New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-27

harvest OF foreigners landed upon ouI sHoleo'
nsurgent coalition aggregated 0O9S,3S3 inhabitants
1891 ITO being slaves leaving population OF E.oi'
9SS within the States and Territories which did not
seoede. But our tables above demonstrate tnat
about 900 of these persons were due to immgra-
ton, Let that number be supposed to have been
subtracted from the grand total, then would have
the case of about 100000 of people appealing TO
the arbtrament of the sword against about s,OOOOOO
of Rebels. Moreover, when it is considered now
many thousands in Kentucky Missouri and Mary
land actually joined the insurgent armies, and how
many thousands more in the same and other states
warmly sympathized and co6perated with the reyo'
lutionary movement, it may be- assumed that the
conflict Of arms would have been nearly equal In
physical resources, the slaves, as non-combstants,
oisetting the abe-bodied portion OF the community
in the North, whose services were quite as valuable
on the farm or in the workshop as they could nave
been on the battlefield, or IN the camp.
1t was our national policy of encouraging foreign
immigration which gave an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ance Of fighting material to the cause OF loyalty and
Justice. Some 100000 Of inhabitants-numbers
equal to those oil told bond and Free in the seeding
States-became O powerful host upon which the Gov
ernment could lean with safe confidence in the very
crisis, and turn defiant gaze upon the secretly hos
tile oligarches of the Old World. Whether as citi
zens or as soldiers, these elements Of population
were potential factors in the problem Of saving the
Union. We are justified, then, in assuming that
victory might have remained with the slaveholding
Conoderacy but for the vast strength derived by the
North from immigration.
If it be answered that had there not been such an
influx of aliens Lincoln would not have been
elected and no war would have taken place, it may
be replied that other consequences quite as ealami-
tous would have ensued, for chattel Slavery would,
in that case have dominated political organism
and ultimately have destroyed our free institutions
Another signal advantage arising from immlgra-
ton is it's contribution to national wealth. STATISTICS
show that foreigners generally bring with them
little hoard Of money, averaging in amount not less
than SOS in coin each person. IL is estimated that
tho aliens who have been added to our population,
from 1890 to 1860 have brought into the country an
aggregate of capital as permanent contribution TO
our national wealth, exceeding tiO0,0O0OO0 gold
value Then, if we reckon tho entire annual produc-
ton of the United States in 1860 at the extremely low
estimate of OOO which is according to some
authorities, only twothirds of the reality, and ap
portion it equally among the whole number of in
habitants in that year. it will be found that each in
dydual contributed at the rate of 20 cents for each
working day in the twelvemonth, making $62 40 for
the complete period. This would give grand total
of $j7 SO7 726 40 produced by immigrants and their
decendants developing the startling facts that con-
sideraby more than One-fOurth of the yearly In
crement of the resources of the United States
since the last census enumeration has been created
by tho element of our population derived from
immigration. When il is further considered how
vast must have been the augmentation OF powers
and materials from the same sources since 1890
then alone can We hope TO obtain any adequate
conception Of the wonderful momentum impaired
to our national progress by the influx Of foreigners
Other influences have been scarcely less sgnif-
cont and potential. Tho immigrant class Of our
population in 1850 represented ct least ffy-three
countries and almost tho same number OF languages
and dialects. These persons brought with them the
most diverse experiences. They contributed, each n
share to the general stock of knowledge about agrl
culture the trades the arts, the sciences and thus
assisted 70 modify, improve. and augment opinions
and processes The country has, in this way gained
from European and Asiatio civilization much that IS
valuable and now. The action and reaction involved
in this altogether unimaginable completely Of rea-
ton have cast our national characteristics in an en-
tirely different mold, and impressed upon our ma
tiona organism dstinctiYcnoss as marked as it Is
original. Such vast and diversified mmi grafton has
naturally resulted, through intormarrages. IN cross
ing the breeds of human kinds 10 wonderful de-
gree and as in the case of the lower animals mas
produced nobler development. But volume would
be required to specify and illustrate the multitude
nous consequences and advantages arising nom
immigration. We can merely allude to few more
Of the most prominent.
Nearly all persons who come here from foreign
countries are of adult age, and at once become pro-
ducing additions to the body polite. Generally the
males are able-boded men. between the extremes OF
the military ages thus adding significant strength
to our arms bearing population, and enabling us to
send forth into the field in time of war; larger pro-
portion of the inhabitants than any enemy could
that might be srrayed against us.
To immgration we are indebted in an eminent de-
gree, for the marvellous growth Of our informal i'm
proyement system-a system which binds together
our States which has built up our cities and deyel-
oped our interiors added indefinitely TO the value Of
our lands, and to our physical and other comforts.
Notwithstanding what has been effected, an nspec-
ton of tho map and periscopc consideration Of the
character Of the country, demonstrate that we are
but in the middle of our labors. Vast and important
connections are yet to be made wealth now inacces
sible is to be realized; the mountains tho seashore
and tho rivers are to be brought nearer and nearer to
one another through increased lines of intercOmmu-
nIcatiOn. To this new development immga-
ton will contribute O constantly acceleratine
impetus To the same cause we are indol ted
chiefly for the innumerable farms carved
out of the wilderness, and for the rapid
extension Of the frontiers of civilization into the
far regions of the West and Northwest swelling
the amount Of our annual revenues, increasing to an
almost limitless extent our National wealth, and
placing us in the front rank Of nations as an agri
cultural, manufacturing, and commercial people
To immigration we are indebted in no small degree
for the rapid addition of State after State to the
Union, until we have SPAWNED the continent with
nearly triple our original number. To appreciate
this unparalleled growth, we have but to imagine