Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-06-28

OF the Northwest IS OF very nigh
ranking in honesty, sobriety
and.enterprise with the very best
native born people. But some one
may say: THE Journal is North
western paper; it has a Northwestern
constituency; its interests are IDENTICAL
with the Northwest; therefore it will
give its own coloring 10 the matter.
Just leave THE Journal entirely out
Of the case aud then look atsame facts,
facts which are worth a whole library
Of interesting but misleading fiction.
If foreigners who come to the |
Northwest are Of a low class, lacking
intelligence and devoid Of integrity, |
shall they be looked for in places Oft
authority? By no meanes; but what
are the fects? Why, that in thet
state of Minnesota the foreign born
element is assuming pronounced
proportion in places of prominence.
If it be i'll business, IN the professions,
in banks, in manufacturing, in all
that tends to sustain the material
prosperity of the municipality, the
directory Of the city Of Minneapolis
will show you that the foreign-born
population of this city holds an en-
viable place. Ifyou would ask who
makes our laws? Consult the records
of the recent state legislature, and
you will find that in the state senate
Of 1889, Is out Of total of AZ mem
bers were born in foreign countries,
and that in the house Of representa-
tives of the same legislature, - were
born across the sea. If you consider
the present and past officials, you
shall find that the men of foreign
birth are not only numerous but
sound, able, executive men, welding
the influence Of their position for the
good Of the whole state. If You look
among the various county, town and
city officials you will find the same
state of affairs.
Does not this look as though the
foreigners who come to the Northwest
were made up Of splendid material.
But let US not stop here.
The recent report of the state board
of charities and corrections contains
some pertinent points. A carefully
prepared series Of tabulated statements
has been prepared by Secretary Hart
which shows in figures which cannot
be refuted, some singular facts. Let
it be borne in mind that in treating
this matter The JOURNAL does not
seek to invite belittling comparisons
the object is to clear up some
ancient errors as to the foreign popula-
ton, which is such an important fac
tor in the development of the re-
sources Of the Northwest.
In the tables it is shown that on a
basis Of 1,117,79S inhabitants, the
total foreign born population Of the
state represents 71.2 per cent, the
native born 2S.S per cent. Now, it
is claimed that the foreign born
population should possess the same
relative percentages Of inmates in the
various institutions of the state as the
native population-your blatant
stump speaker would say that it
would largely exceed the native born.
Referring to the cold, unsympathetic,
but wholly reliable facts in the case,
and what is shown? Briefly stated,
this: The foreign population, or:
more strictly, inclusive Of those born
of foreign parents, has 71.2 per cent
Of the total population of the state;
but of the total population Of the
school for the deaf it has 7O5 per
cent; of the school for the blind,
$3.50 per cent; Of the school for feeble
minded, 63.S per cent; Of the school
for dependent children, GOA per cent;
of the reform school, 62 per cent; of
the state prison, CAS- per cent.
1t will be noted that III every
instance the foreign born population,
and that born of foreign parents, Of
the state has less than its natural
share of inmates af the various penal
and charitable institutions.
Take single instance: The
Scandinavian population of the state
is 25.1 per cent of the whole. The
Scandinavians have 20 per cent.
of tie inmates of the school for the
deaf, 15.8per cent Of the school for
the feeble minded, 222 per cent of
the school for dependent children
SO per cent Of the reform school, and
only 9.2 per cent Of the state prison
in every instance the Scandinavian,
element. of the state has less than its
natural share Of population in these
institutions. A good deal has been said
about the Bohemians-tbat they were
hard lot, etc., but the facts show
that in this state, with 1.6 per cent Of
population, they have 8 per cent of
of the reform school inmates aud
only 5 per cent Of the inmates of the
state prison. Corresponding results
are shown as to the Minneapolis
workhouse population. =,
But lest it be said that these
figures are .'doctored" to suit Mime
sofa, let it be borne in mind that a
comparison Of eight different states
prisons in as many different states
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mich
igan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Observation-Disclosures precisely the
same results, that in each aud every