INTRODUCTION
5
the original material and make an independent judg
ment. This enormous mass of facts has, however,
been well digested and summarized and is easily
accessible. The facts now are known.
In its conclusions and recommendations the Commis
sion indicated certain lines along which standards of
judgment might and ought to be fixt. In other direc
tions they assume without formal statement what they
believe to be the accepted standards of the people; but
whatever may be the judgments regarding the recom
mendations the facts set forth are undeniable.
For the purpose of this book it is, however, desir
able that at the beginning the principles be sum
marized on which, in the judgment of the authors,
the standard of civilization of our country may be
affected by immigration. Throughout the discussion
°f the facts these principles should be kept in mind.
Principles Upon Which American Civilization is
Based
It is extremely difficult to analyze a civilization so
complex as ours. All will agree that civilization de
pends upon the characteristics and attainments of the
individuals of whom the State is composed, and upon
their relations one to another. In the discussion of the
question of immigration, as of all other social or
political questions, no better beginning can be made
than to use the old division of human characteristics
into physical, mental and moral. In many cases so
interdependent and overlapping are the influences
molding these qualities that the effects of any one in
fluence can scarcely be separately analyzed. For ex-
a mple, industrial prosperity in the community affects