New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-21

be counted on with certainty.
And, in the cases of nations to whom olH
own steady and progressive expansion and
prosperity have been matter of dsappoint-
ment and regret, the very jealousies and
even animosities that peradventure may OK.
list, will all work together to enhance the Gu
riosity that will induce many to see with their
own eyes the actual sources of weakness Of
The Republic of the North" upon which in
contemplation they have fed perhaps, their
grudgcs.
| On all these accounts then, and in view OF
all these inducements and moving causes, l
count with confidence upon an attendance
upon the Exposition, that of itself will COM
mand its final success.
come next to the inquiry as to what, il
any, results of any substantial value may be
anticipated from the Centennial Exposition,
II fair degree of success attend it.
mat benefits of the kind commonly con-
sldcred as alone being substantial, that is to
say, OF the kind that bear immediate and
| tangible fruit that within some short time
makes itself pcrceptiblc to the senses, will of
| necessity be received from such an EXPOSE
ton as is contemplated, l can have no doubt.
No more direct, nor any more effective
agency in the promotion of national strength
and growth, so far as is shown in the expert
ence OF this country rs plainly written in
its history, can be mentioned than that Of
immigration.
The incredible extent of the current ofhu-
mainly that, for the last half century have
been constantly drifting towards and flooding
| this continent, is even now after all the at
tention that has been given to it, very little
appreciated even by many of our most intel
ligent men.
l care not now to go into many of the as
| ccrtaincd facts in regard to that matter in de-
tail, but, in this connection will call atten-
ton to only one or two.
Mr.. Young, Chief of the Statistical Bu.
rcau, in his report for 1870, says, that on
averaging the increase to the population of
the United States, caused by immigration, it
is found that "During the entire period from
1920 to 1870, the increase of each year, over
the one Immediately preceding, if uniform,
would average alone l3 per cent :" and in
1870, he estimates ''that the total number
of aliens who have been permanently added
| since the formation of the Government will
reach 1903, SG3."
What may be the actual and reasonable
valuation OF such an increase of population,
is a nice question, and one which l have no
desire to pretend to determine, but in regard
to it prefer once more, to quote from Mr..
Young, who on page X of his preliminary
chapter of his Report, gives after fair cal
| culatiOn and comparison of the vary ing csti-
mates of experts upon that peculiar branch
of statistical knowledge, the following calm
and cool, but startling estimate of the money
value ofthe annual and aggregate accrcton by
immigration to the population of this country
within the preceding year and the preceding
half century.
"From the foregoing consideration there
fore, the sum of $500, seems to be the full
average capital value of each immigrant. AT
this rate those who landed upon our shores
during the year just closed, added upwards
of 1885 ,0OO, 900 to our national wealth, while
during the last half century the incrcascment
from that source exceeds sG,2l3, $50, 800"
And after this reasonable but astonishing
| conclusion he proceeds:
ut is impossible to make an intelligent
estimate Of the value to the country of those
foreign born citizens who brought their edu-
Gated minds, their cultivated tastes, their
skill in the ARTS, and their inventive genius.
In almost every walk of life their influ-
ence has been felt, alike in tn fearful ordeal
of war and in the pursuits of peace, in our
legislative halls, and in the various learned
professions, the adopted sons of America
have attained cmincncc.
"Among the many who rendered timely
aid to our country during the late war, it
may seem invidious to mention single name
except for the purpose of illustration. In
the year 1889 there arrived at the port of
New York IN the steamship British Queen,
which sailed from the port of London, a
Swedish emigrant, better known as Captain
John Ericsson. What was his value to the
country as estimated on the 9th day of March,
1862? Was it $500, 100000, or sS,OOO,-
| OOO?"
And, to the above admirable and forciblc
illustration by Mr.. Young of the incalcuable
value to this country of immigration, l desire
| to close this part of the discussion by asking
| some bold man among my colleagues upon
this floor to give here and now a cash valua-
| ton Of the value of the life and services in
| one direction of such a man as Carl Schurz,
| and in another of such an one as Louis
| Agassiz, and still another of such man as
Smithson, Girard, or Stewart.
Tending then as it inevitably will by show
ing the manifold chances for social, political
and material advancement that in this happy
country were offered as free gifts to every
son of man who chooses to apply in person
for them, and to demonstrate his sincerity
| by assuming the obligations of American
citizenship, to add a powerful and continuing
stimulus to never-ending tide of valuable
immigration for those reasons alone, were
there absolutely none others offered, am in
favor of substantial and direct aid to an enter
prise so palpably capable of such valuable
results.
| will leave to others such comments as
the certain improvement in mechanical and
artistic skill, which may reasonably be eX-
| pccted to grow out of such a favorable OppOr-
| tunity for the examination and comparison
of the master achievements of the trained and
skilled workmanship of the world; for know
that this will be with many a fayorte and
fruitful subject of full discussion.
But will take the occasion to call atter-
ton to less direct, but to my mind no less
| important effect that may be expected to
result from a we'll understood national and
international exposition. allude to the
tendency of such a gathering as will then
occur to revive, invigorate, and stir TO vigor.
GUS life that feeling of national patriotism
which recent occurrences in our land have
somewhat weakened.
am we'll aware of the common inclination
to consider patriotism as a sort Of myth and
n popular delusion, and to look upon any
allusiOn to it as at least bordering upon the
ridiculous.
Long ago, patriotism was said by an emf.
nent English novelist to be "the love o.
Office" and politics the art of getting it,
and am not ignorant Of the common suppo
sitiOn that, in Southern politics particularly
the actual truth of old Ficlding's allegation
is being continually illustrated; but, coming
from the South, as do, desire to say, thai
the patriotic tendency Of the Centennial is
not the least attractive or least important
feature of it, in the estimation of Southern
men, "withOut respect to previous condi
ton"
In the face of the common drift of thu
| modern general mind towards ridicule of any