Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/299

GROVER CLEVELAND 249 asking unreasonable indulgence, but, as intelligent and manly citizens, they seek the same consideration which those demand who have other interests at stake. They should receive their full share of the care and attention of those who make and execute the laws, to the end that the wants and needs of the employers and the employed shall alike be sub served, and the prosperity of the country, the com mon heritage of both, be advanced. As related to this subject, while we should not discourage the im migration of those who come to acknowledge al legiance to our government, and add to our citizen population, yet, as a means of protection to our working-men, a different rule should prevail con cerning those who, if they come or are brought to our land, do not intend to become Americans, but will injuriously compete with those justly entitled to our field of labor. . . . "In a free country the curtailment of the abso lute rights of the individual should only be such as is essential to the peace and good order of the com munity. The limit between the proper subjects of governmental control, and those which can be more fittingly left to the moral sense and self-imposed restraint of the citizen, should be carefully kept in view. Thus, laws unnecessarily interfering with the habits and customs of any of our people which are not offensive to the moral sentiments of the civilized world, and which are consistent with good