The record-union., 1891-05-16
UNLOADING UPON AMERICA.
The Philadelphia Press of April 9th
contained the following story:

The Philadelphia Press of April 9th
contained the following story:
An American physician who has been
studying in Germany for some time reached
this city yesterday, and in speaking of the
Immigration question said that one effect of
the new law was demonstrated in q startling
manner during lecture that he recently at
tended with many other students in one of the
German universities.
"Ihe lecturer produced before the class an
idiot" said the American doctor to a Press re-
porter, and, after discoursing upon his condi-
ton, Said to his class: Now, gentlemen
shall send this patient into cur own rural dis
trlcts. OF course, II has been our custom here
Iolore 70 send Idiots and the pauper insane to
America: But laws We're enacted short time
ago which made such course diffcult We
might be able TO slip this man into one of their
ports, but the chances are against it,
THAT is what German medical professor
toId us Students" continued the physician
land you know that the professors there act
under the direction of the Government But
this is not all. | was told in Austria, upon
what believe TO be good authority that per
sons convicted of crime there are in great
6nmbers Of cases given the alternative Of 60
ing 10 prison or eInlgrating to America"
This is but one of the many proofs that
might be adduced that Europe has long
been unloading her undesirable element
upon the United States. Lunatics, idiots,
helpless, have been dumped into the
United States for twenty years or more
1t is bit of economy upon the part of
European States. They are saved money
by shipping away those likely to become
permanent charges upon their communi-
ties
The new immigration law is really in
effect but a repetition of an old enact
ment. 1t provides that "all idiots, insane
persons, paupers, or persons likely to be-
come public charge shall be excluded
from admission into the United States"
The original Act was passed in 1882. It
read that no convict, Iunatic, idiot, nor
any person unable to take care of himself
or herself without becoming a public
charge" should ''be permitted to land"
During the nine years of the latter law
it was but feebly enforced. Certainly it
did not have the effect desired Under
the new law the conditions would not be
bettered, were it not for the awakened
public sentiment behind it, so true is it
that no law is worth the paper upon
which it is printed if it is not fortified by
the sentiment Of the people.
The New York Times is authority for
the statement that since 1884 the Board of
Charities and Correction in that State
has sent back to Europe more than 600
lunatics, imbeciles, feeble-minded and
similar incompetents, two-thirds of
whom were landed in that port. In every
case they had been shipped to America by
the authorities of the cities or towns
whence they came, or by immigration and
benevolent" societies, or, in few cases
by relatives or guardians. In all cases
they became public charges Immediately
upon arrival.
Yet this 900 represents but small por-
ton of the whole number Of the "unde-
sirable' that have been dumped upon our
shores. The same paper, the Times, de-
elares that it has proofs that in many
cases the town authorities in Europe
shipping these people to US actually Sc
lected the hospital, asylum or poor-house
in this country for which the miserable
creatures should be headed on landing.
In no instance of reshipment of these un-
desirables by the Board of Charities has
there been any complaint from Europe
because of the return of the bad lot."
The increase of the insane in the asy-
lums of New York was 6,4S5 between
October l. 1880, and October l, 1890, or 6S
per cent. but the increase of population
was bat is per cent. Here, then, is the
key TO one reason for this amazing in
crease, from 9,537 to 1922 of insane in
New York in ten years.
What is now needed is that the new law
shall be enforced. not only at the ports of
entry, but at the Canadian border, for it
is in evidence that great many incompe-
tents are sent in by that route. The pub
lie sentiment in the United States is now
ripe for stringent enforcement of the law.
The American people are of one mind
upon the question. We want the flood
gates at New York, Philadelphia, Boston
and New Orleans closed, and rigid in
spection maintained all along the border
The proposition has been made seri-
ously, and it is not impossible for it to
take the form of ademand upon Congress,
to which that body will affirmatively re-
spond, that European nations shall be
ra,7g,aIlv and firmly warrod that s'7eh