The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-03-05
IlIMIGRITION BILL.

The first section OF the bill provided
inr the the amending Of the immigra-
ION law by adding to the classes OF
.:liens thereby excluded from admis-
sion to the United States the follow
tlg: All persons physically capable
and over sixteen years of age who can.
not read and write the English Ian
ruage: but person not SO able to
read and write, who is over fifty years
ST age and is the parent or grand
parent of qualified immigrant over
twenty-one years of age and capable
OF supporting such parent or grand
parent, may accompany such immi-
grant, or such parent or grandparent,
may be sent for and come to join the
family of child or grandchild over
twenty-oue years of age similarly
qualified and capable, and wife and
minor child not SO able to read and
write may accompany or be sent for
and come and join the husband or
parent similarly qualified and capa-
BILE"
President Cleveland holds that our
marvellous national growth during the
past century is due to our liberal i'm
migration laws, and that the various
uationalities have been assimilated
and the immigrants have made useful
and patriotic Am erican citizens. That
here is not an excess Of population IN
this land, and hence no need Of an i'm
migration law that excludes many
that would make good citizens.
The educational qualification would
10 doubt exclude many who would
make industrious and awabiding citi-
zeus. President ClevelaDd's observa-
lions Oh this important point are we'll
worthy of reproduction. Hesays: 1T
= proposed by the bill under consider
ton to meet the alleged difficulties OF
me situation by establishing an edu-
cational test by which the right of a
goreigner to make his home with us
hall be determined. Its general
,aheme is to prohibit from admission
0 our country all immigrants 'physi-
ally capable and over sixteen years
age, who cannot read and write the
English language or some other IAN
:uage, and is provided that this test
hall be applied by requiring inmi-
rants seeking admission to read and
lterward to write not less than TWEEN
v nor more than twenty-five words OF
he constitution of the United States
"a some language, and that any ilnmi-
rant failing in this shall not be ad,
lnittel, but shall be returned to the
country from whence he came at the
expense of the steamship or railroad
company which brought him.
The best reason that could be
;iven for this radical restriction OF
immigration is the necessity of pro-
Getting our population against de-
generation and saving our national
, eace and quiet from imported turbu-
,auce and disorder.
Il cannot believe that we would be
protected against these evils by limit
ing immigration to those who can
rrad and write in any language tw enty
I'VE words OF our constitution. In my
opinion it is infinitely more safe to
admit Il hundred thousand immi-
grants, who, though unable to read
and write, seek among us only home
and opportunity to work, than to ad,
nit one of those unruly agitators and
enemies of governmental control who
cannot only read and write, but de-
light in arousing by intiammatory
speech the illiterate and peacefully
inclined to discomfort. and *tamult.
Violence and disorder do not originate
with illiterate laborers. They are the
victims of the educated agitator. The
ability to read and write, as required
in this bill, in and of itself affords, in
my opinion, misleading test Of con-
tented industry and supplies uhsatis-
factory evidence of desirable citizen
ship or a proper apprehension of the
benefits of our institutions.
If any particular element OF our
.lliteratc immigration is to be feared
Tor other causes than illiteracy, these
causes should be dealt with directly
instead of making illiteracy the pre-
text for exclusion to the detrimeht of
ether illiterate immigrants against
whom the real cause of complaint can
got be alleged"
The President further states that
such a law would no doubt provoke
retaliatory measures from foreign
cations. In conclusion. he says, "A
rareful examination of this bin has
convinced me that for the reasons
&iven and others not specifically stated
IS provisions are unnecessarily. harsh
md oppressive, and that its defects in
obstruction would cause vexation
nd its operation would result in harm
} our citizens"
THE BICYCLE.
The big bicycle show of 1897 opens
Music Hall, Baltimore, tomorrow
light.
The bicycle has come to stay. AS n
means of locomotion in the city, tbs the
most expeditions possible to those
tGho are sufficiently expert at guiding
ne " heel through the crowded streets.
As means of exercise it brings all
lie muscles into play, and is at the
same time healthful and enjoyable
.'ne rising generation will be greatly
,nnelitted physically by the use of the
heel, and physical health means
:, reater mental vigor.
The bicycle ''craEk," however,
vhose chief object is to roll up so many
thousand miles, or break records, may
,, Injured or deformed by its use, but
,lese extremists are only very small
PORTION of all who now Use the bicycle.