The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-12
IMMIGRATION BILL

than ever. 80 ~ ii.alsi,
IMMIGRATION BILL
Before the ssnate-senator Tairbanls, OF
Indiana, Speaks In Favor OF tho pIeas-
urr, and Gives Some Interesting Stats.
tics. ~
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-1n the SEN,
ate to-day, when the immigration bill
was called up Senator Fairbanks, of
Indiana, addressed the senaee as follows:
mo moro important question can en-
gage our attention. and none should re-
ce4ve more earnest and thoughtful con-
sideration. than one which seeks to
guard and preserve the high standard
of our population and citizenship. No
policy, however venerable, no mere sem
timental considerations should dlssuade
,us from dealing with an evil which men,
aces our civilization, and in a manner
compatible with the best interests Of the
country and all It's people.
THE pending bill throws an additional
safeguard about our population and ciu-
zenship by imposing moderate and rea-
kVpl upOIE AL tlII-
grants over sixteen years OF age and
must be able to read and write the con-
stitudon OF the United States in some
language before admission. An excep-
tion Is made. however, In the case OF n
person over fifty years OF age, the parent
or grlndparent OF qualified immigrant
above twenty-one years OF age, and who
Is capable Of supporting such parent or
grandparent
wife OF, minor child, though unable
to read and write. may likewise accom-
pany or be cent FOR to Join the husband
or parent who Ia qualified and capable.
The closest and strongest ties OF kinship
thus remain unbroken.
THE absorbsive power of our nation
has been great, and In the main the,
aliens and natives have easily fused into
great and homogeneous people. The
rapid admixture OF foreign bloods here
without the impairment OF uor national
character has challenged the wonder and
admiration ofthe civilized world.
beginning in the las. decade.
change occurred In both the nationality
and quality Of our immigration. Those.
who were chiefly Of the slavoric coun-
tries began TO come in great and increas-
Ing numbers. Among them were many
desirable acquisitions; many from the
better portions of Italy, Austria Hun
gary and other eastern and southern
countries were educated, enserpri.ing and
brave. but the larger per cent was III
lifted to become 4 part OF our population
or TO assume the privileges and RESPONSE
.bilities OF American citizens. They PCS
sessed a, low order OF intelligence. and a
degraded standard OF life, and had no
adequate conception or the marvellous
Significance Of our institutions. This
fact has awakened the people to.the ne.
cessity OF some protective measure.
"A rise in the ratio of immigration
from eastern and southern Europe from
So to 5l.7 per cent In seventeen years,
and a fall In the ratio from the western
and northern countries from 6i.5 to 36.7
per cent In .he same period. may we'll
lead us to pause and inquire whether the
change is in the national interest
The decrease In immigration. has been
from countries that have hitherto sent
Us but small per centJof illiterates,
and the increase IS from countries where
the Ignorance Is greatest. Thirty-nine
and .nine-tenths per cent Of those above
fourteen years OF age coming from Aus
trla-Hungary. Italy. Poland and Russ
STA last year could neither read nor
write, while only SO per cent OF those
from the United Kingdom, France and
Scandinavia were llll:erates. When we
witness this increase in the illlterate
accessions to our population, we may
well recall the warning OF George Will
lam Curtis: Let us beware how We water
our life blood.
"A study Of the last quarter leads to
the conclusion that our foreign poulat!on
contribution to our almshouses, peniten-
tiarles, insane asylums and reformator-
les which would be excluded under the
provisions OF the pending bill. There
were in the almshouses in 1880. 1905
paupers, of whom 27,S4S were foreign
born and 1856 were native whites. The
nationality Of 2,2l whites was undis-
closed; the residue were. colored. Il Is
thus seen that the forelgn-born whites
constituted 43 per cent, and the native
whites 81 per cent OF the white pauper
element whose parentage was known.
The full Significance of this Is realized
when we bear in mind the disparity in
the respective numbers OF our native
and foreign population.
The exhibit with respect to the Grim
inal calendar Is equally important
There were 57,3lO white criminals 2s25
per cent OF whom were foreign born, and
Ills per cent were native. But those who
were Of foreign birth or foreign parent
a On an re-
of the crime. 80 4,5s.. 8 =
THE educational test will have 4 very
direct effect in; reducing the number OF
contributions TO the foregoing unfor-.
tunate and Objectionable classes, It APP
pears that 2o5G per cent OF the foreign
born criminals and Sa.11 per cent OF the
foreiSn- born white paupers were litter
ate. "A large number OF these could
not have secured admission 10 this coun-
try under the provisions OF the pending
bill. M i 81 z,