The daily gazette., 1879-12-18
Anses.tca's Opp0stssssitv.

Amestca's Opporsssnisv.
From the New York Journal Of Con-
merco.
Everything should now be done to en-
courage immigration. Europe's dificul-
ty ID America's opportunity. Tho bad
crops ard hard tines In England and on
the Continent this year have driven to
the United States about $1,000 more
persons than sought asylum here In 1878.
During the past month the arrivals Of
immigrants proper 1t this port were
15,915, or nearly thrice those Of Novem-
ber, 1878. 1t is not enough that our
country should tolerate and make no
objections to this most valuable class Of
import .tions. They should be welcom-
ed right warmly, and every effort made
publicly and privately-by legislation
and by spontaneous popular action--to
stimulate movement so full Of promise
to this country. Mr.. Cox's bill, lately
offered in the House has some good
points. Some persons will object to 1t
because II proposes 70 assume duties and
responsibilities which have hitherto de-
volved wholly on the States. This would
be . more serious objection II, as . mat
ter Of fact, the States had not generally
neglected the subject. Only . few OF
the States-New York at the head-hAve
passed any Law or done anything relative
to immigration, and these laws have not
always been wise ones. New York for
many years retained among her statutes
q per capita tax on these newcomers.
She actually fined them for coming here,
Instead of throwing open her Arms TO
receive them. The United States Su-
preme Court declared this tax unconsti-
tutional. The foolish conduct Of this
State in taxing immigrants did more
than anything else 20 give popularity TO
the sche ne of Federal law TO regulate
the immigration business Of the whole
| country. The passage of some national
law Of this kind is only . question of
time. Protests will not prevent it. Ac-
cepting 1t As inevitable after what has
occurred, we should be glad IL nothing
more Objectionable Is passed than Mr..
Cox's measure. This imposes no lead
tax on immigrants, and In two ways eu-
courage the incoming Of all honest, in
dustrious, thrifty, self-supporting for
eieners, and those are the only ones We
want.
Mr.. Cox would have the General Gov
ernn ent provide for the reler and sup
port of all immigrants who would re-
quire at the port of landing the sssis-
tance formerly and even now given tG
them (say) by the State of New York
Under the State system the pauper and
sick Immigrants fall charge to this
Commonwealth, while the well-to-dc
and the able-bodied move on to the
West. The least decirabls are alway,
among those who stay where they land
1t is not fair that Now Y York should pro
vide for all the old, the infirm, and tn.
penniless, while Illinois, Iowa, and Min
nesot- get the young and vigorous, VIII,
have money to inv st in farms. Mr.. Coz
proposes to distribute the burden NOR,
evenly by making it . Federal affair
: The tax7paye $ of Kansas and Colorad,
. would then be obliged to pay their shar
OF an expense which now rests almos
wholly on those of New York. It is no
for New Workers TO object to this. Til
bill also promotes immigration Of IL,
! right -ort by not permitting TO land ex
= convicts (exce pting political offenders
who ave been discharged from pr. D
! " thin q year before their arrival, @
who have p'eaded guilty of some infa
nous crime and been released from puT
I ishn ent on condition Of leaving for tn
United State7, or who within the previ
GUS balf year have been inmates of
lunatic asylum or q poorhouse. A
!; such persons would be sent by the Soy
4 ernment.
, The effect of these restrictions woul
s not be merely to secure the better cla
Y of immigrants for the United States, b,
!, actually to increase the numbers of th
class. When IL il understood that thieve
y lunatics, and confirmed paupers will n
:. be allowed to land at the port of Ne
: York, but will be returned whence the
r. care, the honest and industriaus po'
d will be more likely to fill the steerag
o from which improper associates for u
: voyage have been excluded by the owl
o ers of We GELS at whose expense the 70
u hidden persons must be sent back. tt
influx of these bad elements, If unchecl
n ed, would, of course keep psce with d
general II crease Of immigration. 1t m
n be expected, therefore, to be large
BIT 1880, and no time should be lost
k guarding against it.
>. The bill is satisfactor ry to those N,
York State officials whom it would MI
q, affect, and also to the Convention of I
1g County Superintendents of the Po
as No opposition has yet shown its hand
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