New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-13
XXI.
IMMIGRATION.

IMMIGRATION
That Population main element OF National
strength-that its rapid persistent increase implies
National growth and pIospeTty-that the voluntary
migration of thousands from their Datiye land TO one
far distant, especially if its language, religion Gus
TOMS institutions, &c, differ widely from those IN
which the emgTants have hitherto delighted, argues
q decided predOminance of attractions and adyan-
tages in the land they seek over that they abandon
can scarcely need demonstration. Fanatclsm
may, indeed impel thousands of it's votaTies to
leave fertile for naturally sterile and forbiddng
region; but such mgrations are Of occurrence,
and are usually limited in area transient in du-
ration. Religious1 prosecutions have driven thou
sands from the soil they would gladly have chung to
till DEATH bnt these have exerted little influence on
the peopling of our country since her independence,
and seem unlikely to prove moro potent in the next
century than in the last. 1t is within the truth to
estimate that fully nne-tenths of those who have,
since 1861 come hither from Europe in voluntary
quest of new homes have been mainly impelled by
the hope of thus improving their pecunary or social
condition and securing for their offspring larger
opportunities and fairer prospects than those on
which their own eyes first opened.
If the impression prevails that our country has
been, ever since her independence was established
the cynosure and chosen home Of the less fortu-
nate Millions of the Old World, that impression is
grounded in error. So long our industry re-
manned almost exclusively Agricultural, the annual
Immigration was inconsderable. although the sys-
tenn under which a foreigner might bind himself to
a sea-captain for the owners of his vessel to
one three ive or seven or more years after reach
ing our shores, in payment of his passage, was
plainly calculated largely to swell the volume Of
such immigration, while by no means improving its
quality Thousands of these "redemptioners" were
oI,o rIp in oil
human probability, have made their way hither
had they been required to earn and save
tho needfdl passage-mOney before embark
ing. And the redemption system, however OBJ
jectonabe as a whole. was not without redeeming
features. The immigrant was not put ashore on
landing in America to make his way as he might,
among people to whom his garb was strange, and
his manners seemed uncouth while bis speech was
often utterly unintellgbe. The captain consgnee
in selling his services for the specified term provided
him with home and insured him against present
starvaton if he landed without skill in any useful
art he was morally certain to acquire some indus
trial proficiency while working out his passage.
presume the system under which China is pour
ing her superintendent Millions upon the Western
hemisphere does not differ essentially from that our
fathers tolerated and LOCALIZED. yet which have
long since discouraged and discarded.
If hundred persons, taken Unfortunately, were
severaly asked 10 indicate the chief impulse to mi
grafton probably the answers Of nine tenhs Of them
would point to density of population In one country,
paraeled by sparseness in another yet they would
hardly be sustained by the facts Judge that thinly
peopled Scotland Switzerland, or even Norway, sup
plies more emf rants to the New World than teom-
ing London. Paris or Lancashire The general truth
that population tends 10 abandon purely agricultural
regions for those deEsely peopcd whoSe industry is
Diversified is illustrated by what is perpetualy going
on IN our own country. in Canada, and in many
others. Says The Ncc american CyclopGda:i
1T is significant fact that the emigration from
some European countries - Rhenlsh Prussia and
Wesphalia, for instances IN an iRU6Se ratio 10
population. That is TO say, the largest number emil
crate fro the most thinly settled Agricultural dis
rics; these having, relatively. larger oyer-popu-
latOn than those IN which agricultural and manuiac-
turing pursuits are combined"
The readers of these essays will not be at q loss for
the reason OF this anomaly specifically considered.
Though the fearful and widespread commissions
attending and following the French Revolution,
reducing multitudcs from wealth and comfort to
want and misery, driving many into exile and ex-
pelng myriads from their homes, would seem call
culated especially when supplemented by the re-
demptiouD system. TO have flooded our shores with
immigrants the number actually drawn driven
hither throughout our FreeTraders golden age of
low tariffs aud exclusive devotion to Agriculture,
was surprisingly small. Samuel BOdgett, who wrote
in 1906 and who is Endorsed by BrOmwell in his His
tory of Immigration, written half century later,
as statistican Of more than ordinary research and
accuracy ahirms that the immigrants to this coun-
try in the ten years prior to 1924 did not exceed 1000
per annum; and. though 10000 were supposed to
have hither in 1894, the current forthwith sub
sided; so that the Hon. Adam Seybert on c. from
Pennsylvania writing in 1915 assumes the average
migration hither, from l796 to 1870 at 5000 per
mum; and he adds that, admitting 10000 TO have
come over in 1874. that number remained without
parallel down TO 1917. In that year. 22,240 persons
arrived at our ports: of whom after due deduction
for voyagerS on business or FOR pleasure, may es
mate the immigrants who remained with at 1900.
BY an act of Congress approved March ,, 1919, col
lectOrs of customs required TO keep record and
make a quarterly return to the Treasury of all pass
engers arriving in theiI respective districts from
foreign ports; and these reports, duly condensed in
the Department are the chief bases of knowledge
of the subsequent growth and progress of Immigra-
ton. Mr.. Bromwell's volumes being compiled from
official sources, may, far as It speaks, be trusted
implicitly; and it gives the total number of foreign
born passengers arriving at the ports of the United
States in the several years from 1920 to 1855 ncluS
i've ms follows:
1870 ...... 1886 Z 1888 ........ 1914
Is2l ......... 9l27 Is3O......... GS0G9
IS22 .......... 69l1 1870 ........ 1906
Is23 ........ 1854 EsAI........ S02S9
I~91...... 1912 | ISA2 ........ 1866
IN25......... 10 100 ISf3...-.. - 52.496
1926. .-...... 1OS31 BSAs......... 1o,6l1
Ia27.......... 1883 ISAS.....-... 1l4,3u
IS2S .......... 21;S2 IStO.-....... 1o44lB
IE2D.. ....... 2252O ISf7......... E8#S
1870. 23,o3S hStS....-s.. 2IO,0St