The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-12

THE sENArE.

/ ihiohth Sdtus Sudlillau odllluSST Sdy ing the
committee did not wish TO enter ON the
pensioning OF daughters OF veterans SEN
ator Alien Of Nebraska Thought, that Cen
eral Meade's great service justified such
liueraiii.- 40 action was taken AMI Sem
ator Woicott OF Colorado announced q
speech Oh the money question for mkt
Monday, Senator tairbanks addressed the
senate on immigration as follows;
NO more important question can engage
our attention and none should receive
more earnest ana thoughtful consideration
tnan one which seeks 10 guard and pre-
serve the high standard OF our population
and citizenship. No policy, however ven
cradle. no sentimental consideration should
dissuade us from dealing with an evil
which menaces our civilization and II,
manner compatible with the best interests
OF the country ana all its people.
The pending bill throws an additional
safeguard about our population and cit,zen-
ship by imposing moderate and reasonable
educational tests upon all Immigrants over
70 years OF age and physically capable. The
Immigrant must be able to read and writet
the constitution Of the United States in
some language befora admission Excep-
ton is made. however. in the case of per-
son over 90 years OF age, the parent or
grand parent OF a qualified immigrant
above Il years OF age and WHO Is capabie
of supporting such parent or grandparents.
to read or WRITE may likewise accompany
or be sent Tor to join the husband or
parent who is qualified and capable The
closest and strongest ties of kinship thus
remain unbroken.
The absorptiye power of our Nation has
been great and in the main the aliens and
the natives have easily fused into a
Homogeneous people The rapid admix-
ture Of foreign hoods here without the
impairment of our National character has
challenged the wonder and admiration o:
the civilized world
beginning with the last decade
change occurred in both the nationality
and quality of our immigrants, Those
who wero chiefly OF the Slavonic class be-
gan to come in great and increasing num-
bers Among them were many very de-
sirable acquisitions; many from the bet
ter portions of italy, Austro- Hungary
and other Eastern and Southern countries
We're educated. enterprising and brave;
but the larger per cent was Ill fitted to
become a part of our population or to
assume the privileges and responsibilities
of American citizenship. They possessed
low order of intelligence and de-
graded standard of life. and had no ade-
auate conception of the marvellous Sig
nificance OF our institutions. This fact
has awakened the people 10 tho necessity
of some protective measure.
A rise in the ratio of immigration from
Eastern and Southern Europe from SO to
81 a per cent in seventeen years and fall
in the ratio from the Western and Northern
countries from 64.s to sG.7 per cent in the
same period may we'll lead lis to pause
and inquire whether the change is in the
National interest.
Thirty nine and nine-tenths per cent OF
those above II years of age coming froIu
Austro- Hungary, Italy, Poland and Russia
last year could not read or write, while
only 3.6 per cent of those from the United
Kingdom, France, Germany and Scandina-
via were illiterates There were IN the
aims houses In 1890 73,045 paupers, of
which 276iS We're foreign born and 80 $50
were native whites. 1t is thus seen that
the foreign born whites constituted 4S per
cent and the native whites 81 per cent of
the white rauper element.
There were $3.50 white criminals, 2S.S
per cent of whom were foreign born and
II rs per cent We're natives. But those OF
foreign birth or foreign parentage COM
mitted 81 per cent of the crimes.
1T appears that 20. Sc per cent OF tina
foreign born criminals ard 80 II per cent
of the foreign born white paupers were
iliterate. A large number of these could
not have secured admission to this country
Under the provisions of the pending bill.
"ln Baltimore n per cent of the Total
sium population Is of foreign birth or
parentage: in Chicago 80 per cent; in New
York % per cent and in Philadelphia 81
per cent.
NO statistics are subtitle enough to
measure the extent of the depression of |
wages by the increase of the number Of |
wage earners in an already redundant la |
Dor market; but that the direct effect is
injurious is established by common ex |
perienoe and by numerous specific in |
stances.
Not the least of the beneficial effects |
of this measure will be the curtailmeut |
of the number Of migratory laborers or |
birds of passage
THE evils of immigration have been |
augmented by improper methods and In
fluences employed abroad. At the pres
ent moment the Italian government is Of |
fering exceptional inducements to its sub
ieets to emigrste to America.
THE methods and means adopted for |
increasing Oriental immigration are re-
pugnant to our best interests. Paupers
once deported have been assisted by Syriansl
shop keepers to return and enter upon
lives of abjeet slavery. They have no de-
sire to become NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. stay is
but temporary. The advocates of nom
restrictive policy direct attention to the
amount of money brought into the coun-
try by immigrants. which inferentialIy
would be lost to us by further exclusion.
The discussion of this important subject
should proceed on much higher plane
than this.
But even upon this basis 1t can be
shown that while SO. boo 900 was brought by
immigrants AT ports OF entry last year. il
is estimated that there is annually sent
10 Itiily through Italian bankers in New
York alone between 5000. 900 and sso.-
300. coo, II we are to take into account the
money which the immigrant brings we
must, in fairness. alsp observe the amount
he withdraws from us.
THE bill before the senate offers a FAR
tial cure for the evils incident to the pres
emit immigration system; 1t is one which
IS simple and just. and honestly admins
erred will go far toward removing the dts
quiet prevalent throughout the country.
rhe new classification which 1t makes VII
result in dcbarring large per cent OF
he most objectionable elements which now
have unrestricted admission. It is net
claimed that IL will discriminate with alb
;olute justice and that only the worthy viii
,e admitted and the unworthy excluded.
sor,,a RI thnse who will he denied entrance