The record-union., 1897-03-03
Giving Reasons for Not Approving the
Contemplated Law.
Says 1t Presents a Radical Departure
From Our National POlicy-POintS
to the Stupendous Growth and
Thrift of Millions of Sturdy and
Patriotic Citizens, Which is the
Outcome of Our Welcome to All
Immigrants of floral and Physical
SOundneSS.
SOundneSS.

| lowing message vetoing the immigra
| ton bill:
ITO the House of Representatives
herewith return without approval
House bill 1864, entitled An Act to
amend the immigration laws of the
United States
BY the first section of this bill it is
proposed to amend Section l of the Act
of March ). 1891, relating to immigra
ton, by adding to the classes of aliens
! thereby excluded from the United
States the following: All persons phys
| ically capable, and over Is years of
| age, who cannot read and write the
English language or some other Ian
guaSe; but a person not so able to read
and write who is over 30 years of age,
and is the parent or grandparent of a
qualified immigrant over II years of
age, and capable of supporting such
parent or grandparent may accompany
such immigrant, orr such parent or
grandparent may be sent for and come
to join the family of a child or grand
child over II years of age. similarly
qualified and capable, and a wife or
minor child not so able to read or write
may accompany or be sent for, and
come and join the husband or parent
similarly qualified and capable.
"A radical departure from our ma
tional 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, relying upon the jealous
Watchfulness of our people to prevent
injury to cur political and social fabric.
We have encouraged those coming from
foreign countries to cast their lot with
us and join in the development of our
vast domain, securing in return share
in the blessings of American citizen
ship. A century's stupendous growth
largely due to the assimilation and
thrift of millions of sturdy and patri-
otic citizens attests the success of this
generous and free handed policy which
while guarding the peoples interests,
eXacts from our immigrants only phys
ical and moral soundness and a willing
ness and ability to work.
"A contemplation of the grand re-
suits of this policy cannot fail to
arouse a sentiment in its defense; for
however it might have been regarded
as an original proposition and viewed
as an experiment, it's accomplishments
are such that if it is to be uprooted at
this late day its disadvantages should
be plainly apparent, and the substitute
adopted should be just and adequate,
free from uncertainties and guarded
against difficult or oppressive ad-
ministration.
1T is claimed | believe, that the time
has come for the further restriction of
immigration on the ground that an ex-
cess of population oVercroWds our land.
1t is said, however, that the quality of
recent immigration is undesirable, but
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 i'm
migrants settle in our cities thus dan
gerously increasing their idle and vi
cious population. This is certainly a
disadvantage. 1t cannot be shown,
however, that it affects all our cities,
nor that it is permanent, nor does it
appear that this condition where it ex-
lists demands as its remedy the re-
yersal of our present immigration pol
icy.
1T is proposed by the bill under con-
sideration to meet the alleged difficult
ties of the situation by establishing an
educational test by which the right of a
foreigner to make his home with us shall
be determined Its general scheme is to
prohibit from admission to our country
all immigrants physically capable and
l.
the English language or some other
language and it is provided this test
shall be applied by requiring immi-
grants seeking admission to read and
afterwards to write not less than twenty
nor more than twenty-five words of the
Constitution of the United States in
some language, and that any immigrant
failing in this shall not be admitted, but
shall be returned to the country from
which he came at the expense of the
steamship or railroad company which
brought him.
THE best reason that could be given
for this radical restriction of immigra-
ton is the necessity of protecting our
population against degeneration and
saving our national peace and quiet
from imported turbulence and disorder.
/ cannot believe we would be protected
against these evils by limiting the inn
migrants to those who can read or write |
twenty-five words, in any language, of
our Constitution. In my opinion it is
infinitely more safe to admit a hundred |
thousand migrants who, though unable |
TO read and write, seek among us only |
home and an opportunity to work, than |
TO admit one of those unruly agitators |
and enemies of governmental control |
who cannot only read and write, but de- |
light in arousing by infiammatory 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 agitators.
THE ability to read and write. as re- |
quired in this bill, and of itself affords. |
in my opinion. misleading test of |
contented industry, and supplies unsat-
sfactory evidence of desirable citizen |
ship of proper apprehension of the |
benefits of our institutions. If any |
particular element of our illiterate i'm
migration is to be feared for other |
causes than illiteraey, the causes |
should be dealt with directly. instead of |
making illiteracy the pretext of ex- |
ciusion to the detriment Of other ilIit- |