The herald., 1898-01-14
IN THE SENATE
Immigration Restriction ana Ha
waiian Annexation Discussed

Waiian Annexation Discussed
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-Among the
measures reported to the Senate To-Day
was the pension appropriation Dill IL
was placed on the calendar.
At the conclusion of the morning ousl-
ness the immigration bill, the uhiih-
ished business, was taken up ana oeha-
tor Caffery, of Louisiana, was recos-
nized for a speech in opposition to the
measure.
Mr.. Caffery said:
.oThe pending bill is as mild a form of
antagonism to immigration as natlVlsm
will permit 1t imposes an educational
test of no very stringent character SO
far as the test is concerned. 1t is the
beginning of a new departure. From
the foundation of the government we
have invited the hardy, adventurous
people of the Caucasian family to our
hospitable shores. The grand transfor-
NATION of this continent from the wig
wan of the savage and the lair of the
wild beast, to the myriads of homes or
happy, industrious people, has been the
work of white immigrants. Yet we are
about to smite the hand that has up
builded us. To give sting to lnsratl-
tude many whose ancestors are Ior-
eign-born are now clamoring for re-
stricted immigration.
at is Just and proper to hold this con-
tinent against the Mongolian. The eX-
clusion of the Chinese is justified by
wise policy and by the principle OF retail
iation. Their doors have been closed 10
the world, but their arrogance and sell
fishness are not the role for wise nations
to play in this worlds grand theater.
Not to admit to this country the IRISH
men, Swedes or Italians who cannot
read or write, is Chinese, not American.
No danger to our institutions has ever
arisen from admitting immigrants VINO
cannot 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 cltlzen
No immigrant not pauper or insane
or diseased or criminal should be turned
away from our shores
Mr.. Caffery maintained that each
State established a right to legislate re-
garding restriction on suffrage, but he
held that a citizen of the United States
was one thing ana voter IN state
quite another
Va
this BILL" said Mr.. Caffery. favor the
incorporation into the United States of
the Hawaiian Islands, with their heter-
ogeneous mass of Kanakas."
Mr.. Caffery deemed it useless to print
long columns of figures showing that
500, 900 immigrants flocked to the slums
of Eastern cities and supplied the larg-
est percentage of illiterates. If there
were not work for them they would not
be there. Mr. Caffery held that the en-
franchised colored people had kept the
white immigrants out of the South since
the war much to the detriment of that
part of the country.
"a career of boundless prosperity
opens up before u.s. declared Mr. Caf-
ferry, but we must take care lest our
unwise restrictions of immigrants and
our cruel, foolish laws of prohibition of
foreign goods do not work US Woe"
"This BILL" continued Mr.. Caffery, sis
the cry of prescription and selflshness.
1t is another form of the mania of pro-
lection. 1t is repugnant to democracy in
it's widest sense. 1t is a libel on 70, ,000,-
600 freedmen whose ancestors, as well
as themselves, have welcomed to our
shores every son and daughter of toll"
The resolutions in memory of Isham
G. Harris of Tennessee, which were to
have been presented today, were post
poned on request of Senator Bate, in the
absence of Senator Turley his col
league. They will not be offered until
after the election of a Senator by the
Legislature of Tennessee.
At the conclusion of MI Caffery's
speech, the Senate, at 1920, on motion
of Chairman Davis of the Foreign Re
lations Committee, went into executive
session.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
The senate did not make great pro-
gress with the Hawaiian annexation
treaty today. Several speeches were de-
livered, but in every instance the speak
ers announced that today's remarks
were merely preliminary to what they
should say before the close of the debate
The executive session opened shortly
after o'clock with Senator White on the
floor, but Senator Stewart interrupted
and others cut the California senator
out of the discussion. Those who spoke
were Senators Stewart, Frye and Nor
gan.
Senator Stewart of Nevada supported
the treaty and was the first senator tC
discuss the question of sugar in connec
ton with the subject. He said all the