The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-03-03
TETOED by CLETELAND..
The President Refuses to Sign the
immigration Bill,
DECLARES IT TO BE UU-AMBRIoAE.


The Clause Demanding an Educational
Qualification for Immigrants, lie Says.
Is Contrary to Our Natural Policy our
Duty to Our Northern Noighbors.
Washington March 3.-The president
last night sent to the house OF repre-
sentatives message vetoing the inn
migration bill The principal points Of
the message are as follows
"A radical departure from our nat
ural policy relating to immigration is
here presented. Heretofore we have
welcomed 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. A century's stupendous
growth. largely due to the assimilation
and thift of millions Of sturdy and pa
triotic adopted citizens, attests the suc-
cess of this generous and free handed
policy.
1T is said that the quality of recent
immigration is undesirable. The time
is quite within recent memory when
the same thing was said of immigrants
who, with their descendants. are now
numbered ar-ong our best citizens.
1T is said that too many immigrants
settle in our cities, thus dangerously
increasing their idle and vicious popu-
lation. This is certainly a disadvan-
tage. II cannot be shown, however,
that It affects all our cities, nor that
it is permanent; nor does it appear
that this condition. where it exists. de-
mands as its remedy the reversal Of
our present immigration policy
THE claim is also made that the in
fux of foreign laborers deprfves OF the
opportunity to work those who are bet
ter entitled than they to the privilege
Of earning their livelihood by daily toll.
So far as this condition now exists
among our people, It must be conceded
to be a result Of phefOmenal business
depression. with the advent of set
tied and wholesome financial and eco
nomic governmental policies. and a
consequent encouragement to the ac-
tivity of capital the misfortunes OF
unemployed labor should to a great
extent at least be remeded. 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.
Il cannot believe that we would be
protected against these evils by limit
ing immigration to those who can read
and write in any language twenty-five
words Of our constitution. In my opin-
ion it is infinitely more safe to admit
a hundred thousand immigrants who
though unable to read and write, seek
among us only a home and opportunity
to work, than to admit one Of those un.
ruly agitators and enemies of govern
mental control who can not only read
and write, but delights in arousing by
inhammatory speech the illiterate and
peacefully inclined to discomfort anC
tumult
evidence and disorder do not origi-
nate with illiterate laborers, They arc
the victims of the educated agitator
The ability to read and write affords
in my opinion, a misleading test OF
| contented industry and supplies unsat
isfactory evidence of desirable citizen
ship or a proper appreciation of tht
benefits Of our institutions.
I'm order that relatives who are pro
vided for may be reunited. those still
| in foreign lands must be sent for t,
join the immigrant here Are the IL
| literate relatives Of immigrants VIII,
]
| titled to the advantage of these excep
| tions? A husband who can read anC
write, and who determines to abandon
| his illiterate wife abroad, win Gn,
/ here under this law an absolutely saf,
/ retreat The ilIterate relatives men
/ toned in the bill must not only be sen
| for but such immigrant must be capa
bic of supporting them when they ar
rive. And yet, if unable to read anc
write though quite able and Willing
TO support themselves and their rela
tives here besides, they could not b
admitted under the provisions of thi
bill IL the immigrant was impoverish
ed, though the aid of his fortunate
/ but illiterate relative might be tn
means Of saving him from pauperisu
The prohibition against the employ
ment Of aliens upon any public work
Of the United States is in line wit
other legislation of a like character
1t is quite a different thing, however
to declare it a crime for an alien t
come regularly and habitually into tn
United States for the purpose OF oh
tanning work from private parties.
such alien returns from time to tim
TO a forci~~ country, and to constitut
any employment of such alien a crimi
nal offence.
When We consider these provisions O
the bin in connection with our lon
northern frontier and recall tn
friendly intercourse between the peo
pie who are neiEhbors on the othe
side, the provisions Of this bill affect
ing them must be regarded as illibera
narrow and un-American. Such un
friendly legislation could hardly fat
to provoke retaliatory measures, to tn
injury Of many of our citizens VIII
now find employment on adjoining for
eign soil"
Another Veto Urged.
New York March 8. - Presiden
| Cleveland was sent the following tele