The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-02
THE HEBREW IMMIGRANTS.
SECRETARY FOSTER WRITES A LETTER
ON THE SUBJECT.


ON THE SURJECT.
The Immigration Laws or the United
states were Never Enacted In Deroga-
ton OF the Requirements OF Humanity
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-Simon Wolf and Lcwis
Abraham OF this city. on behalf OF tho union OIL
American Hebrew Congregations. have ad-
dressed to tho Secretary Of the Treasury
communication on the subject Of tho immi'
grafton OF Russian Hebrews to the United
States. In their address the writer's
while deploring tho arrival in this
country OF 30 many OF their exiled people
maintain that the statutes Of tho United Statos
should not BIO 80 interpreted as to class thon
"a paupers or assisted emiRrants. when
hands of help and welcome are outstretched to
elevate them 10 the exalted position OF Ameri-
can citizenship without demanding any con.
trbutions from national or local taxes"
" That tho refugees arc generally In distress,
say the writer's. e is lot denied. Circumstance
have placed them in n situation that is recog-
nized throughout the civilized word rs result
Ing from the greatest crime OF the so-called en-
lghtenod century, andthis distress thoir breth-
rem are untringly striving 10 alleviate. TO close
the avenues OF this FREQ and lbery-lovtuE
country that has opened its gates to the down.
trodden and unjustly prosecuted. would be
against the underlying genius and theory OF
our glorious and beloved Constitution. Neither
tho letter nor the spirit Of tho laws Of our
country requires us thus to close tho gate OF
mercy on mankind"
The writer's refer to tho larg, influx Of Rus.
sian llebrows into this country about ten
years ago and state that SO fur as can be as
cer.ained not a single ono Of them has
become public burden. Arguing from
this and the further fact that large
numbo: OF organizations havo been formed
throughout the country having for their
object the general caro- and elevation OF the
exies. the writer's maintain that oven II they
have their passage paid with the money OF
another" they cannot DO designated as pau
pcrs. but rather come under tho exceptional
clause OF the law, viz. Where It Ia satisfnc-
torily shown that such person does not belong
TO the foregoing excluded classes"
10 his address Secretary Foster hes replied
Il beg to acknowledge rccoirt Of your CON-
muniration OF the 9th ult. with It's enclosures
Yom cali my atSnti9n to The bitter hard;
~ reason OF their forcbie expulsion
from their homes In the Russian empire.
and you ate among other things that there Is
assists or encourages destitute Hebrew reiu-
gees 20 cone TO this country that you u"plore
ihe several Hebrew societies represented by
you are confined 10 an eliorating the condition
pots b. those in dssess
IND aiding ul! to avoid m@ssinEE in the sea-
widely separated localities where they as soon
AS possible become self supporting. You state
ihnt you !nve no compliant TO mako in con-
who have already arrived. and that you do not
apprehend any future cause ior COMPLAINT
o
this nature cannot properly be classcd u. rs.
sisted immigration within, the. meaning of
In a pnll Won A.,.ln fho lima
of the ueop!e and associations for whom you
speak 10 give To- the Government in ali cases u
satisfactory iond guaranteeing that none OF
these refugee immigrants shall become
public charge.
your estimate OF tli- mnguituu OF the present
cnlamity which has tefalIen 80 many OF your
race AS well as in your hole that a. early NIT.
my my General mi rraIiSn OF Russian Hebse ws 10
great and sudden influx OF expatriated and
destitute aliens OF any race would DO grave
misfortune 70 any eonntry. and American He.
when they advise. Jewish refugees against
coming hither. but ut the same time on
who finally come. Obviously tic support Of
great numbers OF derenIent persons Is a tax
psd srvae funds and as
plainly. industrial, conditions here might he
neely people.
Hence. Ii is important to the last degree
that the volume Of this expected refugee i'm.
migration DO not excessive or threatening. and
that with entire certainty to be promptly and
widely distributed. so as to supply II real
want in scattered communities and inte,-
and normal industrial conditions. The
your plans tor securing this immediate and
wide distribution OF the expected refugees are
most gratifying. and upon the success Of your
as oc atoms in carrying out these plans. will
largely depend tho possibility OF tho Govern
nIent meeting your views In other respects
While the inning alton laws OF the United
States must and will be enforced, / agree with
you TINT those laws were never enacted in
derogation of the plninest requirements o.
humanity. and NJ worthy immigrant who. in
all othe, respects. mcets tho demands OF our
beca use. through tho action OF others. no is
erty.
Il shall RELY upon your voluntary assurance
I hat you will actively urge upon your brethren
in Europe the attitude OF our laws toward as
Sisted Immigration. ] also beg 10 remind you
that any tendency abroad 10 defect toward
this country the movement o! destitute
efugees. or to stimulate their migration
hither. would be distinctly hostile to the spirit
manifested in your letter and 10 the spirit in
which the Government of the United States
desire to treat this difficult aud delicate prob
lem.
Thanking you for yonr expressions OF con-
the immigration laws efficiently will nIso
execute them humane!y. am. respectiuliy
yours. CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary"