The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-11
A NEW KNOWN0THINGISM.


Western Christian Advocate.
There is. without doubt, a strong growth
of a new Knownothingism among Ameri-
cans. Looking at the hordes of immigrants
coming to us from Italy, Austria Hungary
and Russia-people with the lowest grade
of intelligence and morals used to a form
of society and government utterly diverse
from our own. entirely out of touch with
our traditions and unable to apprehend and
appreciate them-is IL any wonder that
native-born Americans are beginning to
express themselves with decision about let
ting such low-grade populations share the
responsibilities of government with us?
Why should we be so foolish, so 'gener-
ously good" as to put the ballot into the
hands of such entirely unfit men and SUBJ
NIT to being misruled by them-to having
all reform and progress blocked by their
stupidity and perversity--to embarrassing
the Commonwealth with a hundred evils
through their blundering Ignorance? Why
should We longer permit our cities to be
governed by demagogues who work" this
foreignborn vote, manipulating it for their
own ends of robbery and corruption?
our S tha ever rye h
have thought twice before making the con-
ditions of suffrage cheap and easy. The
first immigrants to this country came from
lands of high civilization. They were often
the equals or the superiors in education of
those to whom they came. But all that is
changed. Such men are coming to us in
inconsiderable numbers. while We are get
ting the scum of Europe's degraded popu-
lations in their stead, and these are they
who, through our foolish magnanimity, are
ruling us in our great centers. They load
up with poverty, intemperance, igno-
rance, superstitution and anarchism We
shall be slain at last through our own
folly.
Our policy Is fatuous and must be changed.
In the South the ignorant negro vote is re-
strained, and the ignorant white vote ought
to be prohibited there and everywhere What
a piece of insenate and blind foolishness
is it for us not to let the intelligent women
of America vote, and to make bright,
native-born American boy of sixteen-in-
structed In the best our schools can give
wait five years before he can go to the polls,
while we complacently allow Magyar and
Russian, Sicilian and Pole, to outvote the
decent and progressive elements on election
day! Does any one say that there is no
way by which these people can be held back
from naturalization and enfranchisement? ?
We have made little If any experiment in
that direction. We shall never overthrow
the political spokesman until we deprive
1t will be claimed that this proposition
Is thoroughly impracticable; that no politi-
cal party and no political leader would in
such plank in the platform. There is
truth In this representation. This reform
cannot originate with organized parties or
be promoted by politicians. 1t must be a
growth in the convictions of the people at
large. 1t must be advocated by press pull
pit and school until the conscience and in
telligence OF the people shall make a senti-
ment that will bear the weight of party ac-
tion.
Let the second generation of foreigners
the boys who have had the benefit of our
schools-vote when they attain manhood
hut 10 hair fath
They manifestly unprepared for the
suffrage and for active citizenship In a
republic like ours that IL seems like a
waste OF time 10 argue the question. Let the
new Knownothingism-br more rea-
sonable than the old and without its bigotry
and sectarianism-be the order of the day.