Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-12

and diligence 1t would seem that the
present law would be sufficieni. Its
operations have reached back only n
few yesrt; and 1t IN notable In this
connection that the Boston league and
other anti.immig rAtionists argue
mainly from data furnished by the
census OF 1890 and other conditions
existing before the present statute
was In FULL and fair operation, thus pre-
senting false issue before the country.
To the extent that they do this,
their efforts are suspicious, TO say the
least. People who work for fair reforms
arc satiafied with showing the real
situation from which change 10
asked; aud CoDgress is likely to dis.
cover this weak point in the present
agitation.
The truth Of the staten mt that
ilIiteracy and general undesiraDility In
immigrants go together depends very
much on the manner and place Of its
application. When taken in connec-
neotion with the greater proportion
OF tine more serious and preva-
lent crimes In this nation the
pact hve years, there would appear
good reason to ideDy the proposition
altogether, for 1t has been established
beyond oavil that by far the larger
number OF criminals In embezzle-
ments. thetts, rooberier, notably i'm.
moral ofienses, and even murders, have
been from among those who are not
classsd as illiterate. The educated
criminal 10 by far the most dangerous
In this nation today.
AZ applied to certain European
peoples, the test OF illiteraoy would be
most unsatisfac Glory. In rssptcl TO
British, German and Scandinavian
immigrants II would NO! reach
Questionable persons at all, for
everybody In those countries has q
chance OF learning to read and write;
therefore .lliterecy and general unde.
STABILITY do not 70 together in those
peoples. Regarding the Slav, Lstin
and Aeiatio races, the rule 10 equally
unsaft; and further, II ia unjust. II It
had been spilled few scores Of yea re-
ago to Britain, Germany aud 5candi-
navia, the most desirable settlers of
America would have been excluded.
Today the S!sv and Latin countries
are as little progressed In the matter OF
education rs the Others were q cen.
tury ago; but they have In them just
ss large proportion OF moral, law
abiding people who make good oiti-
zens anywhere. Take Portugal, for
instance, where the rule Of the domi-
nant church is against popular sduca.
ton, with so per cent of the people
llliterate there 10 no more extensive
criminal development thnn In this
country with only 8 per cent illiteraoy.
The standard OF book.learning is not
always the guaae OF training In
true morality; u 10 ~ variable
as the condition OF the nations
themselves. Higher educational at.
tRinmsnts are very desirable In
nations and in individuals, buI
the immigrant who cannot read and
write, who ia industrious, moral and
loyal, and who has In him intelligence
and energy to acquire fundamental
education, IL incomparAbly more de-
sirable as citizen than the educated
importation who devotes his ability tC
tricks and schemes whose clever law.
lessness 10 bane to good government
anywhere. II every adult immigran,
had to present = fair record OF thrift,
honesty, and loyalty in his own coun
try, duly authenticated, and all had to
establish those qualities in their i'm
mediate ancestry, 1t would be a tes
beside which that OF illiteracy would
be mere bagatelle, in addition to the
present requirements Of the immigra
tion laws.