustrate: You
friends and neighbors drop into YOU
home and are warmly welcomed and
YOU are pleased to entertain them up te
the point where the house becomes so in
suferabiy crowded that you can not dc
justice to the first who arrive, and al
are made uncomfortable alike. The first
oues haye no occasion to question youl
hospitality because the last are unwel
come. So it is with the country. 1t is
time to lii.nit the number of guests to the
capacity of cdrufort, convenience and
happiness.