Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-22
lHnIGRAr ION.

Every steamship from Europe brings
large aceessions to our population, ana
contrary TO the expectations, earlier in
the year, of shipping agents, the i'm
migration tidal wave increases as 1t
comes in. The reduction of steerage
Iassepeer rates may have had some
thing to do with the increase, but not,
to any sppreciab!e degree in the great
aggregate.
The social results of this large infiax
are apparent; the commercial advsnt-
skes cannot be overestimated, But
What of the political prospects? During
the last thirty years it is calculated over
5000, 900 immigrants have sought new
homes and more promising fields Of in
dustry in the United States. The yearly
volume Of arrivals has constantly fiuctu-
ated under the influence of various con-
ditions Of affairs in the European ma
tons. Hard times, incipient famines,
the prospect of war, have always had
the effect Of stimulating the migratory
movement from the Old World to the
New. The years 1887, 1854, 1853, 1872,
1878 and 1879 were each marked by q
very large influx from Europe. In 1880
there was 8 collapse only to make the
revival of the succeeding years more
remarkable.
They now believe that there will be
large arrivals for May, June and July,
aud if the appearances already present.
ing themselves be any warranty as a
basis for calculation, by comparison
with the arrivals in previous years
and in their respective months, it may
| he predicted that the total immigration
Of 1888 will not fall much short of 350,-
OC0. Though nearly all the nations Of
| tie Old World are contributing TO the
vast incoming, Germany so far leads
| all the rest, and it is a curious fact,
taken in connection with the distress in
that country, and with the State aid to
Immigration, that Ireland does not
hold its old time propOrtionate rank in
Lumbers. Judging, however, from re-
orts in Irish papers, an activity in the
depopulating policy will soon set in 10
that country. From one district Of one
county We have before US a statement
which, with small variation, may be
taken as applying TO every part OF
Ireland. The Glare Independent says:
From the County of Clare the Cells are
going with vengence. They are going
in dozens, in families. in whole home
steads. They are going in WEAKNESS, in
despair, in tribulation; going heartsicS
of the prolonged trials their lives have
proved; going with blessings on the old
land they leave in tears behind, with
curses on the villaiuous class tyraunies
that have combined with its perverse
climate in making it the forsaken and
deplorable land it is; going every day,
every hour, with a vengencew Going
with vengeance! The phrase origin
ated with the London Times, but has
not some one suggested that the day
may come when these same Celts will
return with q vengeance?
Meanwhile they are TO be here of US
and with Us, sharing our laborS AMI
participating in our privileges, social,
political and commercial. Contrasting
nationalties in their desire to exercise
political privileges, the Germans and
Irish are brought to the front on op'
posite sides of the various questions
which occur. 1t Is calculated that
among naturalized citizens the Irish
are the most eager to secure the right Of
voting. While they have but p per
cert. Of the population, they have 30
per cent. Of the voters; that Is nearly 43
ler cent. moe than equal proportion,
surprising population aud voters to
stand in strictly natural relation. The
German have % per cent. Of voters to
IL per cent. of the people, or 80 per
cent. in excess of voters. Other foreign
ers have per cent. OF citizens to ID per
cent. ofthe population, or % per cent.
less than their share. Unquestioaab!y
the Irish cast the largest per cent. Of
their vote, Germans and Americans
following in about equal ratio Of their
numbers, English, French and other
foreigners seldom voting at all.
But while We may speculate on the
Citizen status Of the immigrant in
the future his social condition in the
present claims the first attention. The
desire to leave the cities Of the seaboard
and "go West" is one Of the healthiest
signs of the new movement. The great
cities are the curse Of the poor, and on
none has this curse fallen more heavily
than on the thousands of Irish families
who have had the misfortune to remain
in them, working like slaves for the
lowest pittsnce that labor receives, in
stead Of making their way to the country
and gradually getting homes of their
own. The Great West needs the labor
of all the immigrants now arriving,
and they should go there.
Orr NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE.
THE REGISTER has secured the servi-
ces OF one of the leading newspaper