Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-18
IMMIGRATION.

IMMIGRATION.
During the ten fiscal years ended June &c.
1882, the arrivals of foreigners to settle in
this country amounted to 4,657, 1928 persons /;
and it is estimated that not less than one
fourth Of our present total population has
been derived from immigration and its natu-
raj increase. The great migration from Eu-
rope commenced about 1846. and was caused
by bad harvest and famines in great part Of
the Old World and by the discovery of gold
In California three years later, the movement
was greatly augmented. The war of the re-
bellion nearly stopped immigration for a
while, but at its close 1t assumed greater pro-
portions than ever, until again checked by
tho hard times following 1878. The move.
ment of immigration is faithfully shown by
the census reports. Our foreign-born
population in 1850 was about two and
one fourth millions. Ten years later
1t was about four and one-eighth millions, or
but little less than double; while in 1870 it
had increased to only about five and one
half millions. In 1879, however, immigra-
ton began to assume gigantic proportions !;
and during the three fiscal years ended June
&c. 1882, the arrivals have aggregated 1875
69l, and the constant annual tendency has
been to an expansion of numbers. The next
highest aggregate in any three consecutive
fiscal years was 1,lS5, 959, in 1871, 1872, and
1873. The new corners in the last fiscal year
number 769, 003, equal to the rate of three
arrivals In every two minutes. day and night,
| without interruption, 10 the end Of the twelve
months. This one years addition 10 our
people is an increase of them to The exten,
OF about II per cent.
Such movement Of population is without
parallel ID the worlds history. Gauls,
Germans, Goths, Vandals and Huns swept
over Europe In tremendous numbers, but
their mission was not peace, but war and
conquest; while our immigration builds up
the nation and makes the wilderness blossom
and increases the counlry's wealth and pros.
perity.
| There Is, to be sure, another side to the
question not quite SO pleasant to contemplate,
aud that is whether or not 1t is practicable,
out of this enormous, heterogeneous mass,
to form Homogeneous people. All sorts OF
creeds-some Of them directly antagonistic to
the fundamental principles Of a free gov.
eminent, and others, again, totally subver.
sive, If carried out Of all governmental
sorts OF people, desirable and undesirable
given these Ingredients, the question is
whether the resulting mixture will be a
witches broth orr soup puree. The result
has thus far been highly satisfactory,
and with the conditions of the present
free schools, free press and the
widest liberty of thought and ac-
tion-We have no fears for the fu.
ture. We are not Of those who see any
terrible danger from the growth of the
Roman church. II exists here under entire
ly different conditions than any 10 its Old
World history; and the country is too big
far advanced for any real menace from this
source. The principal point to be insisted
on, 1t seems to US, Is popular education. Our
proportion OF illiterates is even now far too
large, and with every shipload from Europe
there Is an Increase of it. The matter Is one
Of vital importance and ought not for mo.
ment to be lost sight OF.
The report Of the primary schools 10 Ire
land for the year 1881 has been issued II
should be borne in mind that these schools dc
not represent the whole people, for Roman
Catholics. where they can manage 1t, estab
lish schools Of their own. The report show,
that at the close of 1881 there were 784S de-
partment schools in Ireland, representing !,
086, 259 pupils the average daily attendance