Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-02
THEGATES0F MERCY.
OUR LAWS 90 NOT REQUIRE THAT
THEY BE CLOSED TO MANKIND.
Hence Jewish Refugees should Not 10
Barred Out-An Address to Secretary
Fostcr-The Reply.
fBy telegraph TO tho D.spatch.l

WARRINGTON, August I,--Slmon Won
and Lewis Abraham, of this city. on behalf
Of the Union Of American Hebrew Conere-
cations. have addressed TO the Secretary
Of the Treasury a communication on tho
subject of the immigration Of Russian He
brews to the United States. In their adj
dress the writers. while deploring the ar
rival in this country OF so many OF their
exiled people. MAINTAIN that the statutes
Of the United States should not be so in
tcrpretcd ms to clais them as paupers or as-
sisted emigrants when hands of help and
welcome are outstretched to elevate them
TO the exalted position of American citi-
zensbip without demanding any contribu-
lions from national or local taxes
That the refugees are generally, in DIS
tress,' say the writer's, "is not denled.
Circumstances have placed them IN a STU
alton that Is recognized throughout tho
civilized world as resulting from the great
est crime of the so-called enlightened cen
fury, and tins distress their brethren are
untiringly striving to alleviate.
No REQUIREaEST 10 CLOSE THE GAIrs OF
MERCY"
"To close the avenues OF this free and
liberty loving country, that has always
opened It's gates to the down-trodden and
uniustlv prosecuted would be against the
underlying genus and theory OF our gio-
rious and beloved Constitution. Neither
the letter nor the spirit OF the laws OF our
country require IA to close the gates OF
mercy on mankind"
The writers refer to the large influx OF
Russian Hebrews into this country about
ten years ago, and state that. so far as can
he ascertained not single one or them
has become u public burden. Arguing
from this. and the further fact that large
number Of organizations have been formed
throughout the country, having TOT tneir
object the general care and elevation OF
the exilos. the writers MAINTAIN that even
if they nave their passage paid WIN tle
money of another" they cannot be deslg-
uatod rs paupcrs but rather come under
the e1centionel clause OF the law-viz:
when II is satisfactorily shown that such
person does not belong TO the foregoing
excluded classes
To this address Secretary Foster has re-
piled n follows 1" beg 10 acknowiedge
receipt Of your communication OF the 9th
uItimo with ITS enclosures rs stated.
THE PHTITIosEBs' REPRESENTATIONS.
"You call nv attention to the bitter
hardship suffered 10y many thousands OF
Hebrews 10y reason of their forclble ex-
pulsion from their homes IN the Russian
empire. and you state among othel Things
that there l. no organization In the
('nitei states which assists or encourages
destitute Hebrew refugees to come TO tins
country: that you dcplore this form OF
immigration: that the efforts oil the sew
eral Hebrew societies represented by you
IRE confined 10 amelioratlng the condition
of these unhappy people after their ar
rival at American ports by relieving those
in distress and aiding ali to evold mass-
ing in the seaboard cities and to dis
tribute themselves to widely-sepa-
rated localities. where they may as soon
a. possible become self-sustainnc. You
state that YOU have no complaint TO MAKE
in connection with the official treatment
of refugees who have already arrived, and
that you do not apprehend any future
cause for complaint IN this regard; but
YOU urge the consideration that practical
ly-cnforced nuigrat on OF this nature cam
not be classed "a assisted Immigration
within the meaning OF our laws, and huai-
", you declare the readiness OF the people
and associations for whom you speak to
give to the Government n all cases sat
isfactory bond guaranteeing that none OF
these refugee immigrants shall become
public charge.
THE PROBLEM PRESENTED.
"Be assured, gentlemen. that / fully
concur in your estimate of the magnitude
of the present calamity which has befallen
so many OF your race, rs well as IN your
hope that an early mitigation or cessation
Of the current measures of expulsion may
render unnecessary any migration or Rus
san Hebrews to America or elsewhere.
Internationally O great and sudden influx
of expatriated and destitute aliens OF any
race would be grave misfortune TO any
country, and American Hebrews act both
patriotically and humanely when they adj
wise Jewish refugees against coming hlther,
but at the same time endeavor to render
self-supporting those who finally come.
Obviously the support OF great numbers
of dependent persons Is tax upon the re-
sources of the country. even though paid
from private funds. and quite as plainly
industrial conditions here might be Sc
riouslv disturbed by the sudden arrival
and tAe enforced competition OF multi
tude of needy people.
Hence it is important TO the last degree
that the volume of this expected refugee
immigration be not excessive or threaten
ing, and that with entire certainty 1t be
promptly and widely distributed so as to
supply real want IN scattered commuDl-
ties and interfere as little a possible with
existing and normal industrial conditions.
The apparent scope and thoroughness of
your plans for securing this immediate and
wide distribution of the expected refugees
are most gratifying, and upon the success
of yOur associations IN carrying out these
plans Will largely depend the possibility of
the Government meeting your views in
other respects.
TIE LAWS TO BE ENFORCED, But WITH HumANI-
TY.
while the Immigration laws OF the
United States must and will be enforced.
| agree with you that those laws were
never enacted in derogation of the plainest
requirements OF humanity, and no worthy
immigrant, who in all otherrespects meets
the demands of our statutes, should be ex-
cluded from the country because through
the action of others he Is for the time be-
ing homeless and without property.
Il shall rely upon your voluntary assn
rance that you will actively urge upon " our
brethren in Europe the attitude OF our
laws towards assisting immigration. also
beg to remind YOU that any tendency
abroad to defect towards this country the
movement of destitute refugees or 10
stimulate Their migration hither would be
distinctly hostile To the spirit manifested
in your letter and to the spirit III which
the Government of the United States de-
sires to treat this difficult and delicate
problem.
Thanking you for your expressions of
confidence that this department, while
executing the immigration laws efficiently.
,,.,ll al., .y.eu,a thetu humoneiy | Am