The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-12
THE REVIVAL OF KNOw.NOTH-
INGISM.

The enormous immigration oil lor-
eigners TO the United States since 1880,
toee ther with the fact that most OF the
Anarchists, Socialists, Communists snd
Nihilists are found among foreign
born citizens, have created much alarm
throughout the country and revived
the old spirit OF Know-Notbingism.
There is no cause for this feeling, and
IL IL unjust to the foreigners, who as
class are good, law-abiding citizens, as
loyal to the government, to order, So
oiety and our civilization as the native
born Americans. The latest statistics
show that during the lAst bali century
100000 OF persons born in
other lands have become residents OF
this, and at the census OF 1880, one
fourth Of all the adult males in the
United States were Of foreign birth.
The foreigners outnumbered the native
males in the great cities of New York,
Brooklyn, Chicago, st. Louis, Cincin'
matt, San Francisco, Cleveland, Bull
ialo, Pittsburg, Detroit, Jersey City,
Newark and Milwaukee, or in thir'
teen out OF the twenty cities, which,
in 1880, bad over 100000 inhabitants.
What would these cities be without
the foreigners who have added 80
much 10 their population and pro-
ductive wea tn. Memphis has, per-
haps, a larger population in proper
ton to tize than any other Southern
city. There people are industrious,
law.ablding, engaged in every con-
ceivable avoCation, and without them
Memphis would be reduced to half its
proportions, for while the foreigners
do not constitute halt the population
their business enterprise draws popu'
lation to the city, While there is an
enormous increase in foreign immi
grafton and the worst clastes may
have increMed the amodnt @
vice, lawlessness and cCitne D
the great cities, the industrlouI
and honest immigrants hsve add
ed to our material prosperity
our trade and commerce and great!
helped to subdue and develop our vas
resources. 1t is a singular fact tina
while the COMMUNICATIONS ar
a,most puritaniCal in their observauc
OF law and order, many OF the Anarch
lists are Germans, and that while tn
Irish are regarded as turbulent rae
they are the chief reliance OF tn
American people in putting dow
riots. Most OF our foreign populatio
are Germans and Irish people an
they assimilate Ito our institution
from the hour they reach our shore
Neither Of these two nationalities ha'
anything in sympathy with the refu
OF isreigu monarchists, driven fro
their native country because the
presencs was dangerous TO the pu
lie peace. Decent foreigners are
more responsible for the presence
Anarchists in America than the q
cent people were for the presen
Of the Tweed iugitives in EuroI
There are American outlaws refuge
ing in Europe, ready for any crime,
they have nothing to lose and eve
thing to gain, and there are also ma
outlaws from Europe in the Unit
States. The foreigners who are
gsged In the active pursuits OF life
dersiand that this is land OF libe
liberty regulated by law-and II
people OF the United States will &
to our foreign population the exclus
right to dispose OF the foreign
archists in our midst, there will Sc
be that kind of order which reigr
at Warsaw. This talk about reviv
Observation-Disclosures Calling
halt in immigration because a few
eigners are disturbers Of the pul
peace Is unjust to good foreign
zans. This is still the asylum for
oppressed q all Da.ions, the Eldor
for enterprise aud capital. But
possible, Anarchists, Commpui
Nibilis's and Socialists should be
Guided from our shores, and dec
foreigners will unite with native b
citizens in duvir g from our midst
law, II possible, or force, If recets'
the creatures who exercise bale
demoralis'ng influence upon soci'
and whose presence is a perpe'
menace to the peace ard g Oh orde
the country. Eaemies TO all gov,
msnts should not he countenan 81