The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-22
THE LODGE BILL.


grafton bill the more un-Amerlcan and
unchristlan 1t seems, and the more we
think how unfortunate it was for the
promoters of it that such law had not
been passed some years ago, and they
would haye been spared the disgrace of
slammng the doors OF Uncle Sam
heretofore hosptable home in the faces
Of their I'M EnglIsh-speakihg relations.
to the traditions Of our country, which
was peopled largely by those who came
here to escape slavery; it is not Re-
publican, is not Democratic, 1t is not
even good Free SILVER legislation, but
the product of minds unfamiliar with
the genius of American institutions or
who are opposed to American libe rty.
When Russia and Germany prosecuted
the Polanders and Iungarians, and the
Jews, we received the refugees with
open arms. They shed their blood in
the cause Of freedom and in defence Of
the Union. and have given to the ma
ton many of its best citizens, and, now
that the nation has, with the aid of the
n-English-speaking foreign element,
i =; 4 |, 1
that we are afraid to give shelter to a
few thousand of their country people,
who are only drop in the ocean and
who Immediately lose their identity
in the great sea of restless, struggling
humanity. From every point of view
it is disgrace to America that such a
bill should be passed; it will do more to
undermine our Institutions and bring us
into contempt abroad than anything
which could have happened.
We believe, of course, in an "educa-
tional test" but not at the port of en-
try. The ballot box is the place to draw
the line. and not on foreigners alone, but
all men, be they natives or foe1gners,
who do not understand the English
langnaGe-because man may not be
able to read and write a language but yet
speak and understand it-and who do
not understand political issues or the
significance Of the vote they are about
to cast But the illiterate foreigner is
Il good deal less to he feared than the
educated political wire pullers and ward
heelers, the great majority of whom are
educated natives, who go about mis-
leading and corrupting the people, and
who should he muzzied on the same
principle that we muZzle vicous dogs
Compared with them the ''iliiterate"
foreigner is an angel.
The plea-as mean as it is unmanly-
That the illiterates compete with En-
rlisf1.epeaking citizens in the labor mar
ket to the disadvantage of the latter, is
one that does not pay very high COM
pliment to American intelligence and
appreciation of American skill, and we
suspect that it is conceived more in a
spirit of jealous of their industry and
thrift than fear of their political IN
fiucnce.
Speaking of this bill. William LLOYD
Garrison, of Boston (who appears to
hate tyranny as muck as another man Of
his name did, in a letter to Professor
John Fiske. president of the Immigra-
ton Restriction League, SAYS:
1t is not only in violation Of the nation
nohlest traditions. but at war with the plain
est inculcationS of Christianity. 1t deIiber-
ately contraveneS the nations'S profesScd
creed. Its advocates. conscious of the moral
weakness OF their case. are driven to Sneer at
fundamental principles as sentimental"
81 know not" said the great war governor
what record awaits me in the other world;
hnt this / do know, thar never was mean
rs To deSpise any man because he was poor.
because lie was ignorant, or because he was
black"
ignorance is the pretext for this drastic
hill The crime OF birth In de>potisrns where
learning is denied the masses is deemed Suf-
ficient reason for shutting out the poor fugi-
tiveS who have the energy and ambition tO
escape from the conditions where hope Is
dead. You. sir. are a scholar, aud know tho
NvorfhlCSSneSS of the educational test which
the Lodge bill proposes. 1t would be imper-
tnent to point out 10 you how little reading
and writing can determine the character
good sense. ability. industry. or honesty OF
of the immigrant. Yet these are the qua i
tics country needs far more than know
ledge OF the alphabet or the skill TO hold z
pen.
You are 4 historian, but to-day you arc
helping to make history which future histo
rians will be forced to dcoIore The Ameri
can slave has been cmanripatcd but tho
hunted Armenian. the Crushed Scilian. tbs
outraged Russian and Polish jew look to tn,
United States with the same hope and long
ing felt by the black fugitive rs he turned
his face to the North. On the threshold o.
escape you lend your strength to thrus
them back to bondage. At the bar of hi<tor,
she sperious plea of The Immigration Re
striction league Will stand on the same levc
with the pro slavery pleas OF 1850.
1t is not from want o. facts and figures tina
dwell upon the fundamental principles
TH,eSs the first question. g." i il juSt?'' b,
answered In the Affirmative how vain is ar
cumeut, To make an educational test for
man who comes TO this country to work un
der the pretenSe that he is no; fitted 10 vote
iStoconfuse two separate questI1 IONS, imrli-ra
tion and naturalization. 1t i not an i~Su
Of education. but OF labor. and restriction
must depend for success upon mi>leadin:
workiuEmen as TO the real cause of scare
employment and low wages
address you. instead Of the historian an,
scholar who is the willing sponsor for thi
restrictive bill. because. with the Cqipmen
of learning and the social advantages de
MED the toilinC Immigrant, he has devote,
his undeniahle ability TO the service If a de
uoralizing politics and has turned his hac
on the aspirations Of his youth, l do you III
honor TO difcrentlate you from such rs he
SurelY Won are following the wrong nrnces