The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-20
ID. t,tIl-fItta CUNGAtSG
rI,oI .DINGS OF THE SENATE AND
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIyEs YESTERDAY.
The HOUSE AGRICULTURAL BILL
II Permitted Representative De Ar
mond to SwoOp Down Upon Mark
Hnnna--The immigration Bill
WINS Up Again In the Senate.

Washington, Jan. 13.-Among the
measures reported to the senate today
was the pension appropriation bill. 1t
was placed on the calendar At the con-
clUsiOn of the morning business the immi-
grafton bill, as unfinished business, was
taken up and Mr.. Gallery of Louisiana
was recognized for a speech in opposition
to the measure. He said in part:
"The pending bill is as mild form Of
antagonism to immigration as nativeism
will permit. 1t imposes an educational
test of no very stringent form, SO far as
the test is concerned. 1t is, however,
the beginning of a new departure. From
the foundation of the government we in
vited the hardy, adventurous people of
the Caucasian family to our hospitable
shores. The grand transformation of this
continent from the wigwam of the saw
age and the lair of the wild beast to the
myriad homes of a happy, Industrious
people has been the work of the white
immigrant. Yet we are about to smite
the hand that has upbuilded us. 1t is
just and proper to hold this continent
against the Monaghan. The exclusion of
the Chinese is justified by wise policy
and by the principle of retaliation. Their
doors have been closed to the world, but
their arrogance and selfishness are not
the role for wise nations to play in this
worlds grand theater. Not to admit to
this country the German, Swede or
Italian who can not read or write is
Chinese. not American.
No danger to our institutions has ever
arisen from admitting immigrants who
can not read and write. This govern
ment is the OutgrOwth of the labor of
countless immigrants who would be dis
qualified by the pending bill. He who
is vigorous in body. sound in mind, hon
est and industrious is good citizen. No
immigrant not pauper or insane or dis
cased or criminal should be turned away
from our shores" Mr.. Caffcry maintained
that each state had n right to legislate
regarding restriction on suffrage. but he
held that citizen Of the United States
was one thing and II voter in n state
quite another.
"a large number of the supporters of
this BILL" said Mr.. Gallery, favor the
Incorporation into the United States of
the Hawaiian Islands with their mass
of ASiatics, Portuguese and kanakas."
Mr. Gallery deemed it useless 20 array
long columns of figures showing that the
undesirable immigrants flOcked to the
slums of eastern cities and supplied the
largest percentage of illiterates. Mr.
Gallery held that the enfranchised col
orcd people had kept the white immi-
grants out of the south since the war,
much to the detriment of the south.
"A career of boundless prosperity opens
up before us" declared Mr.. Caffery, "but
we must take care lest our unwise re-
of immigrants and our cruel,
foolish laws of prohibition of foreign
goods do not work us woe.
This BILL" concluded Mr.. Gallery, ''is
the cry of prescription and selfshness.
1t is another form of the mania of pro-
lection. 1t is repugnant To democracy
in its widest sense. 1t is n libel on TO-
100000 men whose ancestors as well as
have welcomed to our shores
every son and daughter of toll"
The eulogies in memory of the late
Senator Isham G. Harris of Tennessee,
which were to have been presented today,
were postponed at the request of Sena-
tor Bate on account of the absence of his
co.,, ngue Senator Turney. They will
not he offered until after the election of
a senator by the legislature of Tennessee.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Calfery's
speech, the senate at LOO went into en-
ccutive session.
At 80 p. m. the senate adjourned until
Il morrow.