Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-21
New immigration
Strain Demoralizing,
Pastor Tells ROtarianS

The great feature of the evening at
the meeting of the Rotary Club at
the Elmwood hotel Friday evening
was the address on "Immigration'
by Rev. Charles A. knickerbocker,
which was pronounced by the mem
bers to be the most eloquent, stirring
and convincing address ever heard
in Rotary. Mr.. knickerbocker
handled his subject in a unique way
uttering sentiments not OTTER heard
on the subject but the clear cut rea-
soning and logic Of the speaker
found an ansering sentiment in the
breast of every hearer. In substance,
Mr.. Knickerbocker said:
THE United States has had mar
velous history, an almost providen-
tial beginning. Beginning with the
early settlers of New England, the
men who came here were picked men.
The same thing was true of Virginia,
which while not entirely the same
of high ideals. In Kentucky and
Tennessee the Scotch-Irish with
sturdiness and something of the
fiery enthusiasm of old John Knox,
came. When Ohio opened up the In
dams were driven out or pacified and
these streams of life from the cast
and south met and mingled in Ohio
and the result has been that there is
not single town in Ohio of 5000 or
more population but has produced a
man of national calihre.
These men spread out over : the
west and made necessary the Lou
isiana purchase and continued to the
Pacific. After that the Morse STRAIN
added the Scandinavians and Teu-
tonic races brought the Swedes, the
Norwegians, the Hollanders and the
Germans, a liberty-loving fine type
of men who made a real contribution
to American life. This sort of i'm
migration continued until about 40
years ago and then came a change.
The tide set in from the south and
east Of Europe and continued until
the time of the great war. These
people were brought in first on the
plea Of material necessity, to do the
common labor. Since the war closed
are thousands and thousands stream
ing towards the United States. In
many instances these people are sent
here through the connivance of their
own governments who wish to be rid
of them. They are poor in body,
property, mind and soul, vitiated
people. They are brought in by fair
means or foul, through hundreds and
hundreds of counterfeit passports
printed in Berlin.
1t seems as if certain European
states are going to compel us to pay
part of their war debts by taking
care of their undesirables. Now is
the time to call a halt Millions of
aliens are here now, who have no in
tention of becoming American citi-
zens. Many are ultra radicals, who
lave no conception of liberty save as
license. and are carrying on we'll
organized propaganda for Bolshe-
vism. We can't afford to have any
more of that stripe.
Another side to consider is that
these people multiply rapidly. 1t re-
qulres no statistician to see how long
1t may be before they are in the ma
jority and the old Americans and
as soon as there are enough of them
there will be revolution. The trou
bic with many of the congressmen
and citizens is that they are senti-
mentalists and say that the United
States is an asylum for the Cd.
pressed. I'm not willing to live NV
self or bring up my children in an
asylum | want free air. Americas
mission to the world for justice. lib
erty and Righteousness cannot he
carried out if we consent to any fur
ther weaken our blood with this de-
moralizing strain. Our first duty is
to Keep our American life as pure as
we can. to uphol: our ideals of law,
order and freedom We shall best
help the world in that way"
Guests of the evening were d,
Augustus S. Thayer of Portland. DR..
D. b. Reudy of Ithaca, N. Y, and DR.