The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-05
Material for New Citizens.

Since the opening Of the year there has
been very decided and significant increase
in the number OF immigrants arriving at
this port. The great mercantile and indus
trial depression In Europe, and the indica-
lions Of business Improvement in the United
States, which doubtless have been much ex-
aggerated have, Of course. given this new
impulse to immigration, for several years
past at comparatively low ebb. For the
first quarter OF the year the aggregate inn
migration was li,1l4 against s,7sG in 1878,
gain OF more than twenty-five per cent, and
in later weeks the gain has been even greater
Germany continues TO send us the largest
number OF new settlers, England coming
next, Ireland third, Switzerland fourth, and
Italy fifth. The scare about n flood OF Chi
nese immigration gets little to feed upon in
the number OF arrivals at San Francisco
from the Celestial Empire during the last
twelvemonth. The Cinnamon are going home
faster than their countrymcn are coming
hither; and, for the present, at least, Their,
seems little likelihood that our civilization
is to be swampcd by the influx OF heathens.
There were only thirty-flve arrivals at New
York from China during the first three
months Of the year, and all the aliens among
them We're irst-class passengers.
However il may be In Germany, the pos
sbility OF an Increase OF emigration from
| England is regarded with satisfaction by
the political economists Of the overcrowded
island. Yet the great mass Of the industrial
population who are struggling hardest for
existence there make poor material for emf
grants. Their habits of life and restricted
! spheres Of labor, out of which so many Of
them are unable to get i'll fit this mass TO
undergo the hardships incident TO establish
ing themselves in n new country whore tho
conditions may require them to learn to do
work to which they have not been accus-
toned. They are, too in large part just
the sort Of immigrants of whom we are not
in need. They would swell the ranks OF n
body OF labOrers already in excess OF the
demand, even since there has begun to be q
partial revival of manufacturing industries.
OF late years. however, a new class of the
population of England has been brought to
straits which lead them to entertain
thoughts of seeking new fields for their
capital aud industry. They are the smaller
tenant farmers who are now struggling
to make both ends meet and yet pay rents
which yearly eat up larger proportion of
their profits. The great landlords cannot keep
rents at the high figures they have reached,
and some OF them have already been forced
to make reductions for the simple reason
that their tenants are unable to pay them
Immigrants from this agricultural class
who could bring with them moderate capt.
tai on which TO start, would prove a valua-
bic addition to our population and might
soon better their condition But no part o
the inhabitants Of England are more welded
TO their native soil than these farmers, anC
they will be slow to uproot themselves. Al
to the agricultural laborers, in the Unitoo
States class which is secure against pr
walton, in England they are frequently tho
victims Of poverty so severe that it is hope
less to think of their emigrating without or
gained aid.
The experience of emigration from Eng
land has been that as rule it has both pre-
coded and accompanied prosperity at home
tho dlminutlon in tho number Of workers
benenting the country. Tho first groa
enlux was in 1s47, when the total OF emf
grants was more than quarter OF mil
lion, and nearly three times that In 1S45
Tho highest number recorded was In 1852
when it reached 3GS ,7Gl, and the annual emf
grafton was maintained Mt large figures
until 1875 when IL fell off 10 about $4,000
aud in 1877 it dropped to the low total o
ll900O How to stimulate the emigration
Of the increasing surplus OF population II
therefore a question which now awakcni
inquiry in England
The marked increase in immigration Il
the United States this year affords promise
! OF additions W our population from THU