The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-16
SHALL CONGRESS RESTRICT IMMI
GRAFTON
The Question Ably Discussed bv the Lit
erary society of the \. NJ &. a.

The Question Ably Discussed bv the Lit
erary society of the y. NJ. &. a.
For several weeks the Literary Society
OF the Y. NJ G. A. has held no meeting for
debating, and the gathering of last week
was therefore eagerly looked for hy its
members. The two sides of the question
under discussion were ably represented,
and ii was rather late when the meeting
came to an end
The subject was, Resolved, That i'm
migration be restricted by Congress"
The gentlemen speaking In the atfirma-
ton did not say in what manner they
wanted to see immigration restricted,
and they did not express an opinion
whether they are satisfied with the pre-
sent state of affairs, inasmuch az Congress
has already forbidden the immigration OF
the Chinese, cf paupers, conyicts, and
contract labor One Of the speakers
stated that In 1859 the immigration from
Germany alone had nun bered quarter
of million Of people, or more than three
times as many as the population OF this
city. The spreading of nihilism in Eu-
rope was apt TO increase the immigration
10 this country. The Inhabitants of Italy
were noted for being the worst fed peo-
pie and only too willingly decided to try
their luck in this country. A revolution
in Russia. which was by no means
an impossibility, would mean an in
crease of immigration from that part
of the world. And in England the
final retirement Of that great old
man, William T. Gladstone, might pro-
duce similar results. Ii was only in the
interest of the American people TO stop
the tidal wave of immigration by some
means All the nations of Europe COM
bined could well afford 10 send two IL
lions OF immigrants 10 this country every
year and its immigration would still in
crease. If immigration TO this country
should keep on 10 increase at the same
ratio AS heretofore, in 1900 the United
States would have iorly-three millions of
immigrants, or nearly rs many as the
present population. The tendency of the
immigrants of settling in he West would,
in course of time, secure them the control
of the Government in that locality.
There would be no objection II the best
families of other countries migrated To
this country, but as it was, much less
desirable class of people took refuge to
this country. Twenty-four per cent. of
the discharged Irish criminals, for
instance, had taken their abode among us
in one year The growth of Christianity
was hardly benefited by immigration.
Ii was an established fact that very often
Christians. as soon as they settled on tie
other side of the Mississippi, became cow
boys in their habits or all the crimes
committed in this country seventy five
per cent. could be traced back to the for
eign element. In 1880, of the liquor deal
ers who sold their articles b. the meas.
ure, sixty-seven per cent were foreigners;
of the brewers seventy five, and Of the
remainder the large majority was of for
eign descent
Immigrants have been the cause of
every strike among the coal miners in
this country AS soon as they come in
contact with American labor they create
a revolt, the Americans not being able to
compete with the cheap labor imported
By capitalists. While immigration was