Aliens or Americans? Part 13

"Incident to the general recoil from the papal control, an enormous number of the Italians coming to this country are out of the old Church; they are without religion, yet are in a way groping after one. As a consequence the Italian is exceptionally open-minded. You can talk with him. He is not suspicious--not apprehensive lest you mislead him. He may have no respect for any kind of religion, but he is not afraid that you will lure him into forbidden paths. He is beginning to think--a privilege which he has been denied in the past. This open-mindedness is readiness to accept the spirit and theories of American life; for open-mindedness is an American characteristic."

And open-mindedness toward the gospel is the vestibule to conversion.

QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER IV

AIM: TO CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF THE ITALIANS AS IMMIGRANTS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN WORK AMONG THEM.

I. _Contrast the Old and New Immigration._

1. What is the New Immigration?

2. What has become of the earlier immigrants? Was their coming a benefit to the United States?

3. Would your judgment concerning it have been the same when they were coming?

4. What races have gained and what have lost in their respective proportions?

II. _The Italians._

5. What are the leading types at present? What are they likely to be in the future?

6. Mention opposing opinions as to the Italians? Which seem to you nearer the truth?

7. What differences are there between Italians from different parts of Italy?

8. From what cla.s.s come most of the Italians now arriving? Of what s.e.x? What age? What skill?

9. How has Italian immigration grown in numbers? How has it been distributed?

10. What proportion go West and South? Are efforts being made to attract them anywhere?

III. _Are the Italians a Desirable Cla.s.s of Immigrants_?

11. How do they compare with the early Irish immigrants? With other nationalities?

12. What is the record of Italians in this country; as to work, citizenship, self-support, crime, temperance, thrift, care for education, financial ability?

13. Have many Italians taken to farming? Do they succeed? What sort of farming?

14. What efforts are being made to direct and distribute the Italian immigrants?

IV. _What is the Opportunity of the Christian Church Among Them_?

15. Do you know of any specific effort to uplift them through Christian influences?

16. Does this chapter make you feel that the churches can do more for them? How?

REFERENCES FOR ADVANCED STUDY.--CHAPTER IV

I. _Further Study of Contrasts Between Different Types of Italians._

Lord, et al: The Italian in America, I, III, V.

Brandenburg: Imported Americans, IV, VI, XII.

Holt: Undistinguished Americans, III.

II. _Illiteracy Among the Northern and Southern Italians._

(1) Its bearing on their desirability as immigrants.

Brandenburg: Imported Americans, IV, XII, XX.

Hall: Immigration, 54-58, 80-83.

(2) Its relation to the probable effect of a reading test for admission.

Lord, et al: The Italian in America, VIII, XI.

Hall: Immigration, 262-280.

(3) Its bearing on their accessibility to the gospel.

McLanahan: Our People of Foreign Speech, 69-74.

Wood: Americans in Process, IX.

III. _Location of Italians After Their Arrival and Length of Their Stay._

Brandenburg: Imported Americans, II, XIX, XXII.

Lord, et al: The Italian in America, VI, VII, IX.

IV. _The Italians in New York City and State._

Benefits and dangers arising from their presence, and efforts made to help them.

Riis: How the Other Half Lives, V, XXIV.

University Settlement Studies, Vol. I, Numbers 3 and 4, issue January, 1906.

Reports of the Society for Italian Immigrants, 17 Pearl Street, New York City.

_Yesterday the Slav was a pauper immigrant; to-day he is what the English, Welsh, Irish, and German miner was a quarter of a century ago--on the way to becoming an American citizen. What sort of a citizen he will be will depend upon the influences brought to bear upon him._--F. J. Warne.

V

THE EASTERN INVASION