The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03


Second only TO this comes the power OF
acting i'm combination or association with
others. Very great good has been and will
be accomplished by associations or unioS
or wage-workers. when managed with
forethought. and when they combine I'M
sistence upon their own rights with law
abiding respect for the rights OF others.
The display OF these qualities I'm such
bodies is a duty TO the nation no less than
Co tho associations themselves. Finally.
there must also In many cases be action
by the government i'm order 10 safeguard
the rights and interests OF all. Under our
Constitution there Is much more scope for
such action by the state and the munici-
pality than by the Nation. But on points
such as those touched on above the Ma
uonal government can act.
When all is said and done, the rsle OF
brotherhood remains as the Indispensable
prerequisite to success In the kind OF ma
tional life for which we strive. Each man
must work for himself. and unless he 80
works no outside help can avail him; but
each man must remember also that he is
indeed his brothers keeper. and that
while no man who refuses 10 walk can
be carried with advantage TO himself or
anyone else. yet that each at times STUN
bles or halts. that each at times needs 20
have the helping hand outstretched 10
him. To be permanently effective, aid
must always take the form OF helping a
man TO help himself; and we can all best
help ourselves by joining together I'M the
work that is OF common interest to all.
IMMIGRATION LAWS UNSATISFAc-
TORY.
Our present immigration laws are IN
satisfactory. We need every honest and
efficient immigrant fitted to become an
American citizen, every immigrant who
comes here 10 stay. who brings here
81 hnd q al Art a
and a resolute purpose to do his duty we'll
in every way and 10 bring up his children
as law-abiding and God-fearing members
of tho community.
But there should be a comprehensive
law enacted with the object OF working
a threefold Improvement over our pres
ent system. First, we should aim to ex-
clude absolutely not only all persons who
are known to be believers in anarchistic
principles or members OF anarchistic So
cieties, but also all persons who are of a
low moral tendecy or of unsavory reputa-
ton. This means that we should require
more thorough system of inspection
abroad and more rigid system OF exam
ination at our immigration ports, the
former being especially necessary.
The second object OF a proper immigra-
tion law ought to be to secure by care
full and not merely perfunctory educa-
tional test some intelligent capacity to
sanely as American citizens. This would
not keep out all anarchists. for many
| OF them belong to the intelligent criminal
class. But IL would do what is also I'm
point, that IL. tend to decrease the sum OF
| ignorance, so potent In producing the
envy, suspicion, malignant passion, and
hatred of order out OF which anarchistc
sentiment inevitably springs.
Finally, all persons should be excluded
who are below certain standard OF
| economic fitness to enter our industrial
| field as competitors with American labor.
| There should be proper proof of personal
| capacity to earn an American living and
| enough money TO insure a decent start
| under American conditions. This would
| stop the influx OF cheap labor, and the
resulting competition which gives rise to
| so much OF bitterness in American indus
| trial life; and IL would dry up the springs
| of the pestilential social conditions in our
l great cities, where anarchistic organiza-
| tions have their greatest possibility of
| growth.
| Both the educational and economic
| tests in n wise immigration law should
\ be designed to protect and elevate the
general body polite and social. very
close supervision should be exercised over
| the steamship companies which mainly
| bring over the immigrants and they
should be held TO strict accountability
for any infracticn of the law.
NO DISTURBANCE OF TARIFF.
| There is general acquiesence In oui
| present tariff system as national policy
| The first requisite 10 our prosperity is the
| continuity and stability of this economic
| policy. Nothing could be more unwise than
| To disturb tho business interests OF the
| country by any general tariff change al
this time. Doubt, apprehension. .uncertainy
| are exactly what we most wish TO avoid
L tt, fIa f,,fa ..P. t.l -
material well-being. Our experience in
| the past has shown that sweeping revi-
| sions of the tariff are apt TO produce con.
| ditions closely approaching panic in the
business world. Yet IL is not only pos
sible. but eminently desirable, to combine
with the stability OF our economic sys
/ tenn a supplementary system of reciprocal
benefit and obligation with other nations
| Such reciprocity is an incident and re
| suit of the firm establishment and pres
| ervation OF our present economic policy
1T was specially provided for in the pres
1 cnt tariff law.
Reciprocity must be treated as tn,
| handmaiden of protection. Our first dut,
| IL To see that the protection granted 10y
tho tariff in every case where it is neede<
! is maintained, and that reciprocity b'
| sought for as IL can safely be done with
| out injury TO our home industries. Jus
| how far this Is must be determined ac
4 corning TO the lndiNiuual case, remember
| ing always that every application OF oul
| tariff policy TO meet our shifting nationa
needs must be conditioned upon the car
dinal fact that the duties must never b,
| reduced below the point that viii
| cover the distance between the labor cos
| here and abroad. The well-being OF tn,
| wage-worker Is prime consideration o
our entire policy OF economic legislation
THE PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY
Subject TO this proviso OF the propel
| protection necessary to our industria
| well-being at home. the principle OF reel
| procity must command our hearty sup
| port The phenomenal growth OF ou
export trade emphasizes the urgency o
the need for wider markets and for a lib
erl policy in dealing with foreign ma
| tions.
! Whatever Is merely petty and vexatiou
IN the way OF trade restrictions should b.
avoided. The customers To whom we dis
pose OF our surplus products I'm the longrun
directly or indirectly. purchase those sur
plus products by giving us something II
return. Their ability 20 purchase our pro
ducts should as far as possible be Sc
cured by so arranging our tariff az I,
enable us 10 take from them those pro