The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-11-04
CHIEF CAUSE OF OUR VAST IMMIGRA-


zion of the labOring classes with US, with
all OF which Europe is Of course familiar,
these great crowds of foreigners have CON
tiHufd to come amongst us and settle down
as citizens. Some indeed have such mis-
cradle experiences that they return to
their old homes at the first favorable oppor-
tunity, but the vast majority of them are
here to stay and do stay. Americans are
prone to say that this influx of strangers
arises from perception of the many
facilities for making money and getting
rapidly rich in the United States, but this
is undoubtedly grave mistake. They
come to escape the burdens imposed upon
them by the home government, to get the
| benefit of our freedom, and are careless
or reckless about the consequences other
wise of their soiourn in America. Some
| figures recently published as TO the cost of
European armies, will throw some light on
the chief grievance of the Europeans and
explain the main evil from which they run,
The enormous standing armies of the En-
ropean nations are not only preventing the
growth of population and wealth among
| Them but are soaring oil tho best blood Of
the country, Kidding the nations in fact Of
their more Independent and intelligent
classes of society in the middle ranks of life.
| The cost of these armies is ire
mendous. For instance, tho annual
expenses of the Russian army are
about SlS5, 100000; of Great Britain,t $500
co., 600; of France, $l3O,OOO,0OO of Cor
many, about the same as France, and SO on
down through the list of the countries
from which the emigration is heaviest. In
fact, the total cost of European armies on
u peace footing is near one thousand
millions Aside from this fact, all able
bodied men are compelled to ser"e from
two to five years as n soldier. The Euro
pean laborlng man is poor and the pay of
the European soldier is exceedingly small
even under the most favorable circum-
stances, The figures above referred to, it
must be remembered, do not include the
civil list or the navy. When, therefore,
such a tremendous burden is laid upon the
masses OF Europe, nearly l,0O,00O 600 an
nually and their best time taken to keep
mp grand military establishment, ii is no
wonder they leave by the hundred thou
sands. The taxes they have to pay they
could not pay without great deprivation,
under the most favorable circumstances,
and even though they did not have to swell
the armies, and devote their best years to
its service. They fly, therefore, to coun-
try where they can escape these enormous
demands upon their time and money, even
though they should make little here. Men
who have observed the emigration move
mcnt closely, who have made the subject n
study, declare that Europc's standing ar
mics are building up America more rapidly
than any other cause, SO far as the Contri-
button of foreign immigration is con.
cerncd. That it is, above all others,
this fact shat runs these people
from home cannot be disputed
While The various governments of the old
country, therefore, are becoming exercised
to an unusual extent over the remarkable
emigration that is keeping down their
growth In population and depriying them
ofmuch Of the best blood and muscle in
their realm, they should note the influence
that these great standing armies exert
upon the fact complained OF. They should,
IN their search after causes, note this one
and il they will be courageous enough to
disband them they may hope to keep their
people ut home, otherwise they cannot do
it, as men who think cannot be nationally
expected to spend their Time and money in
keeping up II huge camp, in which they
must themselves live half their lives. This
is the chief reason Of the unprecedented
influx of Europeans to America,
They come to escape the military
duty and the burdensomc taxes consc.
qnent upon the maintenance Of the great
armies OF Europe, In tho meantime
America, with its absence of military pro.
cliyites or establishments, its grand pros.
pcrity and uninterrupted peace, opens wide
its arms 10 receive every one who comes
Here the duties required OF the citizen are
scarcely felt by him, and it ought to be a
pleasure to him to discharge them. Hare
taxes are light and the immigrants time
is his own. These are vast differences and
hardly appreciated by us who know nothing
of the other side to the question, but they
are nevertheless annually pouring into oul
borders million human beings from
abroad who join in helping build up the
most wonderful country and youngest ma
! ton in the world.