The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1903-10-14
THE IMMIGRATION LAWS.

Inc approaching congress Will
have to make another attempt to
find proper solution of the i'm
migration problem. This is the
only government in the world that
has to Wrestle with such problem,
and with us it has grown so big
that it seriously threatens the
peace and stability of our govern
ment. tits gratifying to national
pride to be able to point to the fact
that our population increases by
leaps and bounds. jumping from
100000 to $4,000 900, and then
toto, 100000. but national pride
will not save US from being over
run by an undesirable population.
In the early days of the republic
that great statesman. Thomas JEFF
ferson, thought it might possibly
be best to forbid immigration alto
gether, holding that it would be
safer to grow slowly from our own
native born than to admit the
thousands from Europe who had
grown up under all the teachings
of monarchies. That doctrine was
possibly too strong for those early
years, for the influx was not very
great, and those who came were of
the sturdiest and best of the old
world, coming here because they
loved liberty, especially liberty of
conscience.
Those who came here were fee
ing from expressions in the old
world, seeking homes in a land
where they could worship God af-
ter their own desires, or to escape
political prosecutions Hence they
were of the most desirable class of
immigrants. Most of them brought
some capital with them, and in
vested it here. helping us to grow
in material prosperity as we'll as in
population Later the class changed
somewhat, in this that they were
not SO well off as to earthly pcs.
sessions. but still they were of the
sturdy, honest, Woodworking PEG.
pie, and coming here were soon
filled with a wholesome love for
our institutions and our laws.
The tide Increased. and as it in
creased the quality deteriorieted
until now large part of those who
come are of the most undesirable
citizens. But that is not all. II
the tide keeps on the grave ques
tion will be what are we to do in
the years to come with our Ameri-
can-born boys. The demands for
labor are more than filed by im
migration, and so great is this ex
cess of labor that it is one of the
cardinal principles of the unions
to limit the number of apprentices
Thus American-born boys, who
will have to labor for a living, are
already, in large degree, forced
out of the chance in the market for
skilled labor, and must content
themselves with place amcng the
unskilled workmen of the country.
Unless some check is found
against this ever increasing tide of
immigration this condition of af-
fairs must grow worse from year to
year. Immigration laws have been
enacted from time to time, but ex-
cept as regards the Chinese, the
bars have been put up only as
against criminals and paupers. a
vast majority of the immigrants
now admitted do not come here
fleeing from oppression, do not
come loving our institutions, low
ing liberty, but come wholly be-
cause of the belief that labor is
more plenty in America, and is
better paid, than in the old coun-
tries. Thousands of them live
here for years and never become
assimilated to our institutions,
never become citizens in the better
and truer sense of the word. They
may take out naturalization pa
pers, and may vote at elections, but
never become Americans.
They bring with them their ven
dettas. their hatreds. their dislikes
of the control of law and order. 1t
will require great wisdom on the
part of our lawmakers to find a
safe solution for this perplexing
problem. ALI admit that more
stringent laws are needed. but
where and how to draw the line is
the troublesome part. Politicians
are the most cowsrdly people in
the world. On every question