Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1891 — ABOUT IMMIGRATION [ARTICLE]

ABOUT IMMIGRATION

DEMAND FOR A REVISION OF THE LAWS. Great Increase in the Value of Band that Might Be Brought About by Proper Irrigation—lmportance and Value >f River and Canal Transportation. The subject “Transportation and Improvements of Waterways, Lake, Gulf, and Pacific Ports” was discussed at the Commercial Congress in KansasCity. Mr. S. A. Thompson, Secretary of the Commercial Club of Duluth, advocated the improvement of waterways as affording the cheapest transportation. Col. T. C. Catchings, of argued that an increase in water traffic, however great, would not decrease railroad business, but would rather increase it The Hon. J. M. Murphy, of lowa, spoke on the Hennepin Canal. His life had one purpose and his heart one hope, and that was the construction of the Hennepin Canal. He explained in along speech the benefits to accrue from the construction of the canal, and he had nodoubt that the Government would construct it if Congress-could be brought toa realizing sense of the canal’s importance. Col. A. C. Fish, of Denver, delivered an address upon irrigation. He said 900,000,00 Jof people were kept alive oa food raised on irrigated land in Spain, China, Egypt, Russia, India, and the United States, yet the subject of irrigation, although carried on successfully for hundreds of years, was but little understood. In the trans-Mississippi country enough land was allowed to go to waste that was susceptible of cultivation to support whole nations of people. The work of irrigation has already been, begun by the United States. Mr. Fowell estimated that there were 1,000;000 square miles of arid lands in the Western country that could be made productive by irrigation. At the minimum price of public land, $1.25 per acre, this land had a value of §8i)C,000,OCO. At §3O per acre, a moderate estimate of its value when irrigated, it would be worth §19,200,000,000. Mr. Wickliffe said he would treat his subject, “Immigration and Settlement of Public Lands,” from the text, “America for Americans. ” “We have been told,” he said, “that this land is broad enough for all, but I submit that the countries of the other world have made it the dumping ground for their paupers and criminal classes, and I believe that I speak for the whole American people when I say that the time has come when all that must stop. There is enough room for all who want to come here to be one of us, but not a foot of ground for one of those paupers and criminals of the old world. I may feel deeply upon the subject, but I have lately come fresh from a most terrible object lesson, which too c early indicates the need of a change of our immigration laws. “I believe that this congress ought to declare that the National Congress should prohibit the landing of immigrants who are not willing to become good citizens I think this law ought to be put into such shape that no man who has not within a given time filed his intention for citizenship, which is now altogether too short, and who has not within another given time taken out what is known as his second papers, ought to be shipped back to the country from which he came. Gentlemen, it took twenty-one years to make a voter out of each one of you; it does not take twenty-one seconds to make a voter out of a foreigner. Let no man step foot upon the soil of Columbia who cannot bring a true bill of moral cleanliness. I am, as you know, a State-rights Democrat, but I believe the power to make American citizens ought to be taken from the State courts and given to the General Government. Perhaps you do not realize the need of all this, but in looking up the nationality of those criminals whom the citizens of New Orleans executed not long since it was found that the naturalization papers of one of these, his certificate of good moral character, was certified to by two of his fel-low-criminals. I believe that the scenes which we have witnessed during the last few weeks ought to be impossible. The raising of the g orious stars and stripes under that of a foreign flag, as was done in my own State, and the riddling of our flag Dy bullets in Pennsylvania, very clearly indicate the need of a change of policy as regards our immigration laws. ” A resolution favoring free coinage was received with applause. A resolution relative to immigration was loudly applauded, and the resolution which hailed with delight the burial of all animosities between the North and South was greeted with great applause, and, upon motion of Major Warner, of Missouri, was given three hearty cheers. The congress then adjourned to meet at the call of the Executive Committee.