The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-26
President Delivers Address at
Cambridge Springs, Pa.
On Occasion of Dedication OF a
Polish College.
He HAS NO FEARS, He SAYS
That Immigration of the Bet
ter Class OF Europeans
Will Result Otherwise Than
Beneficially to Country.

Cambridge Springs, Pa, Oct %
President Taft came to Camorlus-
snrings today and delivered an address
at the dedication of the Polish collese
here. He said: 1--WE are met today u
dedicate a college founded by, and 10
he conducted under the auspices OL '110
Polish National Alliance 49,
a"This expression on the part OF the
Poles of the United states OF a uesii =. :
10 nernetuate in this the land of theH
sdoDtion the highest institution VI
learning. for the purpose of furnishing
to their educated youth an OppOrtuiltS
for the study of the language, the NJ
erature and the history of Poland, pre-
sents an interesting phase OF the SCI
tlement of this country by lIhnlSI ant
from European countries II such an
institution as we are now WeIcoIlllilS ;
into life were to have the effect OIL
separating into an isolated community
the Poles who come to this country, OF
preventing them from learning the
English language or reducing IIeli
interest in the political life Of the
United States and of minimizing their
sense of loyalty to the government and
country of their adoption. then it might
be questioned how far those of US
who are not Poles and whose first IN
terest is that of the country at large
unately no such narrow, limiting mo-
tive actuates the movement, the con
summation of which we dedicate to-
day
Free Air of America.
Experience has shown that the tree
air of America creates natural ten
dency on the part of those who come
to live with US and enjoy our insti-
tutions to learn the language, to ANAL
gamate with other peoples, and to take
an active interest in the politics and
this is so strong as to arouse no fears
that in the end it will not be the
natural and prevailing force in all
foreign population
Therefore, I have not hesitated TO
come upon the kindly invitation of the
Polish National Alliance of America
to join you in celebrating the founda-
tion of Polish university in which
the more fortunate of the Polish
youths, who wish to perfect themselves
in the language and its literature and
at the same time acquire a liberal ed
ucation may spend a few years at the
formative stage of their lives in ac-
quiring what will contribute to their
happiness all through their lives and
will enable them to enjoy the itera
ture, history and spirit of two
languages and two countries instead
of one.
Il am one of those who believe that
America is greatly better in her pres
ent condition and will have still great
er advantage in the future because of
the infusion into our body polite and
social of the sturdy peasantry ana
the better educated classes who have
come to US from the nations of the
world.
Development of the Country.
I'm the actual development of the /
country it would have been impossible I.
So i
done in the construction Of railroads /
in the development of our farms and /
in the establishment Of our industries !
had we not had the strong arms and +
steady hands of those who have come /
to US from continental Europe. AS /
suming that the foundation of our /
country and the original people here 4
were from the islands of Great Brit
ain and Ireland and treating the for I
eign question as one now of immigra-
tion from continental Europe. 1 re- /
peat that I do not share in the fear
that our citizenship is ultimately like (
continental countries for the purposes
of permanent settlement of any OF the
peoples who are now coming.
We have right to have and ought
to have immigration laws that shall
prevent our having thrown upon MS
undesirable members of other couD-
tries, like the criminals, the imbeciIes
the insane and the permanently dis
DQl we nave a vast territory
here not yet filled, in the DEVELOPMENT
az which we need manual labor of a
constant and persistent kind
Il have an abiding faith in The in
fuence of our institutions uDon all
who come here, no matter how .ackinp
in education they may be- Il they have
the sturdy epterl'r s. 10 leave h me
and to come out to this new country
to seek their fortune. 1t is not the
who scoff at education
they value it. They sacrifice every
thing to enable their children to OBJ
tain that which they were denied.
THE second generation OF a sturdy
but Uneducated peasant brought to
this country and reared in an Amos
phere of thrift and hard work and
forced by their parents into school to
obtain an instrum ent of self elevation
has always contributed to the strength
Of our people. The difficulty that thev
DO not speak our language makes the
process of amalgamation slower per-
maps but it does not prevent it"