The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-29
ITALIAN IMMIGRATION.
ITS Many sided value and Absurdity Of
the "Literacy" Test.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir. Lit
eracy" is very Inadequate test OF any
| mans real worth and fitness for citizen
ship Every student OF history knows
that the forebears OF our Washingtons
! and Llncolns were not deeply verscd In
book learning. AS to education In Its
| fundamental sense, the humblest Italian
coming to these shores may be richer In
manhood than any hot Drained Congress-
man who opposes his admission. Men and
women OF Italy settling here may lack the
superficial instruction that enables that
Congressman to win votes and occupy n
seat In a legislative assembly, but they
possess qualities Of mind and traits OF
character that In the past have contrib
uted very largely to the welfare OF this
country. They are Industrious, abstemi-
Gus. loyal and ambitious. Better still.
they are imbued with and governed by a
strict code of ethics and genuine religious
sentiments.
Granting that certain Italian imml-
grants are deficient In school knowledge
and smartncss. does such Instruction as
that make those who possess 1t sturdy
valuable citizens? Does II clear forests
reclaim arid lands. raise enormous build
Ings. dig astonishing subways. construct
a Catskill aqueduct and Panama Canal?
To Americans II may even be a blessing
II these Italians are illterate In the pal
try sense OF that word. Their rugged
impressed IN tho mightiest works Of this
republic.
That Italian immigrants. thus educated
and grounded In the most essential manly
attributes, may be just as good Americans
as their vituperative critics Is evidenced
by the anxious soicitude they feel about
the bringing up of their children. To that
parental zeal Is due the fact that their
youngsters are so noted for regularity in
attending school, that they learn more
quickly and reach higher standards of
efficiency than pupils of other nationah-
ties 1t is an lgnominious insult. rank
Injustice for 4 petty inflated Representa-
tive in Congress to attack the fathers OF
such children. Rather, he should revere
those Italians as being on parity with
the parents of the lllustrious Americans
whose names adorn the pages OF our his
tory. parents who made no boast of in
struction or culture. though to stIgmatize
them as ilitefates would be treason
against the sanctity IN which their mem
DRY is held by all true patriots In these
United States.
In the "literacy" test detect a revival
" the old charge that Italians are Grim
NAL by nature and vocation. Even blind
ignorance Itself ought to know that this
hpr,sN was long ago discarded as an in
effectual weapon in the hands OF ltaly's
enemies II Is indeed true that some dis
grace the fair name of Italy. but what
bonds?
What n startling contradiction that the
descendants OF tho worlds teachers and
benefartors should be barred from this
land OF liberty. that men who. 10y reason
of kinship with Columbus have a vested
right IN the soil, should be denied a foot
hold here through prejudice and specious
preteNis
10 not Conrressmen know that Italian
sweat vital2es and duickens their work
shops. mills and factories that italian
muscle opens their tunnels raises their
gigantic structures and builds their end
less railroads? Know they not that Italy.
the peerless mother Of these her much de-
spsed sons guided with philosophy and
enriched with literature all the other ma
lions promoted their material zeal with
Inventions ravshed their eyes with paint
!ncs subl!med their Imagination with
sculpture and architecture. eunhonizcd
their cars with music and humanized their
breasts with poetry and song? Know they
not that Italy recreated geography. revo-
.u'foniZed nautical science. commercial
lied the high seas and Joined the erst-
while divided hemisphere. thus making
possible the S'atu" OF Liberty, that son
tinels the gateway Of this land Keep
away Italians. the ~ stol, and diAs'o.e Of
Americas industrial n:'. and what be-
comes OF Us material enterprise and adj
vancemcnt? Rarrict1' your ports against
them. and soon viii follow a deadlock on
those vast constructive operations at which
the rest Of the world marvels
on -he contrary those legislators should
strive 10 secure \ stun greater influx OF
Italians As IN. hand and muscle OF
hose imr grants hu''d our cities and
'ructfry the land. SO the brain and genius
" their children VIII reproduce here the
golden age uf iuvcntlveness and learning.
Professor : MARcHIsio
RPooEiyN. April 20.