The Bourbon news., 1897-03-05
PRESIDENTS VETO.
rhe immigration PiIl Excludes the Adj
mission of yliterate Persons.
This. the Message Says, is a Radical De-
parture From Our National Policy
He Objects, Among Other Things,
To the Educational Test.

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 provis-
ion presents radical departure from
our national policy relating to
immigration. Heretofore, he says,
Es'we have welcomed all who
came to US from other lands,
except whose moral or physical
condition or history threatened danger
to our national welfare and safety.
Relying upon the jealous watchfnlness
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 X. the
development of our vast domain,
securing in return share
in the blessings of American
citizenship. A century's stupendous
growth largely due to the assimilation
and thrift of millions of sturdy and
patriotic adopted citizens attest the
success of this generous and free-hand-
ed policy, which while guarding the
peoples interests, exacts from our inn
migrants only physical and moral
| soundness and a willingness and abili-
| ty to work.
"a contemplation of the grand re-
| suits of this policy" he writes, "can
| not fail to arouse sentiment in its de-
| fense."
| Referring to the claims that the
| quality Of recent immigrants is unde-
sirable, President Cleveland says the
time is quite within recent memory
when the same thing was said of I'M
migrants who, with their descendants.
are now numbered among our best
| citizens
1t is said that too many immigrants is
settle in our cities, thus dangerously
| increasing their idle and vicious popu-
| lation. This is certainly disadvan-
| tage; it 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 its remedy the reversal of our pres
ent immigration policy.
The claim is also made that the in
fux of foreign laborers deprives of the
opportunity to work those who are bet
| ter entitled than they to the privilege OF
earning their livelihood by daily toll.
| An unfortunate condition is certainly
presented when any who are willing
to labor are unemployed. But so far
as this condition now exists among
our people, it must be conceded to
| be a result of phenomenal bust.
ness depression and the stagnatioh OF
all enterprises in which labor is fac
tor. With the advent of settled and
wholesome financial and economic
governmental policies and a conse-
| quent encouragement to the activity of
capital, the misfortunes of unemployed
labor should to great extent at
least be remedied. If it ontinues, it's
natural consequences must be to check
| the further immigra tion to our cities
of foreign laborers, and to deplete the
ranks of those already there. In the
meantime those most willing and best
entitled ought to be able to secure the
advantages of such work as there is
to do.
The educationaltest contained in the
| bill receives close attention on this
particular point. Mr.. Cleveland says,
in his opinion, it is infinitely
thousand immigrants who, though
unable to read and write, seek
among US only home and op-
portunity to work, than to admit
of one of those unruly agitators and
enemies of governmental control, who
can not only read and write, but delights
in arousing by inflammatory speech the
illiterate and peacefully inclined to
discomfort and tumult. Violence and
disorder do not originate with
illiterate laborers. They are rather
the victims of the educated
agitator. The ability to read
and write as required in this in and
of itself, affords in my opinion, mis-.
leading test of contented industry and
supplies unsatisfactory evidence of de-
sirable citizenship or proper appre-
citation of the benefits of our institu-
tion.
The prohibition against the employ
ment of aliens upon any public works
of the United States is in line with
other legislation of like character.
1t is quite different thing, however,
to declare it crime for an alien to come
regularly and habitually into the
United States for the purpose of OBJ
tanning work from private parties, if
such alien returns from time to time
to foreign country, and to constitute
any employment of such alien a Grim
inal offense
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The special
train bearing Vice President-elect Ho.
bart and party arrived at the Balti-
more & Ohio station about 1926 o'clock
Tuesday afternoon. There were no
special demonstrations attending Mr..
Hobarts reception. They were met
by the district reception committee.
The presidential party included
Hon. Garret A. Hobart, Mrs. Hobart,
son, Hon. John w. Griggs, governor.
and Mrs Griggs, Gen. VIM. Stryker,
adjutant-general, and Mrs. Striker.
and other members of the governors
staff, accompanied by the ladies of
their families.