scientific--I willingly omit. For I do not want the immigrant to be
admitted because he can help us dig ditches and build cities and fight
our battles in general. I beg that we make this a question of principle
first, and of utility afterwards. Whether immigration is good for us or
not, I am very certain that the decadence of idealism is bad for us, and
that is what I fear more than the restrictionist fears the immigrant.
It should strengthen us in our resolution to abide by the Law of the
Fathers--the law of each for all, and all for each--if we find that the
movement of democracy to which they imparted such a powerful impulse
appears to be in the direct path of social evolution. But even if
such omens were lacking I should still pray for strength to cling to
the ideal which is defined in the opening words of the Declaration
of Independence. For I perceive that here, in the trial at Ellis
Island, we are put to the test of the fiery furnace. It was easy to
preach democracy when the privileges we claimed for ourselves no alien
hordes sought to divide with us. But to-day, when humanity asks us
to render up again that which we took from the English in the name
of humanity, do we dare to stand by our confession of faith? Those
who honor the golden images of self-interest and materialism threaten
us with fearful penalties in case we persist in our championship of
universal brotherhood. They are binding our hands and feet with the
bonds of selfish human fears. The fiery glow of the furnace is on our
faces--and the world holds its breath.
* * * * *
Once the thunders of God were heard on Mount Sinai, and a certain people
heard, and the blackness of idolatry was lifted from the world. Again
the voice of God, the Father, shook the air above Bunker Hill, and the
grip of despotism was loosened from the throat of panting humanity.
Let the children of the later saviors of the world be as faithful as the
children of the earlier saviors, and perhaps God will speak again in
times to come.
THE END
The Riverside Press
CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS
U . S . A
[ Transcriber's Note:
The following is a list of corrections made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
Introduction vii
Introduction ix
III. The Fiery Furnace 101
III. The Fiery Furnace 99
(6) See Article by Achad Ha'am, _American Hebrew_, June, 21, 1907.
(7) See Article by Achad Ha'am, _American Hebrew_, June 21, 1907.
flesh which fastened on us during the centuries of our agonzied struggle
flesh which fastened on us during the centuries of our agonized struggle
]
End of Project Gutenberg's They Who Knock at Our Gates, by Mary Antin