Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-04-26
IMMIGRATION.

The American nation is to-day
threatened with an impending danger
--one against which it will not do to
close our eyes-the danger ofincreas-
ing, heterogeneous immigration.
There was time when we extend
ed q hearty welcome to the "perse.
cuted" of the world +; when protec-
ton and homes were offered to them
in America. This was a eommenda-
BILE spirit, butnow the question arises
whether that very kindness may not
ultimately resulted in the overthrow
of our republican form of govern
ment.
Isolated from the feudal govern
ments of the world, the American
nation is pre-eminently ofitself. The
old ideas of "absolutism," of regal
invsstiture, of crowned superiority
and dictation, never held sway among
us. We draw the inspiration and
purity of our government from hber-
ty and individual sovereignty. We
live in the light of advanced civiliza-
ton and benign education. That
freedom of action and impartiality of
legal right and protection, so dear to
us as individuals, and as people, is
unknown to the great majority OF the
immigrants who yearly flock to our
shores. Their minds are full of the
mercenary and destructive spirit of
the European commonalty - with
thoughts and desires like those which
gave rise to the French Revolution
and which have time and again
brought the nations of the Old World
to war, rapine and disgrace.
In the face of these truths, we do
not comprehend, the Importance of
stringent immigration laws. The
past twenty years Of our political
and civil history have apparently
furnished no lesson of danger and
thought to us. We know the soft
hearted, liberal, unthinking man will
continue to plead in extenuation OF
the present dangerous privileges, the
right of asylum, and the past course
we have so considerably pursued.
We know that it is the better part OF
human nature which prompts the
policy of opening the teeming West
and blossoming South to the immi-
grants of the world, as they come
among lis, destitute and forlorn. But
self preservation is the first ldto o.
nations, as well as of individuals
The happiness and security of Ameri
can homes and the stability of Ameri
can institutions, are paramount tc
babyish ideas of refuge and asylum
To-day the foreign element is twin
ing about the Nation baneful designs
strong as meshes of steel and as de
structive as death. The great Wes
is virtually ruled by it. The SOUND
principles Of religion, independence
and law, are endangered. The Su
preme Court is vexed with question:
of anarchy and evasion. The cleo
ton law of the large cities are open
ly defied. The song of the atheis
and the oath of the blasphemer poison
the hearts of the rising generation
and laugh to derision the law.
Chicago is an example of the nigh
and evil influences of uninspecte6
immigration. With a population 0
over 100000, only Is per cent. are
native Americans. This city is the
crime center of our country. The mum
Der of murders, robberies and riots
occur there every year, which exceeds
those of the great metropolis Of the
Empire State. l3 per cent of our
entire population are foreigners, and
of these, s per cent have BEEN added
within the past ten years. 1t is from
these $ per cent we have most t.
fear, for those who were citizens
twenty years ago, arr now numbered
among our most influential, prosper
Gus and honorable citizens, aliye to
the welfare Of the nation and equally
"a much onnOaed to the rlase of Inn