Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-03-03
IMMIGRANTS AND HONESTY.

From the early days of the nations
history II has been a fad to deplore
of terrible effect upon the country Of
the hordes of foreigners coming in to
make homes, or do those things they
ought not. Many a wall has gone up
against the gradual disappearance Of
the real American" before the over.
whelming waves of immigration from
all parts Of the earth.
At one time It was the Irish who
were looked upon as the enemies Of
AmeriCanism. Today they are the
best citizens and the clamor Is for
more. Italians and Russian Jews have
the center Of the stage just at present
az combining all that Is evil and de.
basing in their influence upon the
country. No doubt there is a lot OF
bad ones, as in former days there was
a large number of wild Irishmen,
crazy Dutchmen and stupid Swedes.
The more one studies the situation
ia some Of its phases, however. the
more frequently the question arises
OF what would greater misfortune
would come upon America II II were
not for these immigrants. As tha
country develops and the immigrants
g,t above the plodding stage, there is
a demand for the newers Of wood and
drawers of water. Then too IL is one
of the misfortunes of the times that
prosperity Is begetting a train of easy
conscience not to say dishonesty that
tive influence unless there is some
check through an awakening of the
old or the leayening power Of the new.
conner.
The average man will scorn the idea
that these new and much condemned
immigrants can be the leayening force
to keep the country honest, but the
disclosures of the modern Diogenes
going about the country looking for
an honest man are furnishing food for |
thought. 1t was only last month that
Lincoln Steffens writing for McClure's |
magazine on the political-which |
means governmental-cond Of
the State of Rhode Island, pointed that |
the chief sources of corruption were In |
the towns whose population Is what Is
termed the true American type, old
families that can reckon back to Ply |
mouth Rock or that vicinity. Lawson |
Is not the only man who has told the |
people in direct terms that a class of |
our leading citizens hitherto respected |
have been and are robbing the mass |
of the people right and left. The lead. |
ers of the most frenzled of frenZied |
finance are not the recent arrivals in
the country. the immigrants.
The percentage Of anarchists, paup-
ers and criminals is the most widely |
advertised feature Of the present day
immigrants. The other side is little
heard. But there is another side and
IL sets a mark for the high and mighty
ancient American citizen to think
about.
Everyone who reads knows some
thing Of the East Side in New York.
the center of poverty. frugality, misery.
comfortable homes. the greatest mix.
ture of human joys and sorrows sins
and virtues imaginable. Roosevelt
was the first President to visit the
community and though he was guard.
ed by the police as the New York police
never guarded man before. he receiv
ed an enthusiastic welcome that would |
be difficult to duplicate.
This foreign East Side has a record |
for honesty that Wall Street cannot
duplicate. The people are foreign born
American citizens. Their average
wealth on arrival was $4,000. Few
If any are of Anglo Saxon descent.
and all were and many are still ignor-
ant of American manners, customs and
language. Among these people was
established eleven years ago an insti-
tuition for assisting men who were not
rich but worthy. Loans were made
without interest and without security
TO small shopkeepers. peddlers, stu.
dents, doctors. artisans-to anyone
whose character and reputation could
bear the stamp OF integrity, This in.