The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-03

Washington, March 2.-President
Cleveland in his message vetoing the
immigration bill calls attention to the
first section of that measure excluding
from admission to the United States
illiterate persons designated in the
section. and declares that the provi-
! sion presents a radical departure from
| our national policy relating to immi
/ grafton.
Heretofore. he says. I'VE have well
coined all who came to us from other
! lands except those whose moral or
physical condition or history threat
ened danger to our national welfare
/ and safety. Relying upon the jealous
watchfulnesS of our people to prevent
! injury to our political and social fabric,
we have encouraged those coming from
| foreign countries to cast their lot with
us and join in the development of our
vast domain. securing, in return,
/ share in the blessing of American
citizenship. A century'S stupendOuS
| growth, largely due to the assimila-
tion and thrift of millions of sturdy
and patriotic adopted citizens attests
tine success of this generous and free
handed policy, which, while guarding
/ the peoples interests, exacts from our
immigrants only physical and moral
soundnesS and a willingness and
ability to work.
THE GRAND RESULTS.
"A contemplation of the grand. re-
suits of this policy" he writes, cannot
fail to arouse a sentiment in its de-
fense."
Referring to the claims that the
quality of recent immigration is un-
desirable. President Cleveland says:
THE time is quite within recent
memory when the same thing was said
/ of immigrants who, with their descend
ants, are now numbered among our
best citizens. It is said that too many
immigrants settle in our cities. thus
dangerously increasing their idle and
vicious population. This is certainly
a disadvantage. 1t can not be shown,
however, that it affects all our cities
nor that it is permanent; nor does it
appear that this condition, where it
exists. demands as it's remedy the re-
versal of our present immigration
policy.
THE claim is also made that the in
flux of foreign laborers deprives of the
opportunity to work those who are
better entitled than they to the privi-
lege of earning their livelihood by daily
toll. An unfortunate condition is GER
tainly presented when any who are
so far as this condition now exists
among our people, it must be conceded
to be a result of phenomenal business
depression and Stagnation of all enter
prises in which labor is a factor With
the advent Of settled and wholesome
financial and economic governmental
policies. and a consequent encourage
ment TO the activity of capital, the
misfortunes of unemployed labor
should. TO a great extent al least. be
remedied. If it continues. its natural
consequences must be to check the
further immigration to our cities of
foreign laborers and to deplete the
ranks of those already here In the
meantime. those most willing and best !
entitled ought TO be able to secure the
advantage of such work as there is TO
do.
EDUCATIONAL TEST.
The educational test contained in the |
bill receives close attention. On this /
particular point Mr.. Cleveland says:
In my opinion. it is infinitely more
safe TO admit a hundred thousand i'm |
migrants who though unable to read |
and write, seek among us only a home
and an opportunity to work, than to
admit one of those unruly agitators and |
enemies of governmental control who
can not only read and write. but who
delight in arousing. by infiammatory
speech, the illiterate and peacefully in
clined to discomfort and tumult. ViO-
lence and disorder do not originate
with illiterate laborers. They are rather
the victims of the educated agitators.
The ability to read and write as re-
quired in this bill. in and of itself af-
fords, in my opinion. a misleading test
of contented industry and supplies un
satisfactory evidence of desirable citi-
zenShip or a proper appreciation of the
benefits of our institutions.
THE provisions intended to rid that
part of the proposed legislation already
referred to from obvious hardship ap-
pears to me to be indefinite and made
quate.
parent, grandparent, wife or minor
child of a qualified immigrant, though
unable to read and write, NAV accom-
pany the immigrant or be sent for to
join his family, provided the immi
grant is capable of supporting such
relative. These exceptions to the gen.
bill We're made to prevent the separa-
tion of families, and yet neither broth
ers nor sisters are provided for. In
order that relatives who are provided
for may be united, those still in for
eign lands must be sent for to join the
here. What fOrmality is
necessary to constitute this prerequi-
site ana now are the IdClS OF TeldIlO0-
ship and that it is the relative that
is sent for to be established? Are the
illiterate relatives of immigrants who
have come here under prior laws en-
titled to the advantage of these ex-
ceptions? A husband who can read and
write and who determines to abandon
his illiterate wife abroad, will find here,
under this law. an absolutely safe re-
treat. The illiterate relatives men
toned must not only be sent for. but
such immigrant must be capable of
them when they arrive. This
proceeds upon the as
that the foreign relatives
coming here are in every case. by rea-
son of poverty, liable to become a
public charge unless the immigrant is
capable of their support The contrary
is very often true; and yet if unable
TO read and write, though quite able
and willing to support themselves and
their relatives here besides, they could
not be admitted under the provisions
If this bill; if the immigrant was i'm
poverished. though the aid of his for
-unate but illiterate brother might be
the means of saving him from pauper-
sm.'
EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS. .