New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-11


Let it be recorded that the colonization lie is
the most stupid yet invented
-------
ISIT TINE no CHECK IMUIGR1UONf
immigration has been popularity regarded
as one of the main elements of American
progress "There's room enough for all I"
cxclaims the easy-gong American; land
enough in the West and work enough
"every where for all newcomers and the
higher the population goes the richer the
country will be-" The decline of immiSra-
ton which follows every financial panic in
yariably causes diSmay whereas hlgh tide
of incoming population Is welcomed as Hood
ing the country with prosperity The signs,
however, are not always read III thls
way. The American Consul at Zurich
sounds, in our columns this morning,
solemn warning against the policy of encOur-
aging indscriminate immigration. He sees
that one-ffth of the population Is already
composed of foreigners that ii this proper
ton continues there will be 16,0OO,OOO OF
them in twenty years, and that this ratio Is
liable to be doubled or trebled and he fears
lest the control of this country may already
be Slipping ont of the hands of the American
people He thinks that the flood which Is
bringing prosperity with it is undermining
the foundations of the National Govern
ment and sweeping away all the vestiges of
historical development. He is terribly in EARN
est. GLOW long," he plaintvely asks, be-
81 fore there may be no America, except in
name no Americans, no Plymouth Rock,
"no Bunker Hill, no Gettysburg, no fixed re-
membrane of the past 4! Our immigration
ais drowning these things ont !"
Now we do rot wish to be understood as
sharing the apprehensions of the United States
Consul at Zurich. We think, however, that
his letter should command very wide attention,
especially as he dlsclaims any intention of eXag-
gerating the dangers of immigration, and asserts
that his conclusions are supported by the
experience and convictions of nearly all the
| Diplomatic representatives. of the United
States Government. We ask our readers TO
forget for an hour the politics or business of
the day, and give this letter a careful read
ing. They will find in it many conclusions
! from which they cannot dissent. For example,
! the fact that in the redistribution OF
| the pOpulation of the world which Is now
going Cd, " the lions share of the ig-
" nOrance and poverty is settling down i'll the
/ " United States' and that America has come 10
be regarded Ivy European economists as n
| cheaper pOorhousc and Jail than any to be had
! nj home. They may not perceive the relevancy
! of the inquiry Is the end, then, even for
" srlf-protcctiOn, n standing army and a
"lingW We do not ourselves But they
will readily admit that the regulation of i'm
migration at this time is matter deserving
! at least careful thought
| of lie of
! the traditions that have cOmc down from
! Colonial times. The attempt Of George ILL.,
! 10 obstruct the naturalization OF colOni5'S, aud
thus to retard the settlement OF tae frontiers,
was one of the causes that led to the Revo-
| luton. The Naturalization Acts of the Colo
NAL Legislatures opened the way for liberal
national policy respecting aliens. For few
years the period of probation before the rights
of citizenship could be conferred was put rs
| high as fourteen years but the uniform
practice since the century opened has re-
0uired residence of five years aad a
! declaration of intention made two years be-
| fore the application Is granted. This policy
! has enabled the United States to take
advantage of discomfort on the Continent
and dcstituton in Ireland. The current OF
immigration did not fairly set in until 1920,
but from that time the growth of the country
in population and material resources has been
unexamplcd. Has the time come when the
| traditional policy of the Nation must be aban-
doned With our common schools and free
| institutions, are we attempting TO do too much
of the worlds educational work Have the
strain and pressure of imported ignorance, vice
and pauperlsm become so great rs to impcri
the American system? Is the true moral of
the PittSburg riot the need of an enormous
standing army and a strong Central Govern
| ment? In learning TO become cosmopolitan,
are we forgetting to be patriotic
The Consul not only gives a diagnosis of
the disease, but prcscribes heroic treatment
| He proposes the substitution of II passport
system in place of Unrestricted immigration,
20 that no alien shall be allowed to land I'M
| less he has certificate from some American
| Consul to the effect that he is neither Il con-
Wet, fugitive from justice, nor debtor; ;
that be is able-bodied and has means for self
support. We have no idea that so radical "a
change in the present system is either neces-
sary or desirable and we are certain that the
State Department has not neglected its plain
| duty in protesting against the shipment of
| paupers. criminals and lunatIcs to this cOun-
try from foreign ports. With these reserva-
tons, we bespcak tor the whole subject II
careful examination and deliberate judy
ment.
| The DEMOCRAIIC REYIY1L.
i 4 - .