Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-22
SOME IMMIGRATION ASPECTS
An Interesting Lecture by Mr. Charles
Hoffman of Philadelphia
How Divers Nations Have Been
brought Together-Freed0m TO
Those Who Come Here.

Mr.. Charles Hoffman, editor Of the Jewish
Exponent of Philadelphia, lectured last
night at the Eighth Street Synagogue un-
der the auspices of the Young Mems He
brew Association on "Some Aspects OF
Immigration" The lecturer was introduce
ed by President Lyon, and his discourse
was closely attended by a large audience.
Migration of nations" said the speaker.
was the basis of history. All peoples. in
their traditions or folklore. told Of their mi
grafton from some other Land. So we had In
the Bible traditions of the distribution of
the races from Babel. Each nation had its
own ideas AS to what other peoples were its
kindred. Nations warred most frequently
with those who were not their kindred.
1he war between the Greeks and the Tro-
jams was war of races. In our age Of
discovery, one of the greatest revelations
made to man was the revelation of the
true kinship Of peoples. People. apparently
not related, had been proved to be closely
united by the strongest of all ties, that Of
blood.
Diverse Nations brought Together.
This has brought together nations the
most diverse and widely separated. Not
fifty years ago Italy was broken into petty
pffncipali.ies and duchies. The country,
which was once termed a geographical
biunder. was now a political unity. The
propaganda Of national unity had been
preached to the Italian people by Mazzini.
and its realization kad come through Ca
YOUR, Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel
Another noteworthy example of the spread
OF this great truth among the people was
10 be found in the German empire Il waA
an example OF national and racial unity
nj t..l
also shown their belief in this truth.
Every light had its shadow. 50 every truth
could be abused. Evil effects have also
sprung from this truth. Race affinities
have given rise to race antipathies. Pam
Slavism was its offspring ir Russia, and
anti-Semitism was another of its manifes-
tations. The indo-Germanic and the Semi
tic peoples re IN conflict. We judged q
man not by his character, but by his ma
ton, and nations We judged not so much
Dy their ethics as by their ethnic attributes.
Ihls was a reaction to medieval darkness
and bigotry. These racial differences were.
ne thought but another phase of universal
human egotism- The origin of racial an
upathies was one OF the elements of hu-
man nature. Self and its belongings were
nearest and dearest TO US. This selfishness
had formed the groundwork OF some phi
losophies. That which was foreign was
either Indifferent or abhorrent to US. The
higher We assembled in the scale of humans
ty the more extensive became our SYM
Two Peoples Exemplars.
Two peoples were exemplars of the rela-
lions between nations. One was the Jews.
The very name Hebrew meant wanderer.
Abraham's history began with the injunc-
ton TO leave his native land and the homo
of his father. Israers national existence
began in Egypt. The existence of the race
in Canaan was a constant conflict with
other nations. The Jews first became aware
OF their religious mission while they were
in captivity at Babylon. Since Israefs dis
persion into worldwide settlements, he
mad endured much and had gained much;
he had known the feelings OF the alien and
OF the native. Not only oy experience but
by his religious principles did the Jew I'M
derstand how to treat the alien. The Law
OF the Pentateuchal code IN Fa.k line recog-
nized one Justice for ALL ana made the
rights OF TIE AMEN $ secure as those OF the
native. The Jewish people were distin-
guished by their purity. and yet they
taught the doctrine of love and humanity
to all other peoples. Americans could
never boast Of their purity a race. The
country was discovered by an Italian IN the
employ of Spain. and settlements were
made In the new world by all the races Of
Europe. The only true natives were the
Indians. and these were fast dying on.
The very essence of the American charac-
ter was It's composite nature. Our nation
al policy toward foreigners had been as
country was the shelter. the refuge, the
harbor and the hope OF the world.
What LIS Given To lmmigrants.
Immigrants were not only permitted to
land. but our institutions were thrown
open TO them. Religious liberty and equal
opportunities were theirs. The naturaliza-
ton laws were most liberal. and only the
highest Office in the land was denied the
foreigner. Ana Yet are there no evils and
dangers connected with this? No blessing
is without danger of abuse. There are
dangers but they must not be avoided. They
must be met by the proper remedies. Ne
should not forget the immense advantages
which We had derived from immigration.
The claims that our prisons and poor houses
We're filled with aliens and that immigra-
ton had a tendency TO lower the standard
of American dignity, were questions de-
handing the most careful and honest in
vestigation. Statistics show that the per-
centage of paupers and criminals furnished
by aliens is not great believed. The
tendency of Americans is upward. and for
eigners are needed to take the lower places
made vacant. But moral, physical and So
cial conditions must not be sacrificed to
pecuniary gain. Our national policy and
a class. We legislate against crime. not
against races. FAIR play is our motto.
The Sitting Process.
The sitting process of immigration should
be made more exact. No criminals or pau
pers Of any nation should be permitted to
land. Enforce a rigid obedience to our
laws from all classes: break down the
sweating shops. by whomever maintained
We are strong enough 10 effect this cor
receive by Justice. AS Jews and Ameri-
cans, We are interested in this question.
There is no clashing OF interests by reason
of this dual nature. Judaism only makes
us truer and better Americans. Shall We
initiate the Jews IF Egypt and petition the
government to exclude the refugees from
Russia? Against this our history our re-
ligion, every fiber of our body protests. As
Americans. We cannot desert those who
suffer from despotism and seek freedom
and home. We must, as Jews and Amer1-
cans, not rest content with allowing them
to land They must be elevated that they
shall reflect honor on their race.
DIR. TAIMAGE TO RESIGN.