The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-23

The immigration to this country the cur.
rent year Is astonishing, considering the con.
dltlons under which II exists, and exceeds
the expectations Of every one. Tho returns
from Southern ports are SO poorly made aud
so rarely aggregated that little can be made
from them. Nor are We In possession OF
California data. Tho reports from our
Northern frontier, covering the Canadian in
gress, are also deficient. But New York,
the great Immigrant headquarters, furnishes
US with definite statistics.
We learn that the arrivals there to the
close Of juno have been l42 1917 this year,
against lO9,097 last year, an Increase Of
80, l30, or 80 2-5 per cent. And we find that
May and June Of the current year are cred.
tied with 40,605 and Al 1889 arrivals, against
3i,l5l and SO, 72O last year, a gain Of 23,073
in the two last months. The immigration Is
moro from Germany than Ireland, as II has
been since 1859, footing up 1,lsS,olS, Of
which 633, 1853 was German to $40, 700 Irish.
The Irish preponderated until 1864, but the
| change has been so great that last year we
received l0l $3.50 Germans 10 1851 Irish;
and, more than this, some 200, 900 imml-
grants arrived In this period from other
| countries.
One reason for the unprecedented German
Influx arises from tho fear OF being enrolled
in tho Prussan army. This Is a very lively
| cause Of emigration, and Is likelyto continue.
| II operates on the whole body Of immigrants,
but most with the Prussians. And reason
ably. Our military establishment is almost
nominal and not likely to be enlarged. But
Austria maintains on peace basis, 2i3, 92s
| men; France, Al, 632 the German Confed-
grafton, 3l0,2s6i Russia, 19S,!5l Spain,
236, 30li Italy, lS3, 3il, and England, 200, 1885.
Thus, on a peace basis, these countries sup
port some 100000 men, and are, all Of
them, prepared to treble or quintuple the
number In case Of war, and are obliged to
pay for the luxury. France, Austria and the
Confederation each boast themselves able to
levy from 100000 to 10000 men on ten
days notice. The taxation for this purpose
aud the enrolment assist materially in in
creaslng the emigration to this country.
1t Is one OF the most gratifying concomi-
tants of the new exodus that II 10 bringing
| men OF more education and more money
The advantage Of this change In the material
Of our citizenship Is apparent. The pecuni-
AIRY advantage Is great 1t throws money
Into circulation, Increases old and POUNDS
new industries. In both ways II reduces the
rate Of taxation, while helping to augment
the amount OF revenue. And our military
power Is of course augmented as that OF Eu-
rope Is thus depleted; and while she will have
more difficulty In maintaining her oyergrown
establishments, both from reduced popula-
ton and wealth, we shall have all Of the re-
sources for enlarglng ours at will. Until
that remote day arrives the wealth and labor
OF the country will rapidly augment, and Its
Increase, with the action Of the old causes,
must aid In keeping up the emigration. A
war IN Europe Ia always possible, and this Is
operating with the burden of taxation, with
conscriptlon, and the Inducements OF our
growth and needs In giving us the augmenta-
lions that we have to note.