The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-29
HoR 70 REsrRlcr INNIeRArToN

nun ~ hEolhlCTlMMl
II needs no deep discernment to per
ceive that the people Of the United statel
without distinction or party, are virtually
unanimous for additional restrictions Oh
immigration. It Is not necessary, and
would hardly be timely, 70 discuss
whether additional restrictions are requis'
lie. The public verdict upon that ques'
ton has been given, and It is OverWhelm-
ingly in the affirmative, The American
people are tired Of seeing the Wretehed,
doWntEodden victims Of foreign oppres-
sion dumped upon these shores, a mass
Of Vitiated humanity, distinct in almost
every Characteristic from the elements
that have made this republic great. Such
immigration, long continued, would be a
poisonous inoculation Of the body polite,
in addition to the present and immediate
danger Of those spidemics which have
their breeding places among the hideous-
y unsanitaFy conditions Of eastern Eu-
rope and Asia.
tits right, 1t is imperative that con-
gress should enact the legislation ueces-
saFY to protect the country as far as pos
sible from moral and physical plague,
and the exclusion Of undesirable immi-
grants is not 4 matter Of eGpediency
alone, but Of duty. The paramount ques-
ton. therefore, is: What method is best
to accomplish such exclusion, to keep out
the obnoxious and uDdesirablewhile keep
ing our doors open to those who are a
valuable addition to the strength and re-
sources Of the nation? It has been sus-
gested that a pecuniary qualification
should be imposed. The difficulty with a
pecuniary qualification IL that most lie
sirabls immigrant might land here with
an empty purse, but possessed Of all the
mental and physical qualities likely to
make him an excellent citizen, while, on
the other hand, immigrants whose pres
ence would be a pestilence might have
the necessary amount Of money. It was
pointed out at a recent hearing in Wash
ington that the ScandinaVians, who are
In every way desirable immigrants, sell
dom have much money when they ar
rive. On the other hand, through the
assistance extended by a wealthy syndi-
dictate in Europe, Russian immigrants Of
an obnoxious type, actually pauPers,
with their passage paid 10 this country,
have been able to produce the amount
heretofore required at the immigrant
landing places, even should the limit be
raised. In recent interview the editor
Of Swedish Journal suggested that Rus
sian immigrants were given a sum Of
money on the other side to show on their
arrival here, and were aiteFward required
to give the money up to the agents Of
those who had advanced Il, to be used
over again BY other immigrants.
A litarary qualification would seem to
BE- calculated to insure a good class Of
immigrants. The adult immigr ants from
the British ISleS and western and north
Om Europe are able, as 4 rule, to read
and write; whereas the undesirable i'm
migrants from certain other regions are
g ignorant - they are debased. 1t is
wise, therefore, for congress to consider
whether any immigrant over a certain
age should be admitted unless able to
read and write with ordinary Auency in
the immigrants own language. should
such an examination be honestly con-
Quoted II would exclude the vast major
ily Of undesirable immigrants.
In addition to this there should be an
Investigation abroad BY authorized agents
Of the United States government regard
ing the character Of intending immi-
grants. American consuls abroad should
receive special commissions for the per
Torrance Of this duty, and should be
held to q strict responsibility for negli-
gence or dishonesty in ito performance.
No immigrant should BE- admitted unless
be or she brings q certificate, issued by a
United States consul, 10 the effect that
the intending eBigant is a proper per
son TO be allowed TO land in the United
States, and that the consul has person
ally seen and examined the emigrant.
The authority to issue such certificates
could be Withdrawn from consuls who
are situated in regions where there Is
reason to fear an epidemic, as, for in
stance, the Russian Empire, Southeast
ern Europe, and 90 forth. With this
safeguard and . careful examination on
this side Of the Atlantic as to physical
condition and ability, il would be ex-
tremely difficult for obnoxious foreigners
to obtain access to the United States.