The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-03
VETOED BY CLEVELAND.
The President Refuses to Sign the
immigration Bill.
DECLARES IT TO BE UN-AMERICAN.
The Clause Demanding an Educational
Qualification for Immigrants, He Says,
Is Contrary to Our Natural Poliey-Our
Duty to Our Northern Nsighbors.


Is Contrary to Our Natural Poliey-Our
Duty to Our Northern Nsighbors.
Washington, March 3.-The president
last night sent to the house Of repre-
sentatives a 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 sue
cess of this generous and free handed
policy.
ut 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 among our best citizens.
at is said that too many immigrants
increasing their idle and vicious popu-
latlon. This is certainly a disadvan-
tage. 1t cannot be shown however,
that 1t affects all our cities, nor that
it is permanent; nor does 1t appear
that this condition, where 1t exists, de-
mands as its remedy the reversal of
our present immigration policy.
1.-THE claim is also made that the in
flux Of foreign laborers deprivcs 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 result of phenomenal 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 remedied. 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 1t Is infinitely more safe to admit
a hundred thousand immigrants who,
though unable to read and write seek
among us only home and opportunity
to work, than to admit one of those un-
ruly agitators and enemies of govern
oil hn n
and write but delights in arousing by
inflammatory speech the illiterate and
peacefully inclined to discontent and
tumult.
evidence and disorder do not origi-
nate with illiterate laborers. They are
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 p proper appreciation of the
benefits of our institutions.
In order that relatives who are pro-
vided for may be reunited, those still
In foreign lands must be sent for to
join the immigrant here. Are the IL
literate relatives of immigrants who
have come here under prior laws en-
titled to the advantage of these excep-
tions? A husband who can read and
write, and who determines to abandon
his illiterate wife abroad, will find
here under this law an absolutely safe
retreat. The illiterate relatives men,
toned In the bill must not only be sent
for, but such immigrant must be capa-
bic of supporting them when they ar
rive. And yet if unable to read and
write, though quite able and willing
to support themselves and their rela-
tives here besides, they could not be
admitted under the provisions of this
bill If the Immigrant was impoverish-
ed, though the aid of his fortunate,
but illterate relative might be the
means of saving him from paupersm.
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 a different thing. however,
to declare 1t a crime for an alien to
come regularly and habltually into the
United States for the purpose of OBJ
tanning work from private parties. If
such alien returns from time to time
to a foreign country, and to constitute
any employment of such alien a crimi-
nal offence.
When we consider these provisions of
the bill In connection with our long
northern frontier. and recall the
friendly intercourse between the peo-
pie who are neishbors on the other
side, the provisions of this bill affect
ing them must be regarded as illiberal,
narrow and un-American. Such un-
friendly legislation could hardly fail
to provoke retaliatory measures, to the
injury of many of our citizens who
now find employment on adjoining for-
eign soil"