Historically, those "poor immigrants" were LEGAL immigrants from countries with cultures that were compatible with American republicanism.
Historically, those "poor immigrants" were LEGAL immigrants from countries with cultures that were compatible with American republicanism.
The Chinese on the West Coast? How about the Irish on the East Coast?
Check out these cartoons by Nast in the MSM of the day.
http://www.greatcaricatures.com/articles_galleries/nast/html/1871_0902_irish.html
You mean like England, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, China, Japan, Greece, Mexico, Scotland, Wales, Prussia, and Hungary? Do you realize ONLY TWO of those countries were Republics - France and Mexico - until at least the 20th Century? The rest were all monarchies.
Many legal immigrants ( and yes, there were also ILLEGAL immigrants.....even in the 19th century! )came from places and held views that were completely antithetical to the then culture of American and republicanism. From the Irish to the Russians and Poles and on and on and on!
The native cultures of 19th century Irish, Italian and Eastern-European immigrants were very much incompatible with American republicanism as grounded in the Anglo-Saxon tradition. Nevertheless, all these groups have become successful Americans. I don't see how the current situation is any different.