Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-10-23


. ......... :.=. NO.
! GUARDING AGAINST PAUPERS.
The st. Paul Dispatch: A valua-
J. bic series Of articles on the problems
Of immigration has been published in
1.-THE Independent, among the contribu-
TORS being Mr.. Porter, superintendent
i Of the census, who gives facts Of immi-
j grafton for the last half century. SEN
ator Chandler, of New Hampshire,
/ who discusses one method Of limiting
undesirable immigration, by consular
certificates; Mr.. Gompere, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
showing the danger to the working
people Of unrestricted immigration;
is. L. Baldwin, on the treatment Of
Chinese immigration, and Fl. L. Daily
describing the unfavorable and al
most inhuman conditions in which
many immigrants live. The impor-
tance Of the immigration problem has
sIincreaaed very much recent and q
i constantly assuming enlarged proper
Etions. Immigrants have always been
warmly welcomed to the United
States, and it: is now beginning to dawn
upon the minds of many citizens that
perhaps the greetings have been too
indiscriminate, 1t is undoubtedly
true that the thousands who have
come here from foreign countries have,
as rule, contributed to the growth
of our population and to our wonder
full prosperity. But it is equally true
that there have been large numbers of
a most undesirable class come to our
shores. During the most recent
years, indeed, the stream Of pauper
and criminal immigration has set in
strongly towards this country, threat
ening our social system and imposing
burden on our charities. The exist
restrictions have not been imposed
any too soon, and the need Of further
safe guards is becoming apparent.
Our laws prohibit the landing in
the United States any Of the following
glasses of aliens: Idiots. insane per-
sons, paupers or persons likely to be-
come public charge, persons suffer-
ing from loathsome or dangerous con-
tagious diseases, persons convicted Of
a felony or other crime except .politi'
cal ofenses, polygamists and persons
coming under contract to labor. Sen
ator Chandler, who has given special
attention to this subject, while disin-
clined at present to add to the classes
already excluded, would enforce the re-
strictions we now have vigorously and
would have new legislation, in so far
as it is needed, to add to the effective
ness Of this enforcement. With the
design of keeping out undesirable i'm
grants, he advocates a. law requiring
I those who desire to come to this coun-
try to secure a certificate from the
United States consuls abroad, showing
that they do not belong to any Of the
prohibited classes.
Senator Chandler contends that no
just objection can be taken to this
simple requirement, making it COM
pulsory that every alien intending to
come to this countryfor permanent resi-
dence, to settle here, to make America
his home and presumably to become
naturalized and assume privileges and
RESPONSIBILITIES of citizen and voter
Of the United States, shall apply in
writing in his own country to Uni
ted States co nsul stating his purpose
and that he is not debarred from en-
tering the United States by any of
its laws, and that he shall snbmit
proof Of those facts satisfactory to
the consul, who shall give him certi-
fcate accordingly. The burden i'm
posed upon the immigrant by such a
rule would be comparatively light and
the benefits would be very great.
This idea is not a new one. It has
been discussed for some years, but
the necessity for its adoption is more
apparent now than ever before. Poor
and needy foreigners are showing so.
great a desire and determination to
flock into this country that more
rigorous measures are necessary.
They come here because, as Mr..
Chandler remarks, "America is the
country Of high wages for labor; and
lis, therefore, the most comfortable
and joyous home for wage workers Of
all kinds. We rejoice in this fact be-
cause American workmen thus sus-
tanned are the best voting citizens of
the republic, and without such the
republic. cannot permanently endure:
Our national tariff policy is designed
to keep wages here higher than any
where else, and the cool judgment
and deliberate sentiment Of our peo-
pie is in favor of this policy"
It is evident, however, that if the
plan Of requiring consular certificates
is to be adopted there are questions Of
detail to be settled and objection to
| be obyiated. The United States can
not afford. in view of what immigra-
ton has done for it. to be illiberal or