Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-20

period .he country has found out ,,a. Of & the
ssrous 'in number have We definite intentions not 70
the signal trsmsndogs lnru:h e fOreiETsT. Ts,s
country must not permit the melting pot to he
THE choice for the United states In the
matter Of immigration is between selfish
ness and suicide. II asylum for the perse-
cuted and opportunity for the oppressed are
to dominate the immigration policy of this
country, as they have in the past, some safe
guard must be found against those immi-
grants whose indifference and opposition are
corrupting American Ideals. America must
be reserved for those who are Americans or
can be Americans. There Is room for every
foreigner who wishes to come. There is no
room for the alien who is here for revenue
only.
To these propositions the American citizen
has assented for many years, but newcomer
and descendant alike have been engrossed
in their own affairs that nothing has been
done to put them into practice. 1t was very
easy to assume that when foreigner stood
principles of the American Constitution" a
miracle had passed into that foreigners
soul and converted him into an American.
1t was even easier, and much more comfort
ing TO believe that the watchfu eye of the
immIgrst tion inspector. who turned back the
physically and mentally and morally unfit,
was actually disbarrng undesirables from
the privileges of American opportunity.
We have found, in IS months of internal
dissension, that man may come to this
country with every prospect OF never becom-
ing a public charge, with we-trained and
active mind, able to read and write; that he
may swear allegiance to our flag and yet
be the worst type of undesirable. We have
seen men who have fed from persecution
and from the indignties of a tyrannical Gov
ernment adhere to their ancient loyalties and
exert pernicious energy in attempts to in
volve this Government in their quarres. We
have said America means opportunity" and
they have turned their opportunities against
us.
society has been formed to pledge every 1
incoming alien TO support the American flag
in time of war. That is an excellent inten-
tion, but in practice would be as effective as
the method of the young lookout who was
in the habit OF asking suspicious characters
whether they were spies or not. If they said
mo- he relaxed his guard and let them pass.
1t should not devolve upon laymen, but upon
governmental officials, to determine whether
the assistance. loyalty and patriotism of
each applicant for admission to this coun-
try are sufficiently strong to make him an
American. It is not unreasonable to ask
that those who come here in preference TO
staying in the land of their birth should
give this country their first service and their
highest devotion
This country owes much to it's foreign
born, chiefly because virtually all it's citizens
are either foreign-born or of foreign descent.
But 1t owes nothing to the individual alien
who does not first recognize his debt to
America. The tone OF petulance, the as
sumption of superior rights by those whose
most diverting things of the present situa-
tion were it not so dangerous.
Experts will have to devise the net through
which immigration must pass. Citizens can
only insist that the question be opened
again. They may suggest that the United
States has not suffered from the falling off
of immigration. They may point out the
grave danger to this country of having in
full enjoyment of its blessings a vast num-
Der of unnaturalized foreigners and in their
present temper they are certain to insist
that the first obligation of citizenship which
is adherence to the country's law and de-
fense of its integrity, be emphasized far
above the many privileges which citizenship
allows. For since the beginning we have
advertised the rights of Americans and been
strangely silent on their duties.
The problems of immigration only begin
when the gate swings open to the stranger
New ideals of Americanism have to be de-
veloped. but before they can be understood
the physical we'll being and the funda-
mental education of each prospective citizen
on immigration and Amerieanization meet
ing now in Philadelphia, the many societies
and committees in every port of entry are
entering into times of unprecedented activ-
ity. But before their efforts can be success
ful the Government itself must reach out it's
hand of power and hold the door fast against
those who come to grow rich our riches,
to live freely in our freedom and yet with
intent to remain forever alien To our ideas