We have boasted that our liberty was a liberty of law. and left no room for revolution or riot. but certain occurrences in Colorado and elsewhere have shown that this Is not always true. May not the forces against law become strong enough to break it down? Is not the AngloSaxon principle of liberty worth preserving. even if it should be necessary to restrict or put a stop to immigration? It Is a question. at any rate. that should not be settled by sentiment. nor will it do to say that we have done well enough in the past and are likely to do as well In the future. Much to the point is the extract from the American Commonwealth. by Ron. James Bryce. author. volume 2. pages 862 and 863: Within the past decade new swarms of immigrants have invaded America. drawn from their homes in the eastern part of Europe by the constant cheapening of ocean transit. and by that more thorough drainage. so to speak. of the inland regions of Europe. which is due to the extension of railroads. These immigrants. largely of Slavonic race. come from a lower stratum of civilization than the German immigrant of the past. and since they speak foreign tongues are less quickly amenable to American influences and probably altogether less improvable than are the Irish. There seems to be a danger that if they continue to come in large numbers they may retain their own low standard of decency and comfort and menace the continuance among the working classes generally of that higher standard which has hitherto prevailed in all but a few spots in this country. A year or two ago Mayor McClellan directed Doctor Darlington. president of the New York City Board of Health. to make a special investigation of the pushcart nuisance. At the conclusion of his investigation Doctor Darlington reported. among other things: I have heard the assertion that immigration is necessary to carry on our public works. to build railroads. to dig canals. and the like. But the present immigrants now coming over do not come for that purpose and will not do that sort of work. No . they prefer to become pushcart peddlers and to live in our cities In poverty. breeding crime and disease. They occupy our streets. the streets for which our taxpayers have paid heavily.
Identified stereotypes
Slavonic immigrants come from a lower stratum of civilization, are less quickly amenable to American influences, retain their own low standard of decency and comfort, menace the continuance among the working classes, prefer to become pushcart peddlers and to live in our cities In poverty, breeding crime and disease.