Page:Mead - The Overthrow of the War System.pdf/120

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98
The Overthrow

Congress to enact laws that would enable the ad- ministration to give aliens the care guaranteed by our treaties. No constitutional difficulty intervenes; yet no action has been taken. Ex-president Taft says such action would be more effective to prevent the possibility of war than would improving our military defenses.

Impartial immigration laws

It is urged that the preservation of American institutions be guaranteed by limiting immigration to the number who will readily assimilate our American ideals. But limitations must be universal and free from race discrimination. Standards for admission and citizenship can be raised as high as needed, but must be applied impartially to all races so that whoever qualifies individually can become an American; otherwise the sensitive Oriental nations may be deeply and dangerously embittered.

A third proposal, coming from Mr. Taft, is for federal control of aliens through registration and supervision during their preparation for citizenship. This provides restraint against lawlessness until admitted to citizenship which should be with an impressive ritual. Federal jurisdiction of aliens would tend to check mob violence and when it occurs, injustice by a jury