The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-03-05
IMMIGRATION BILL.
The President Sends His Veto Of
It to the House.
HE WRITES FULLY On THE SUBJECT.
sIr. Cleveland Says Il Is Infinitely Better TO
admit 100000 uiiserate LabOrsrs
Than One UnFuly and Edu-
Gated AgitstOF.

WASHINGTON, March 8-The presi-
dent yesterday sent to the house Of
representatives a message vetoing the
the immigration bill He says;
herewith return without approval house bill
No. 1854, entitled An Act to Amend the I'M
migration Laws Of the United States" A rad
ioal departure from our national policy relating
to immigration Is here presented. Heretofore
We have welcomed ell who came to us from
other lands except those whose moral and phys
zeal condition OF history threatened danger TO
our national welfare and safety, relying upon
she Jealous watchfulness Of our people to pre-
vent injury 70 our political and social fabric We
have encouraged those coming from foreign
countries TO cast their lot with us and join ia
the development Of our vast domain, securing
n return share in the blessings Of American
cltlzenship A centuFy's stupendOus growth,
largely due to the assimilation and thrift Of
millions Of sturdy and patriotic adopted citi-
zens, attests the success Of this generous
and free-haHded policy which, while guarding
me peoples interest, exaets from our imRi-
grants only physical and moral soundness and
3 willingness and ability to work.
It is claimed, believe, that the time has
come for the further restriction Of immigration
on the ground that an excess Of population
OVercrowds Onr land It is said, however, that
the quality Of recent immigration Is undesir-
able, for the time is quite within recent mem
Org when the same thing was said Of immi-
grant yhor with their descendants, are now
numbered among our best citizens
The claim ia also made that the influx Of
foreign laboFers deprives Of the opportunity TO
work those who are better fitted than they 10
privileges Of earning their own livelihood by
daily toll An unfortunate condition Is GER
fanny presented when any man who is willing
IS labor IS unemployed. But so far as this
condition now exists among our people it
must be conceded to be a result Of phenomenal
business depression and the stagnation Of all
enterprises IN which labor is factor With the
advent OF settled and wholesome financial and
economic governmental policies and con-
sequent encouragement to the activity Of CAP
ital, the misfortunes Of unemployed labor
should, to great extent at least, be remedied
# it continues its natural consequences must
DC to check the future immigration to our cities
Df foreign laboPeTs and to deplete the ranks Of
chose already here In the meantime those
most Wiling and best entitled ought to be able
20 sscGfe the advantages Of such work as there
Is to do.
II IS proposed by the bill under consideration
10 meet the alleged difficulties Of the situation
by establishing an educational test by which
the right Of the foreigner to make his home
with US shall be determined It's general scheme
Is to prohibit from admission to our country all
immigrants physically capable and over 10
years Who cannot read and write the English
language" The best reason that could be
given for this radical restriction Of immigra-
ton was the necessity Of protecting cur p0pu-
istion against degeneration and saving our
national peace and quiet from imported
turbulence and disorder cannot
believe that We would be pro-
tected against these evils by limiting immi-
grafton to those who can read and write in any
language % words Of our constitution. In nv
opinion 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 unruly agitators who cannot only
read and write, but delight in arousing
by iniammatory speech the iIliterate
and peacefully inclined to discomfort and
tunult Violence and disorder do not origi-
nate with nliterate laborers. They are rather
the victims Of educated agitGtors. The ability
70 read and write as required in this bill and Of
Itself, affords, in my opinion, misleading test
OF contented industry and supplies unsatisfac-
tory evidence Of desirable citizenship or O
proper apprehension Of the benefits Of our in
situations
a careful examination Of this bill has con-
WINGED me that for the reasons given, and others
not specifically stated, it's provisions are IN
necessarily harsh and oppressive and that its
defects In construction would cause vexatiOn
and its operation would result in harm to our
citizens.