The Press., 1888-09-27

unskilltd labor downward, while the influx of immigrants is about half million every year. To speak now of protection of American labor in the two great depart ments of mining aud cloth manufacturing is burlesque, while ordinary farm labor has depreciated decidedly in wages throughout the union, since 1875, not to mention the wartime period at all For instance, by U. s. Report, in Maine, 1875, day labor was $1.46 without board, or $1. 05 with board in 1885, $1 19 and .88 In New Hampshire, $1 50 and $l. l2; $l 30 and ,95 In Vermont, 51 aud II l; 1 15 and S8, while in 1869 it was |. .76 and 128. In favored Massachusetts, where the demand for farm products is large in proportion to the supply, in 1869. l 92 and 1.37; in 1875, | A and 1.12; in 1885, 50 a i'd l. %; the second difference indicating the increase in board apparently. In Con necticut, 1875, 50 and 1.16; in 1885, 32 and 1 %. In Rhode Island, L 62 and IS 1.25 and 94 In New York, | 48 and l. O6 l 26 and .93. In New Jersey, | 45 and 100; 1.17 and .83 In Pennsylvania, 1.37 and .95; 1.10 and so. In none of the southern states were day wages as high as LOO in 1885, a general decrease. In Ohio, 1875, 1.35 and 100; in 1885, l. Il and .85, and a proportionate drop through out the west, California excepted. Su wages by the month from '75 to '85 de- clined 13 per cent. in the eastern states, II in the middle states, 12 in the south, and 6 in the west, the fuci uations being first downward '75 to '79, then upward to 'S2, then decidedly downward again. The de, cline from '66 to '79 was 39 per cent. in the eastern states, 35 in the middle states, 30 in the west, IT in the south. Wages per month, without board, averaged for the east $33.3O in 66; BPS. 96 in '75 :; $25 30 in '95. Further, there is no fixed limit to farm laborer's days work ill most of the states, especially if one works by the month. It becomes therefore powerfully pertinent question. Who speaks for that "hired man," working from "sun to sun" at that fundamental and most nec- essary of all occupations Whence is the improvement to come? Not from the farm which employs him. That will not, under ordinary circumstances, give more to its owner himself in the eastern states, at forced sale of the products per man j; namely $303 60, according to the foregoing average for '85, $25 30 per month :; es- pecially after the owners tax on the prop erty, and wear of tools, etc., is deducted, with interest on the value invested. This explains why so al01ey farms are encum-
 
 fertile districts away from markets. The farming class needs and deserVe8 the most notice from statesmen and gets the least. 'Erll fares the land, to hastening ills prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay: Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade A breath can make them, as breath has made But bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed can never be supplied"
 Politicians of every political shade have been accustomed to point to the size of our immigration as an unmistakable sign of our prosperity, and an unmitigated bless ing. But the blessing from immigration is to be derived not from the number but from the character of our immigrants and to add to our national wealth they must either bring wealth or make it; not be merely consumers, soon to fill our poor houses, and become a burden. Returns show that we have received many of this latter class and many who have no sympa- thy with our institutions. If the Chinese may be restricted, from prejudice, surely others, certainly no better, may be regu- lated from policy, and still others from principle, as we'll as policy. We should import neither anarchists, drunkards, crim- inals, nor paupers. As we have right to refuse them from our individual homes, so have we as a collection of individuals, nation, though too many hold to the it. fusion that our government can do no act or give us anything that does not first come from ourselves.
 As we require certificate of character from the servant before admitting one into our family, so ought we to require one from the immigrant before he enters our national family or our country, signed by a consul or other responsible official in the immigrants native placa and that he un- derstand aud accept our constitution and our chief and characteristic institutions, governmental and civil.
 1t is prudence to discourage the entrance of those who would disturb or bring dis credit upon us, the disorderly or the disre- putable classes, and to give the vacancies aud advantages to the orderly and moral, in order to shut out the enemies of the re- public Foreign labor Ss competing with us oaa oata' oaOn SoiL; but leave natives at least the satisfaction of competing with their equals. J. N. ENo.