New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-04
MR. pOWDERLY on IMMIGRATION.

MIR. r. V. POwderly's article on the perls
of immigration, printed elsewhere, is strong
and in the main unanswerable presentation OF
this important question Mr.. Powdery is him
self the son OF an immigrant, and has been for
many years closely identified with the great
class of wagc-workers to which immigrants
mainly belong. lie is therefore In position
10 speak fairly and ntclligently on the subject.
No intelligent man will deny that We some
time ago reached the point where immigration
ceased to be desirable This is so evident that
il hardly needs to be stated. The unexampled
immigration to this country during the last
forty years has not only more than recruited
our industrial army, but has introduced into
the body polite an ignorant, vicious and de-
graded element which il is virtually impossible
for tho Nation TO assimilate. II is indeed true
that this country has shown almost marvellous
powers of assimilation hut that those powers
have been unduly strained during tho last few
years is a fact patent to every one who has
candidly considered the matter.
Mr. Powdcrly's suggestion that the ignorant
and degraded immigrants who come to this
country in droves are beginning to drive in
tcigcnt Americans out of the country is
the most careless citizen. For such an emf
grafton, if it should assume serious proportions,
would vastly accelerate the bad tendencies of
our immigration. Certainly the possibility of
such a disaster ought to spur the United states
to inquire into the present methods OF the
great army Of immigration agents now scat
tered over Europe. One steamship company
alone, according to Mr.. Powderly. has $500
agents in Europe. That such men. unscrupu-
lOus by the very necessities Of the case, should
be allowed to dump upon our shores any and
all who can pay for a Storage passage is an
outrage that ought not to be tolerated for an
hour.
What Mr. Powderly says about the degrade
ton of politics through the influx OF ignorant
foreigners is only too true, although he takes
altogether too pcSsimiStlc a view OF the sub
icct. II i not true a. he says, that there is
no longer "A government Of the people III this
country. BIT it is true that the will Of the
pcopl" is often, especially in the large cities.
defeated by dcmagogues who use the ignorant
foreign voters q, tools. "Ncw York. says
Mr. powdcrly. "is the pivotal State and as
consequence, the Storage passengers on one
vessel that lands in 500 may decide the po-
l'lCHl fdtc OF tnl> NdtlOH IN 1870 MS Is
a pithy but unanSwerable statement Of the
case. and points lis own moral. Either such
immigration should Ire prohibited or, as Mr..
Powderly suggests, such immigrants should
not be admitted to citizenship until they
are able 10 exercise the rights and duties of
citizenship honestly and intelligently. Summed
up in few words, the article makes the fol-
lowing points:
First-No more immigration Of any kind is
desirable, as there are more than enough work
crS now in the country.
SccOndy-Ihe continued immigration Of ig-
norant and savish foreigners 10 this country
is a grave menace to our social and political
life.
Tbirdy-1he admission of such foreigners
to the rights of citizenship before they are com
pctent to exercise such rights is prolific cause
of the degradation and corruption of American
politics.
These conclusions are eminently sound and
should suggest to all good citizens the urgent
necessity of reforming or modifying the pres
cnt laws relating TO immigration and citizen
shin