II. Threatening Changes.
5. In what respects has immigration since 1820 introduced un-American standards?
6. * Have the average character and the plane of living of the immigrants been raised or lowered by their coming here? Same as to wages? As to intelligence?
7. * How are our public schools affected? Is there any menace to our school system? Can we provide compulsory education for all the children?
III. Other Effects.
8. Do these new Americans learn to use the ballot rightly? Can they learn?
9. Does their coming make genuine Christianity more or less prominent in the national life? What effect does it have on Sunday observance? Does it lessen or increase lawbreaking?
IV. National Bulwarks.
10. What are the safeguards pointed out by Professor Boyesen? By ex-President Seelye?
11. How can Socialism be met?
12. * Will anything but Christianity effectively guard our institutions?
13. How far will material improvements help to uplift and assimilate the newcomers?
14. Do the children learn patriotism from their new country? Do they keep it when grown up?
15. * Is there good reason for being optimistic? Upon what condition may we be hopeful?
References for Advanced Study.—Chapter VII
I. Study further some of the specific effects of the immigrants' presence.
Warne: The Slav Invasion, V, VI.
Wood: Americans in Process, VII, VIII.
Riis: How the Other Half Lives, XVIII, XXI.II. What can you learn about the present status of the parochial school movement, especially in your own vicinity?
Refer to local periodicals and daily papers.
III. Is assimilation of foreigners taking place everywhere, or only in certain places?
McLanahan: Our People of Foreign Speech, I.
Hall: Immigration, 172, 182.
Wood: Americans in Process, XII.
Strong: The Twentieth Century City, IV.IV. Are our school facilities, actual or prospective, likely to prove sufficient for the demands made upon them?
Riis: How the Other Half Lives, XV, XVI.
Wood: Americans in Process, X.
Hunter: Poverty, V.
The Christian Churches in America stand face to face with a tremendous task. It is a challenge to their faith, their devotion, their zeal. The accomplishment of it will mean not only the ascendancy of Christianity in the homeland, but also the gaining of a position of vantage for world-wide evangelization.—E. E. Chivers, D.D.