Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-19
CHECKING IMMIGRATION.

Though IL has been apparent LOT mahy
years that this country was receiving
too many immigrants. and though II
has been seen that many OF these immi-
grants are highly undesirable, the check
ing of this human tide has been a delicate
matter to handle.
Many thoughtful and kind-hearted
people cannot but remember that this
land was a land OF refuge to their fore
fathers who sought escape from the IN
tolerable tyrannies or other hardships OF
life in the old world. Many Of those
newcomers were very poor when they
reached our shores. And II the truth
must be confessed, many Of them were
very ignorant. too. They were good peo-
pie. but they had occupied humble
stations in their own countries and their
opportunities in life were few.
As a rule, very well-to-do people do
not emigrate. There have been excep-
lions to this rule, Of course, but we are
speaking of this country by and large;
not OF any section Of 1t and not
OF any particular nationality of immi-
grants
Remembering all Of these things, there
was for a long time hesitation on the
part of the people Of the United States
about checking immigration. But recent
events have compelled our statesmen 10
revise their former view. They could
not shut their eyes TO the fact that these
United States were being made dump
TnFatWn
nations: that our land was becoming the
place of refuge of many criminals, and
that great injustice was being done our
own workingmen by the coming hither in
droves of undesirable citizens. Thus
arose a demand for congressional action,
and under this pressure Out against the
wish of the great transatlantic steam
ship companies) a bill on the subject has
just been passed. and now awaits the
signature of the President.
The bill as passed extends the imm-
grafton restrictions against "all persons
age who cannot read and write the Eng
lish language or some other language;
but a person not so able TO read and write
who is over so years of age and is the
parent or grandparent Of a qualified inn
migrant over q years of age, and capa-
bic of supporting such parent or grand
parent may be sent for and come TO join
the family of child or grandchild over
p years Of age, similarity qualified and
capable. and wife or minor child not
so able to read and write may accompany
or be sent for and come to join the hus-
band or parent similarly qualified and
capable"
For the purpose of testing the immi-
grants lteracy he may be compelled TO
read and write from twenty to twenty
five words of the United States Consti-
tuition. Aside from these extensions Of
the present law the bill inaugurates
new system of restricting immigration
from border countries. designed to
apply principally to immigration from
Canada. There is also special provision
made for receiving Cubans who may come
to this country pending the present
conflict upon that unhappy island, so
that refugees from Spanish violence and
oppression may not be denied the nos
pitality Of our shores by the educational
prerequisite
Under the circumstances, we cannot see
that Congress could have done better
than it did 90 in passing this bill. the
law seems to have been drawn upon con-
servative lines. Much will depend upon
its enforcement, but it is fair to say that
the United States have now taken a
decided step towards checking undesira-
bic immigration and it will remain for
future Congresses to tighten or relax the
law as experience may suggest.