The Irish standard., 1888-04-21
a QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION.

a QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION.
The immigration from Europe to the
United States this year is expected to
be unusually large. In fact recent
cable dispatch stated that sufficient
number of steamers were not to be
found in British ports to supply the pas
sengers applying for conveyance to this
country. From this it may be inferred
that the immigration this year will far
exceed that of all former ones. There
is Il feature concerning the immigration
which has. we fear, been overlooked by
the United States authorities, and one
which is well worthy their attention.
We refer to the fact that there is good
reason for the belief that the e2Straordi-
nary increase Of insanity in this coun-
try is largely due to the influx OF irnmi-
grants of most undesirable class,
among them being certain proportion
of lunatics and persons Of weak mind.
who with l;aupers are shipped to this
country in order that the people who
send them may be relieved OF the bur-
den Of their care and support. 1t will
be remembered that last year the State
Boards of Charities Of New DIRK and
Massachusetts undertook TO Investigate
the alarming increase III the number Of
insane in the asylums and other ia
ri
of which appeared IN The IRISH STAN
DAIaD at that time. In York state it
was found that the number Of insane
had increased no less than forty-two
per cent. in the six years ended October
l, 1886, while the increase OF population
had only been about twelve per cent,
at the same tine it was noted as sig
nifcant TACT that the increase Of ill.,
sanity in Great Britain, and particu-
larry in England, was comparatively
trif1ng. On January /, 1886, there were
in the United Kingdom los. 466 insane
persons, an increase during the previous
year Of only $50 in population Of about
$4,000 600; while during the same period
in New York State, with population
ct about 5000. 900, the increase was s3l.
These facts also afforded 81 very good
ground, for the inference that a large
number of the insane Of Great
Britain were being shipped to
America as immigrants, but further
proof WAS forthcoming as we'll. The
reports OF the State Boards OF Charities |
showed that in 1880 nearly one-third of
the insane in the United States were OF
foreign birth, while the census gave
the foreign-born Inhabitants as consti-
tuting less than one-seventh of the en-
tire population. There Was one insane |
person from every 662 natives, while
the proportion for the foreign-born
was one for every 254. In Massachu-
setts alone, Of 3.4l4 insane persons adj
,nitted to the asylums during the four
years ended with 1884, nearly three
dfths We're Of foreign birth. Comment
upon all these facts, the New York
State Board said in it's report last year
upon the increase of insane during the
previous six years:
*>In searching for the causes Of this
great and steady increase in the num-
Der of insane in the institutions Of this
State during this period the board fails
10 find them in the impaired material,
social or other conditions Of the State
likely to induce the disease, and it
therefore repeats irs conclusions set
forth in former reports, that such in
crease comes almost wholly from the
shipment Of insane and otherwise EN-
e ebled persons to our shores from diff
serent countries of Europe, who imme-
lately fall upon the cities and counties
If this State for support This is
oorne out by its examinations Of the
insane in various institutions OF the
State, by the united testimony of the
officers having them in
charge, and blythe undue proportion Of
foreign to native insane in these insti-
buttons as shown by their records, and
by the enumeration Of the
Federal census Of 1850, extending also
to the insane in families
It would be we'll for the proper
authorities to investigate this matter
and endeayor to prevent the
pernicious habit now existing in Eng
land of shipping immigrants to this
country who are on the verge Of insani-
". The capacity of our sasylums and
refugees is already taxed beyond its
INIT, and it is time for us to draw the
inc
IGNATIUs DONNELLY ABROAD.