Every man who was born under or has adopted our flag has an equal right with every other. but I submit that he has a greater. an infinitely greater. right than those who are yet in the homes of their fathers across the water. Unhappy the country and distressed the people which do not recognize and assert that right. In the same connection we learn that. while the average amount brought by the German immigrant was $80. the Russian brought $6.75. the Italian $8.50. and the AustroHungarian $11.70. No man can contemplate these unhappy people without pity: but his XXIX78 .1233 pity is more bountiful and effective if expressed before its unhappy object has left his home in another country. From June 80. 1885. to June 30. 1896. the number of immigrants landed at our ports was 4.694.120. and of this amazing number approximately 2.500.000 were males above .the age of 15. The prosperity of this country has been threatened. and adversity has been and is upon us. Many causes have conspired to produce this result. Has the introduction of 2.500.000 ablebodied workmen affected it any? Doubtless we can absorb many thousands of immigrants every year. but we do not want to absorb any that we can not assimilate.. Forty per cent. I think. of the immigration of the last ten years has been distinctly undesirable. It has demoralized the social conditions in many sections of the country. It has demoralized labor and wages wherever it has gone. If. there is work for him to do. the immigrant who is ready to come up to the American standard of living is a gain to the community to which he comes. The immigrant who will not raise himself to our standard is a menace to our civilization. no matter how much work there may be for him to do. He has no proper place among us. These ought to be selfevident facts. yet we find them disputed.
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