Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-20
AETr.lMMreRArros CRUSADE.


The advocates of additional restrictions
upon immigration, the ultimate aim OF
most of whom is to shut out immigration
entirely, are understood TO be prepared
for another crusade in furthcrance of
their purpose. There appears to be no
doubt that an effort will be made at the
coming session of congress to pass some
such measure as went through the last
congress and was vetoed by President
Cleveland and 1t is to be apprehended
that the effort may prove successful
Whether legislation of this character
would be approved by President Nc
Kinlcy may be judged from what he
said in his letter of acceptance He de-
clared his hearty sympathy with the
present legislation and said he favored
such extension of the laws "as will
secure the United States from invasion
by the debased and criminal classes of
the old world" "Whilc we adhere to
the public policy" says the letter of ac-
ceptance, "under which our country has
received great bodies of honest, in
dustrious citizens, who have added to
the wealth, progress and power of the
country, and while we welcome to our
shores the well-disposed and industrious
immigrant who contributes by his
energy and intelligence to the cause Of
free government, we want no immigrants
who do not seek our shores to become
citizens" 1t is certainly possible to infer
from this, taken in connection with what
Mr.. Mckinley said in his inaugural ad-
dress, that he would not hesitate to sign
q bill applying an educational test to i'm
receiving the support Of a large ma
iority Of the republicans in congress.
1t is probably the expectation that the
president would approve this additional
restriction upon immigration that in
spires the Boston league to extraordinary
activity in disseminating anti-immigra-
ton literature and has created conf
dence in other quarters in sympathy
with the movement. This subject was
under consideration at the recent con.
vention of the knights of Labor, where
statistics We're distributed to show that
in the past ten years 100000 foreign
laborers have landed in the United
States. This gross misstatement was
doubtless accepted as true by majority
if not all of the delegates to the con-
vention. The fact is, as the official re-
turns of immigration show, the total
number of persons coming into the
United States as immigrants dur
i,,y In, a
800, considerably less number than
during the previous ten years. A con-
siderable number of these immigrants
have become agricultural producers and
many others have been employed in
work that native labor will not do. 1t
is safe to say that not to exceed 1 per
cent of the male immigrants have failed
to become citizens. The proportion of
these people who have not contributed
to the general welfare and earned live
lihood is too small to be worthy of con-
sideration.
UnQuestionably this country has a
right to protect itself against the danger
Gus and worthless elements of the old
world and this existing legislation, prop
erly enforced, Will do, but to shut our
doors to the worlds honest workers is
to abdicate the position of the country
since the foundation of the republic and
to put check upon national develop.
ment. AS the Philadelphia Record says:
"If by reason of hostile legislation, such
as the Lodge bill in congress, the tide of
immigration, which is already very low,
should be entirely diverted to other
lands, the loss to this country would
be incalculable. Without immigration
the future growth and development of
the country would be very slow" 1t is
to be hoped there is wisdom
enough in congress to successfully resist
the clamor for additional restrictions
upon immigration, though we confess it
is not to be expected.