Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-26
THE EDUCATIONAL TEST.

Representative Grosvenor Of Ohio
made some excellent points against the
proposed educational test for immi-
grants, in the course Of the discussion
of the immigration bill in the house
a few days ago. He said that the Hit
eracy Of immigrants is not due to stu
pidity nor vice, but to the lack of
schools, and It does not interfere with
their industry or thrift when they get
here. An educational test would keep
out the honest but ignorant men and
let in the educated criminals who come
our country. Another representative
urged that it will not do to shut out
the hardy laborer, the man who Is will
ing to work and who brings here a
healthy body and mind, and who is not
a criminal or pauper, because he is illit-
crate. He pointed out that many of our
citizens, or at least the ancestors of
many of our citizens, came to these
shores possibly not able to read and
write u technical document such as the
COtollNullOh VI ~ ChlICu OtuNCsg JSN
their descendants are among the most
eminent and successful citizens of this
country He declared that the people
we need are those who can be employed
in building railroads, clearing the for
ests, opening the mines and doing the
work that some of our citizens are now
not necessitated to do.
Representative Grow argued strongly
against the educational test, saying that
the great question is as to the character
Of the immigrants and the ability to
read and write is not a test of real
character. Education has nothing to do
with the great elements of character"
said Mr.. Grow. 1.-THE man surrounded
by his family at his humble fireside is
growing up in American society, under
the influence of American schools, and
his offspring in the first or second gen.
Grafton cannot be distinguished from
native-born Americans. Why exclude
that class of people, whose only defect
is their condition in life, made so by
the governments under which they were
born? Why deprive them of the oppor-
tunity OF working out a better and a
higher destiny for themselves when
they cannot inJure our civilization, but
are calculated to aid like other citizens
in advancing It'll" He declared that a
man who possesses common sense, hon
esty, integrity and frugality is a good
| citizen, though he may not be able to
write his name or to read a word of the
constitution. If he is law-abiding, peace
able, ready to discharge the duties Of a
citizen, why should he be excluded from
our shores? The only test that should
be applied is in regard to character.
MAKE the qualification for voting what
you please said Mr.. Grow, but let
there be no qualification which will ex-
clude a man of good character and NOR
ais from the opportunity to earn his
livelihood with his own right arm under
God Almighty's sunshine on the face Of
any portion of Gods earth"
There is no valid reason whatever for
the proposed educational test. 1t is a de-
vice of the advocates of immigration re-
friction for which they have not offered
a single convincing argument. We do
not believe it is approved by a majority
of the American people and we think the
party in power will make a very great
mistake if it Incorporates this condition
in the immigration laws.