Speech #530032623

Who can deny the force of this logic? It follows that Congress has the right to prescribe the terms upon which such alien subjects may become citizens of this country. It proves that Congress is invested with the power to deny to such persons the right to acquire or own lands anywhere within the United States during the existence of their alien condition. or to impose whatever requirements for naturalization deemed to be proper. Such a law if passed by Congress operates only upon the person of the alien. and his incidental disability to own lapds within a State can not with any propriety be said to infringe any reserved right of such State or any citizen thereof. Two great questions for the solution of Congress are beginning to agitate the public mind. and the sooner it undertakes in good earnest the legislation they demand the better it will be for the country. The firstis that of unlimited immigration of foreigners into the United States. the other is that of alien ownership of lands. I assume. and think I will be able to prove before I conclude my remarks. that both of these are absolute evils. And while the laws should not exclude proper persons. they ought to be of a character which shall require the courts and the district attorneys to do their duty. so that no imposition will be made. and that those who are not entitled to citizenship. who are not honorable men. will be excluded from that great benefaction. As shown by statistics our immigration laws. as well as that of naturalization and others touching the status of foreigners. ought to be revised. strengthened. and made to operate more for the protection of the people of our governments. State and Federal. I submit the following. compiled by my friend. Mr. STONE. and whibh I believe is accurate: The prisoners of the United States in 1890 by element8 of the population (Eleventh Census). Both parents native ------------------------------------------------------- 21.037 One parent foreign ........................................................ 2. 881 Both parents foreign .............................................--------- 12. 601 One or both parents unknown ............................................ 3.952 Foreign born --------------------....................................... 15.932 Nativity unknown ------------------------------------------------------ 907 Negroes .........---------................................................. 24.277 Chinese --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 420 Indians --------------------------------------------- ----------------- 322 Total ................................................................. 82. 329 There are by the Eleventh Census 43.127 penitentiary convicts whose birthplace and parentage are known. Of this number 14.725 are foreigners. born in foreign countries. 14.687 are colored. and 13.715 are native born. The total number of penitentiary convicts of foreign and native birth. excluding colored persons. is 28.440. of which number 13.715 are native born and 14.725 are of foreign birth. that is. themselves born in foreign countries. And thus we see that while the percentage of foreigners in the country is only 15 per cent. more than half of those inside the penitentiary. excluding colored people. are foreigners. These figures do not prove that immigration to this country is undesirable. but they do prove that a great many immigrants have been coming here in the last few years who are undesirable. There are 23.566 inmates of benevolent institutions born in this country whose parents are both native born. and there are 17.120 who are of foreign birth. Counting those born in this country of one or both foreign parents as native born. the percentage of those of foreign birth in our benevolent institutions to those foreign born is about 25 per cent. Inmates of benevolent institutions in the United States in 1890 by elements of the population (Eleventh Census). Both parents native ...............................----------------_---- 23.566 One parent foreign ................................-------------------- 5.061 Both parents foreign ..................................................... 24.215 One or both parents unknown ------------------------------------------ 23.618 Foreign born -------------------------------------------------------------- 17.120 Nativity unknown ..................--- -----------------.----------------- 13.634 Negroes .................. ------------------------------------------------ 4.132 Chinese _----------------.----------------------- --------------- 49 Indians ..... -------------------------------------------------------------- 1.316 Total ............ . ..------------------------------------------------- 112.711 In our almshouses or poorhouses the percentage of foreign born is far greater. By the census of 1890 there are 73.045 persons in our poorhouses. of whom 6.467 are negroes. Chinese. and Indians. There are 27.648 foreigners. or about 35 per cent. while there are only 21.519 whose parents are native born. Counting all born in this country as native born whether of native or foreign parents. and excluding the negroes. Chinese. and Indians. 41 per cent of all the Persons in the poorhouses of the United States were born in foreign countries and came to this country as immigrants. The alien who purchases a small farm and settles upon it to cultivate the soil and raise stock is not of the objectionable or dangerous class. He intends to be naturalized and to become a citizen and to assimilate with our people. He may be and usually is a stranger to American institutions and methods. but this of itself constitutes no great objection. especially whe they come. not in colonies. but singly or accompanied by but a few others. The only possible objection to him when he thus comes Is that we do not need him.