New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-01
THE IMMIGRATION BILL.
DIRECTIONS TO ITS TREATMENT OF THE IGNoR-
ANT-INTERFERENcE WITH ENTER
PRISE ALLEGED

PRISE ALLEGED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Senator Lodges Immigration bill has been
passed and sent 10 the President for approval. So
far as has appeared in The Tribune's Washington
correspondence and editorial columns seems
to have called attention to the point of view that
such restriction upon immigration the Lodge
bill imposes is Iikely-for many years at least
to lessen any of the evils growing out of an ignorant
citizenship. 10 the fact that II will certainly
interfere with the prosecution Of great enterprises
where ignorant men ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS no others
will do that kind of work-do the heavy work in
which only strong backs and arms required
Experience teaches that 1t will be impossible TO re-
cruit the ranks OF this kind OF laborers from the
class above them who can read and write. as they
will not do that kind of work, at advance in
the daily wage for any length Of time after they
have taken their first draught OF freedom and
equality on our soil. 1t follows that If that kind
of work is 20 be done the ranks Of the workers
must be recruited from time TO time By fresh.
ignorant arrivals.
There are really no risks to our institutions in
volved. The risk lies in naturalization methods
and practices. Mr. Lodges bill has attacked the
evils lamenting at the wrong end. Stop the
naturalization Of ignorant foreigners first After
ward make integence-the ability TO read and
write the English language. If you please-the min
imum requisite for the of the ballot. The man
VINO merely uses me plckaNe ana the shoFel MIS- a
useful and necessary function without in any way
imperilling the stability OF our institutions. He
may be Ignorant, but he is not on that account
necessarily dangerous. on the other hand the
Ignorant voter Is constant and serious menace 10
the State
What absurdity It is to seas may be wit
Messed any election In almost every part OF our
country-twO men going to the polls to exercise the
highest privilege Of citizenship one OF these voters
Will have received fair-perhaps a liberal-educa-
ton at the expense Of the State TO tit him for the
performance Of that high privilege. The other, for
eign BORN neither read nor write his native
language, and he cannot speak sentence In Eng
lish To neuralize some Of the evil growing out OF
our present cond ton in this respect, the Congress
Of the United States has enacted that hereafter
immigrants must be able 70 read and write in some
language THE mountain abored and brought
forth mouse"
The writer thought the time. and he still thinks
that If the Republican leaders had in 1855 dared TO
risk Constitutional amendment making inteili-
Sence-indicated by the ability 10 read and write
the English language. for instance-a prerequisite
for the elective franchise IL would have been
adopted. Woman suffrage is valorous!y coming 10
the fore Another opportunity 10 revise our electoral
laws will come with the demand. one thing Is GER
tain: II would guard institutions against
the most serious dangers that threaten them, We
must stop the machinery that puts the ballot into
ignOran; hands JOHN I. MILLER.
Morristown. y. j., Feb IS, 1897.