The Monitor., 1891-04-24
WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS.

| We are fast approaching a crisis 10 the
| affairs of this coantry, and Americans must
no logger hesitate. By Americans | mean
! both native aud natarslized citizens iB the
broadest sense. They must now organizs
and irrespective Of party. color, religion OF
| former nationality, demand that their repre-.
sentatiyes in Congress pass. and the execu-
tive departments enforce, such laws as will
stop further immigration to this country OF
outcasts from the slums and prisons oi
Europe and the party that fails to respond
should be defeated.
No person should be allowed to lapd or
settle here, hereafter, Who cannot prove good
character before sailing, and if that violates
to change them. Hundreds OF thousands Of
foreigners have recently landed who are
utterly unfit for citizenship ard a halt
must be called, and that promptly.
Employers, and especially large corpora
tions, owe it to their self-respecting work
men to stop employing this class of cheap
laborers, and believe will find that a high
er grade of labor at iairer prices will be
best in the end; but at the same time, self
respecting laboring men must also see to it
that they are not nisled by designing and
nnscrupulous men into violations of Law
which can have but one end.
We must go further. Our courts should
strictly enforce the present naturalization
laws, and our legislative assemblies make
longer residence and reasonable education
and proof of good character obligatory be-
fore citizenship. Every natiye-bcrn Amer
ican voter, white or colored. is compelled to
wait twenty-one years before he can vote,
while an ignorant foreigner can become a
citizen before he can read or rite or have
the slightest knowledge of cur institutions.
They have been welcomed and allowed to
partake of the inheritance our forefathers
won and their descendants cultivated and
nurtured for 270 years, al Americans have
not complained, but circumstances have
now changed.
Is it too much then to ask that from this
time forward all who are now citizens
irrespective of race, condition, color or
religion, shall unite III determining that
neuceforth none shall be allowed to join in
our priceless iun-ritauce uuless after pro-
longed probation anG they hase been found
worthy.
Who among US has ever heard our politi
cal leaders specially discuss the effect OF
proposed action on budies OF Americans,
aud shat intelligent man has failed To hear
discussed tho effect of the same action on
certain bodies of foreigners recently made
voters?
There has been 100 much bending To
these eiemeut, Tor the safe oi Their Votes
LIT Americans exert items, ives aud deter
mine tnat hereafter cur country stall be
ruied aid ihiidelced only by AuiericaLs,
native and Haiuraiiz ID aud that iieHcsisI til
We shall support 10 man for President,
Governor, Cous rsss or tae Legislature " ho
sill not unquaiitirdly indorse the views
above expressed The Uuiled States must
be NO louger the dumping grouna' for
the criminal CLASSES and cheap paaper labor
Of Europe. Circumstances aave recently
given some OF lis an opportunity To know
that the American feeling is spreading all
over our land, and that organic atious are
fast forming that they may or may not be
heard from before long, as circumstances
develop.
Preparations are now being made for the
next Presidential campaign. Let every man
who feels deeply on this subject speak olt.
The press of the country is awakening and
the people can soon teach their servants
| who are their masters. Let them demand.
their rights, not make humble petitions,
and let those who refuse be defeated
e. Daa5ar Lockwood ia Ptila. TIMES.
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