Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-28
IMPoRTIaG PAUPERs.

The English societies engaged in for
warding emigrants to the United States
give aid to those only who can prove that
they are utterly destitute. This results,
of course, in sending to US the pauper and
invalid class. Seven-tenths of that class
represent the vicious and the shiftless, !"
who are'unwilling to labor, no matter how
freely remunerative employment is offered.
Immigrants to the number of about three
thousand have arrived upon our shores
within two months, sent out by the Eng.
lish societies, and the vast majority of
whom are of the undesirable classes named.
The American people very naturally resent
the coming in of these people. There is not
involved any race prejudice, for the same
spirit was manifest when Germany at.
tempted to send US Objectionable immi-
grants. For the relief of distress in Ire
land, America has always contributed lib
orally, and thus testified her sympathy
with the sufferers there, and this is one of
the evidences that the growing feeling of
resentment is not one of prejudice 1t has
already become serious question whether
England shall be permitted to continue to
send her impoverished and hopeless sick
and crippled people to our shores, to be.
come immediate public charges and ill up
the county and city jails, charity hospitals
and poorhouses. Now there is a
statute of the United States that may be
invoked for our protection. 1t provides
for the examination of immigrant. passen-
gers and the exclusion of lunatics. idiots and
those unable to take care of themselves
or liable to become a public charge. In
all such cases the Collector of the Port is
to refuse permission to such persons to
land, and is to require the owners of the
ship on which they arrive to return the
passengers. A demand has been made at
Atlantic ports for the enforcement of the
law. The only difficulty about it is that
of establishing affirmatively the inability
OF the immigrant, in a great number of
cases, to care for himself. But it is GER
tain that the enforcement of the law will
be sanctioned by public opinion. We
want no more of the idle and vicious classes
of Europe. They but swell the ranks of
the bowling mob that marches under the
banner of communism. This people will
not consent to give of their substance to
maintain the paupers European nations are
so glad to be rid of. The immigration n we
need is of the kind that adds to the
strength of the nation, contributes to her
industries, moves out upon our plains and
hillsides to conquer the coil, or searches
the earth for the wealth of her metals.
We need the strong, willing, Industrious
men and women who are fired by the am
bition to build up homes for themselves,
and become useful and valued citizens. If
they are possessed of some means at the
outset, all the better-they will sooner win
that for which they are willing to toll.
But to the impoverished, idle and vicious,
the inirm, Incompetent ard imbecile, we
hold out no invitations. As for this coun-
try being the receptacle for all classes and
conditions of men, to freely come and live
with us or upon us, that idea has long
since been exploded.