The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-27
IMMIGRATION AGAIN.
Platform Expressions of the Great Political
Parties.

Platform Expressions of the Great Political
Parties.
In answer to my statement that foreign
pauper iabor docs affect the honest toilin5
American. Mr. McKenna says:
Il repeat nv statement that in no WY can
the depression in business labor he due to
immigration. for we find the same trouble, only
more intense, in foreign countries.
Because other countries hare business and
labor DEPRESSION aud cur country is likewise
afflicted il does not follow that such depression
is due TO the same cause, nor h:s Mr.. Mckcnna
offered any proof To show that foreign depres-
sion ought 10 be due to the same causes which
affect this country. Various countries have
their different causes for depression of business
and labor. As We arc only discussing foreign
immigration aud its relative effect
country in which particularly inter
estei, do not propose TO enter into contro-
versy upon that Issue.
Il would seem, however. that our friend Nc
Kenna has not measured public sentiment:
and indeed, the greatest of our statesmen
recognize that the dumping OF cheap pauper
labor into our country docs work harm to
American labor.
Since writingmy last article both the Rcpub-
lican and Democratic Conventions have met
and adopted III their platforms the following
panks:
Republican Platform: For the protection of
",
of tie wages of our workingmcn against the
fatal competition of low-priced labor. VIC de-
mand that the immigration laws be thoroughly
enforced, and SO extended as 10 exclude from
| entrance to the United States those who can
! neither read nor write.
Democratic Platform: We hold that the most
| efficient way Of protecting American labor is to
| prevent the Importation Of foreign labor to
/ com pete with it in the home market.
In presenting the idea that foreign pauper
| immigration affected American labor, which
| idea is in direct line with these planks. moth
| ing new to thousands was expressed.
In reply to my statement that 80 per cent.
were unable TO read or write English Mr. Nc
| kenna SAYS " 1t Is not fair question" and
asks: "How many Americans can read or
| write German" 1t is Of little interest TO US
| here, and has no bearing OH The question under
| discussion. how many Americans read or write
German. Those who imnligrate here by the
thousands come here TO stay, while but few, if
any, ever emigrato from the United States to
| her countries.
What meant by the statement quoted was
that 80 per cent. do not qualify themselves to
| become good American citizens. They can
| hardly become such, If they neither read nor
write the lsnguage of their adopted country,
and have not &C least fair understanding OF
the form of Government under which they arc
| to live. j do not apply this statement alone to
these who have just set foot On the shores oil
this land Of independence and liberty, but es.
pecially TO those who have been here for a
reasonable time, and who are still tl:c same un.
desirable class that they were or arriving.
CHEAP PaUPER LABOR.
cannot help it whether Mr.. Mckenna likes
the term cheap rauper labor" or not it i:
correct 1t is no reflection Gu the great mas.
of honest and industrious poor, and any at.
tempt to make it appear SO is but a poor defense
in behalf of the hardy, honest SONS of toll. Law
! or no law, cal the worthless class of imm grant.
by the right name. The pauper immigration
laws are not properly enforced, else We would
have less concern now on this issue.
The same statistics from " tich Mr.. McKenn.
quotes-the Rurean Of Immigration--say there
!, were only SCI paupers out of 3l4 467 immi
grants. in 1894. returned. and yet 1872 GIG i'm
migrants had occupation whatever and
+ ll6. ISL were of the miscellaneous character
: tother than professional and skilled labor
. known as common labor, making total O
216 SO3, who should be cassed AS depending OF
hand to-mouth labor for their existence, ana
t who would work at any thing they conid get {.
e do and at any price. il they work at all. Re
{ suit, that honest labor which asks an homes