The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-12
EVILS OF WlDE-OPEN GATES
CLEARLY PRESENTED AND A PAR
TIAL REMEDY POINTED OUT.
Educational Test, He Thinks, Would
Bar Many of the Vicious, as Well as
Ignorant, Who Come from Europe.
;,sc,., 70 me INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

received and made a good impression on an
attentive audience of his colleagues. He
was complimented by several of them, who
assured him that his speech was one or the
very best ever delivered in Congress on the
subject. 1t covered the question thoroughly
and was a standardization of practically all
that has been said in favor of a moderate
and conservative restriction of the flow OF
immigration in all the long years that 1t
has been debated in the halls of Congress-.
Considerable new matter was introduced
into the speech and the facts were pre-
scented, oftentimes, with new and interest,"
ing color. Ten thousand copies of the speech
will be printed at once to meet the de-
mand for them which began to make itself
felt some days ago. The text Of the speech
follows:
Mr.. President-No more important ques-
ton can engage our attention and none
should receive more earnest and thoughtful
consideration than one which seeks to guard
and preserve the high standard or our pop
ulation and citizenship. No policy, however
venerable, no mere sentimental consldera-
lions should dissuade us from dealing with
an evil which menaceS our CIVILIZATION, anu
in a manner compatible with the best in
terests of the country and all it's people.
The pending bill, sir, throws an addl-
tiOnal safeguard about our population ana
citizenship by imposing a moderate and rea-
sonable educational test upon all hmm 81 rants
over sixteen years OF age and phySlcany
capable. The immigrant must be able 10
read and write the Constitution of the
United States in some language before ad-
mission. An exception is made, however, IN
the case of q person over fifty years OF age,
the parent or grandparent of a qualified i'm
migrant above twenty-one years of age ana
who is capable of supporting such parent or
g~randparent. Although illiterate, such reia-
tives NAV or be sent for and
come to join the family of e child or grand
child over twenty-one years or age, slmliar-
Iy qualified and capable. A wife or minor
child, though unable to read and write, may
likewise or be sent for to join
the husband or parent who is qualified and
capable. The closest and strongest Ties OF
kinship thus remain unbroken.
This measure does not prevent the 1mm1"
grafton Of the intelligent people or every
land who wish to make their homes here,
and who will become worthy and desirable
citizens of the Republic. 1t is not racial IN
its discriminating purpose; 1t does not Ior-
bid the coming of any race; 1t proscrlpeS
no nationality it is proScriptive OF ignor-
ance, and of that only. 1t is founded upon
the broad and patriotic theory that TO
is unwise, and that illiteracy is an unstable
and undesirable foundation upon which TO
rest this mighty fabric of government.
We are not unmindful of the immeaSur-
able contribution which our foretg1-born
population has made to the upnulidlhS OF
the Republic. It's work and influence nave
been felt throughout the country, ana much
of all that is great and splendid ABOUT US
is the fruit of it's genius and industry. But
those who have aided most were those VINO
quickly blende with the great mass OF
our native-born population and most read
lily renowned allegiance to their own coun-
tries and assumed the duties of loyal cltl-
zens. taking an interest and pride in Sus-
tanning and strengthening the institutions
of the country of their adoption. Sir, / am
pleased to say that the native and tSreign n
raising that splendid State to her present
exalted position. They have been jealous
coworkers; sharing alike in all the labors,
anxieties and rewards incident to carving
out Of the wilderness that majestic COM
monwealth. Search her muster rolls, ana
there YOU will find thousands, born be-
meath distant skies, who dared all in the de-
Tense of the honor and integrity OF thelr
chosen land. They shared in the arouous
deeds of heroes on many fields and their
patriotic devotion is a part Of the imperish-
able glory of the state.
"A SOURCE OF WONDER.
The absorptive power of our Nation has
been great, and in the main the aliens and
the natives have easily fused into a homo
geneous people. The rapid admixture of for
eign bloods here without the impairment
of our national character has challenged
the wonder and admiration of the civilized
world. James Bryce, a thoughtful foreign
student Of our institutions and a luminous
writer, observes that:
what strikes the traveller. and what the
Americans themselves delight to point out
to him, is the amazing solvent power which
American institutions, habits and ideas ex-
ercise on newcomers Of all races. The chill
dren of Irishmen, Germans and S~candina-
vians are far more like native Americans
than prevalent views or heredlty would
lead us to expect. Nor is it without inter
est to observe that nature has mere repeat
ed or the Western continent that process
of mixing Celtic with and Morse
blood which began in Britain more than a
Until recent years immigration was in
vited and stimulated by liberal homestead
laws and by colonization agencies which
offered alluring inducements. All who
sought our shores were accepted without
question or discrimination. The educated
moral and patriotic were welcome. The
culprit fleeing from outraged justice found
a refuge here. The physically, mentally
and morally disordered We're permitted to
become residents and citizens, and share
with US, as though unto the manor born.
the privileges bequeathed to us by our
fathers. Our broad. rich, unoccupied do
main and expanding industries invited num-
bers, and no heed was taken of their quail
ity; and it is remarkable, and, indeed, the
subject of congratulation, that we suffered
so little from the undesirable and positively
Objectionable while our gates stood unpro-
tected.
The encouragement Of immigration has
taken the form of law but once. That was
in 1864, and it was in the nature of a war
measure. 1t became necessary to supply
the places of the army. which had been
dra n from the fields of productiveness and
sent into the South. This could be done by
promoting immigration; hence the law mem
OlIuC liz llIliUluS II llOIQe I'LL
migration was materially increased. At the
close of the wal the army re-entered the
ayocations of peace, and, the necessity for
the act having ceased, it was repealed four
years after its enactment.
Prior to 1875 there were no restrictive laws
except those prohibiting coolie trade. In
that year more drastic measures were en-
acted to suppress this reprehensible traf-
fic, and convictS and women imported for
immoral purposes were excluded. Suisse
quently acts were passed mot including
acts restricting Chinese immigration bar
ring IDIOTS. insane persons, paupers or per-
sons liable TO become a public charge; per-
sons with lOathsome or dangerous con-
tagiouS diseases; persons who have been
convicted of a felony or other infamous
crime or misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude: polygamists: assisted immi-
grants (unleSs it be satisfactorily shown on
special inquiry that they do not belong to
one of the foregoing excluded ~classes). and
contract laborers.
The presence of these restrictive acts
upon the statute books has been beneficial,
though the number who presented them
selves at our ports and were excluded is
comparatively small. Exclu ave of the Chi
neSe there have been debarred and depOrt-
ed during the last six years only II 1856 out
Of q total of 2.137, $50. The unseen benefits
arising from these first measures of eXclu-
sion. however, are perhaps greater than
those which are disclosed by the ~statisti-
from coming by knowledge of the laws and
the fear of their enforcement.
UNDESIRABLE CLASSES.
1t has been observed during recent years
that those interdicted under existing laws
are not the only persons whose coming is
undesirable. ard that there has been a de-