Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-03-26
IMMIGRATION
The Bin Before the senate Explained d,
Seaator lodge.


senator lodge.
Washington. March FIN present
ing his immigration bill to the senate
Senator Lodge said:
The bin is Of the simplest kind The
first section excludes from the country all
immigrants who cannot read and write
either their own some other language.
The Sc. ond section merely provides a
simple test for determining whether the
immigrant can read or write and IS added
to the bill so as TO define the duties of the
immigrant inspectors and to assure to all
immigrants alike perfect justice and fair
test of their knowledge.
The statistics prepared by the committee
how that the immigrants excluded by the
iiliteracy test are those who remain for the
most part in congested masses in our great
cities. They furnish, rs other tables show
q large proportion or the population of the
slums
1t also appears from investga tions whic q
have been made that the immigrants VINO
would be shut out BY the illiteracy test are
those who bring least money to the coun ny
and come most quickly upon private or
public charity for support. The repl IS Of
the governors of rs states to the Imriigra-
ton Restriction league show that In only
two cases are immigrants of the classes
affected by the iiliteracy test desired and
those are OF a single race. The same is
this country for 9 hfter season and return
TO their native land taking vii them the
money they have earned In ale United
States. There IS no more hurt ful and un-
desirable class of immigration rom every
point of view than these birds { passage
and the tables show that the ra ees furnish
ing the largest number of birds of pass
age" have also the greatest proportion of
iiliterates.
These facts proved to demonstration that
-. 9 IT,.
or write, as proposed by this bill. viii oD-
crate against the most undesirable and
harmful part of our present immigration
and shut out elements which no thoughtful
or patriotic man can wish to see multiplied
among the people of the United States
In conclusion Senator Lodge said: More
precious even than forms of government
are the mental and moral qualities which
make what we call our race. While those
stand unimpaired all is safe. When those
decline all IS imperiled. They are exposed
TO but a single danger and that Is lly chang
ing the quality of our race and citizenship
through the wholesale infusion Of races
whose traditions and ENTERTAINERS
whose thoughts and whose beliefs
are wholly alien to ours and with
whom we have never asslmilaied
or even been associated with in the past.
The danger has begun. 1t is small as vet.
comparatively speaking. but II is large
enough TO warn ms to act while there IS
Vet time ana While It can be done easily and
efficiently. The time has certainly come
If not to stop, at least to check, to sift and
to restrict those immigrants. In careIens
strength, with generous hand we have
kept our gates wide open to all the world |
II we do not close them, we should at least
place sentinels beside them to challenge
those who would pass through. The gates |
which admit men to the United States and /
to citizenship in the great republic should /
no longer be left unguarded