The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-04
THE TIDE OF REFRIGERATION.

1t appears from the returns of the 1mmi-
grafton Department at New York that the
influx of Europeans is again on the increase,
but that the Immigrants come from the south
instead of the north Of Europe. There is a
a heavy falling off in the immigration from
Great Britain, Germany and Scandinavia,
and still larger increase in the arrivals
from Austria, Hungary and Italy. An in
crease is also noted in the immigration from
Russia, chiefly from Russian Poland.
Until quite lately there was substantially
no immigration of people from Southern
Europe to this country. During the sixty
seven years from 1920 to 1886 inclusive, the
total nun Der of immigrants who arrived here
from Austro-HuDsary was only 27S,0O0, and
from Italy 227, coo, as against 5,6SS,000 from
the British Isles and 100000 from Ger
many. The pressure of population in South
ern Europe was not so keenly felt as in the
north, and the means of immigration were
not SO handy. Now Northern Europe
seems to have relieved itself Of a sufficient
proportion Of its surplus TO leave elbow
room for the people who stayed at home,
and lines Of steamers from Trieste and ltal-
ian ports have enabled the Italians and Aus
trians to make their way to New York at
small expense and without extraordinary
delay. In Italy, and probably to some ex-
tent in Austro-Hungary likewise, it has been
the policy of the Governments to encourage
emigration to the United States in order to
relieve the labor markets. This will not go
on long There is no great surplus of popu-
lation in Southern Europe; very moderate
outflow will cause scarcity of labor and
then the Governments will try as hard to
keep their people at home as Bismarck did
in Germany four or five years ago. Spain is
already taking energetic measures to check
the emigration of Spanish agriculturists to
the Argentine Republic.
The Eastern papers are not pleased at the
advent of Huns and Poles and Russians and
Italians, who are generally ignorant of our
language. Those the papers urge are poorma-
terial 10 make citizens of. They object especi
ally to the arrival of colonies of Russian and
Polish Jews. But there appears to be no
prospect that newspaper articles will check
the influx of the human tide. Population
will always flow from countries where it is
in excess to countries where it is sparse. 1t
would be better probably, if these Czeehs
and Greats and Calabrians who are being
dumped by the thousand on the New Y ork
docks were men of our race, speaking our
tongue and imbued with capacity to COM
prehend our institutions. But if they are
not, this country will have TO make the best
Of them, such as they are, unless time
should come-uf which there is no present
proSpect-that Congress should put stop to
such immigration.
The law as it stands requires the Immigra
ton Commission of New York to examine
every immigrant when he lands. If he be
found to be permanently diseased, blind,
crippled, lunatic or a pauper, the ship which
broaght him is bound to give bond, that
he viii not put the State to expense for his
su, port, or to take him back. In fact, a
number Of persons who are apparently un-
able 10 earn a living are sent back every
week, though the law is not rigidly enforced.