The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-20

Those dead miners came TO America TO
work for wages for which no self-rcspect-
ing native laborer could afford to work,
because st such wages he could not sup
port himself and family decently.
Our immigration laws made possible the
presence OF these foreign miners here.
Under the prevailing fiscal. financial and
commercial policy OF the United States
tartH 10 made on foreign coal for the
avowed purpose of enabling the mine owner
TO get more for his coal and be thereby
enabled to pay his laborers better wages.
Instead Of doing this and dividing the in
| creased price with native laborers the
mine owners. In order TO get the greatest
possible amount of service for the least
possible cost, employ foreigners and crowd
out native lsborers and then reduce wages
TO point where even the foreigners can
not sustain life. and is forced 10 rebel In
defence Of himself and family.
The miners shot down were not Ameri-
can citizens and most likely never intend
ed to so become. They were aliens in ma
tivity. education and sentiment, who had
no intelligent understanding or apprecia-
tlon OF our laws or system Of government.
Thew were encouraged to come here be-
| cause they would work cheaper than Iative
OF immigration and naturalization laws
that should be amended II not wholly re-
pen1ed.
There Is ~ lesson to be learned a warm
| Ing to be taken from present Conditions.
NO intelligent man can fail TO appre-
ciate the great measure Of indebtedness OF
the united states 10 her citizens Of foreign
birth. In Texas. and notably In Houston.
there has been illustrated the results OF
The courage. the fortitude. enterprise. in
dustry intelligence and good citizenship
OF many foreign born citizens who have
become identified In every way With the
interests. hoDes and aspirations of the land
CT their adoption. and who are benefit
aud an honor to the communities OF which
thev form so large part The devotion
OF many Of these foreign born citizens VINO
resided In Texas at the beginning OF the
war was manifested by prompt enlist
ment and faithful service In the Southern
| army. while thousands OF others were en-
ticed here from abroad who could not
speak the language and knew nothing OF
The Issues involved in the war, but who
hired themselves for so much money to
invade this section. and who were in most
instances ruthless marauders.
MANY Of this class have never become
| citizens and most likely never will.
They care nothing for the United States
| or American institutions They are wholly
unlike that large mart of our population
| In Texas which has done so much for it's
| settlement. deveonment and prosperity.
Our yates are thrown wide open to all
| men. The recent amendments 10 Toe i'm
| migration laws have q very slight effect
in restricting the flew of the ever increas-
| ing tide OF foreigners. A halt niust be
| called and that very soon. II this Is
| the ASYLUM for the oppressed OF every
land. as political stump speakers are so
| readv to proclaim. It Is time TO inquire
whether the asvlum Is not about full.
The United States can no more permit
millions of foreigners from every cline
| TO pour into her borders without injury
to the body social and polite than Houston
could furnish her citizens water from Euf-
falo BAYOU without breeding pestileace ard
death.
"A foreigner. utterly ignorant of our Ian
guage and laws can declare his Intention
10 become Il citizen and cast his vote, while
| thousands OF Young men OF education and
| inli3l.sIH Zee but less than q years Of age
are denied the privilege OF the ballot I bis
| should not be. No foreigner should be
| allowed 90 vote until he has resided here
hVe years at least and ii ne mas not within
| that time uerIect citizenship, he should be
| sent back whence ne came.
| u may be said there is abundant room
| lot all VINO come, that Texas could hold all
| the people m The United states and have
| roc1i 20 spare This as Il mere matter ~,
numbers and area may he true hut no
| Vaituialloh based ON mere proportion OF
territory 10 population Is sensible or safe,
because there are millions Of square miles
here which can never, CIR al least no, untt,
some tar distant day ne subjected to the
purposes OF agriculture so as to aiiord sun
port tGr population, anG wntn they shall be
mliliors Of other miles now used will be
exhausted and useless. save for pastoral
purposes.
Ihere Is now here a native or natural-
ized citizen for every Job, and the time IL
mol far distant when the portals OF this
Nation should be absolutely closed against
Immigration from every land. The law
! OF preservation applies with the same
Iorve TO nations as TO individuals However.
much we appreciate the value and moral
worth OF millions of our foreign born ,iti-
@ens and deplore this conditions which
urge those from foreign lands to seek a
nome mere, we can not with safety pernli,
an indiscriminate Immigration into our
borders. This may not be popular to say
nut what ~ more important, IL is Nue.
ohahSe IN the law should not be sud
denly or abruptly made, a day should be
SET FAR enough ahead to give time TO MANY
worthy foreign citizens to bring their
friends and kindred here 10 join them !.
for many come with that purpose in view
But when that day has been set and has
como. there Should be written over every
gateway ON our coasts From and after
this day 70 man of foreign birth win ia
allowed 10 permanently reside In and no.
come citizen of the United States {"
Then law should be enacted Swing a
reasonable time for every foreign born
reslden, TO perfect his citizenship by eop.
p'ete naturalization. and providing II ho
does not so do he VIII be deport,d TO thai
land from whence he came.
II may be said this would DO objected Ia
by many nations and involve us In iniorna-
uonal troubles Such objections make the
reel and true American weary, l. for one.
am sick OF this continual toadying TO for
eisn nations and calling up throaabare
and abstract rules OF international law
whenever an American policy Is suggested.
The people OF the United States are able
|