The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-23

TO this country and located here in cheap
quarters, Of course on account of finan-
cial strain. The father and mother have
all their lives been devout. observing
Christians, having enjoyed the reputation
of being scrupulously honest and possess
ing in every way ideal characters. AS a
consequence of the association they were
thrown in, in less than six months after
their arrival the boys had learned to take
Gods name in vain in English and say
many other remarks that would not have
been tolerated by the parents without the
administration of the severest punish
ment had they understood. However the
children, instead of receiving the correc-
ton needed ir this case, received their pa
rents applause and approval. 1 can
never forget the minute when one little
boy OF years of age had in my pres
ence, while I was engaged in dressing a
wound he had received at the hand of one
OF his playmates, addressed to me a re-
mark too horrid and indecent to mention,
and how bis innocent mother smiled the
smile of satisfaction and said, See how
we;l he speaks English. His father and
cannot even do what he. the little boy
Of years is doing. I repressed a chok-
ing sob and a few minutes later l left
the poor mother dismayed in tears and
distracted. Her life Of unhappiness had
begun. These things come to the knowl-
edge Of parents at a late hour when the
'stygomia demoraliza' has taken deep
hold and Its eradication can only be done
with radical measures. No sort of a
correction could be termed good one in
this case so far as the parents are con-
tcrned, For even after they are apprised
of these things they are more or less help
less, for how are they to understand what
the child is saying and whether or not
he is saying the right thing?
The Remedy
1.-The hour for the proper treatment of
these conditions is past due. and 1t is GER
tainly necessary to equip ourselves
against the further invasion of what will
eventually be a serious and irremedia BILE
moral plague We should have a national
organization or an organization subsidiary
to national one, that will have for its
special aim the care and protection of the
immigrant who Is a stranger in our land.
Let US not forget what the Saviour and
Lord of Charities said about what our
attitude should be toward the strangers
And In as much as the immigrant child
OF today is the American citizen of TO-
morrow, shall we not see that he is placed
on q standard of morals that will safely
steer him on to a useful and honest life?
| Ihat will make of him worthy addition
| 70 our great citizenship, that will make
of him another jewel among many gems
| We could do nothing better nothing
would add more to the elevation of our
Citizenship than to place in every CITY a.
| suo-orgaDization working under a ma
tional one to look after the interest of
Immigrants in every way; to point out
to them where they should locate and
where the: should not locate
| rs the immigrant responsible for the
deficiencies in assimilation that have been
charged tc him? l answer no. And r
answer negatively without the fear Of
contradiction. and I am able to sustain
my position with evidences that are be-
yond the peradventure of a doubt
The Immigrant is ostracised by society
so long as he does not command enough
influence and power, financially or other
wise, to make himself needed TO his as
sociates. This is condition that should
be corrected by the mixing of our good
people with the law-abiding immigra mt.
no matter how poor. and thus impart,.to
MN the influences of a good and educated
association. If the teachers will hold
themselves aloof, upon whom must the re-
sponsibility lie? II the leaders slirk their
dntF' snail we blame the subordlnates?
System of Schools
FINALLY, | have advocated and I now
advocate a system of schools in every
city where the immigrant and his chill
uieh can go Tor instructions in their own
tongue and in English as we'll To he
given them by philanthropic men and
women whose Ideas are broad and who
are liberal in their views and wbose
minds are unprejudiced. These instruc-
lions are not to be SO much In the ele-
nentary principles Of education but more
as a practicable every day instruction
setting forth the various points and
means by which an Immigrant can be-
come a good and useful citizen and thus
e1uipping him to discharge his duties as
a citizen intelligently and without sue-
gestions, and coercion, by interested
parties. The combined instructions in
both languages will bring the parents
In closer touch with our Ideals and prin-
ciples and in this way we Mil aid in
their assimilation until they have become
sufficiently proficient in English when
their instruction will be compara tively
an easy matter. I have often asked my
self the puzzling question why was
that we send millions and millians abroad
annually to be used for the education and
elevation of people all over the world,
and we so badly neglect to expend any
thing for the very same thing here and
for the very same people whom we are
educating abroad? IL 1t not more I'M
portant 10 educate your neighbor with
whom you lire associated and whose son
might sone day marry your daughter.
than it is to educate and assimilate those
who live thousands Of miles away?
have not }the slightest criticism against