The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-09


for the quarter ending April lss more than
mainly Of the lowest class-arrived in this
country. They considerably outnumbered
the representation of any other national
ity. Combined with the Poles and Hun
garians of the same class, this pestilent
and misunderstanding Influx exceeded by
nearly fifty per cent. that from Germany
or Ireland, and more than quadrupled the
immigration of Englishmen; was ten times
greater than the immigration from France.
The uprising in New Orleans, which as
stunned international proportions and has
threatened our country with an expensive
war; the assaults upon life and property
in the Pennsylvania coal region, the out
breaks in Chicago and at various other
points, are all directly traceable to the
presence and the lawless spirit of this class
OF people.
An overwhelming majority of these peo-
pie do not assimilate and are not assimila-
BILE with the American people or with the
more desirable classes of immigrants.
They are not merely degraded and groyel-
ing-which might be due to misfortune,
entitled to sympathy and open to correc-
tion-but they are prone to that condition,
disposed to make a class distinction of it,
to drag society down to their level. and
have no aspirations for nobler destiny.
In fact, their prevailing impulse is to re-
sent superiority rather than to attempt its
attainment.
1t is palpable that the vastly greater pro-
portion of this influx is in violation of the
contract labor law. In view of the miser-
able pittance for which this class of peo-
pie are compelled to labor in their native
lands-if they labor at all-and in view of
their chronic improvidence and incapacity
for self-restraint, it is inconceivable that
in numbers so considerable they could
have accumulated and saved a sum suffi-
Gent to bring them to this country and
subsist themselves until employment is
found. 1t is safe to assume that in the
case Of at least 10 per cent. of them they
are brought into the country under cum
ming evasions of the labor law and under
contract to work at wages which the more
desirable classes would scorn to accept,
am upon which none could support them
selves and families in comfort or decently.
Coming under agreements to work at
such wages. they are here but short time
until they rebel against them, and when
their demoniac impulses are aroused they
do not hesitate at arson, murder or any
crime in the calendar. Self-bound to work
at wages that will not yield support.
they have no computations against eking
ont such support by destruction and pill
lage. There would be small ground for
sympathy if none besides those who bring
them here are made to suffer by reason of
their presence. But their example and
their influence is demoralizing and I'M
settling our whole industrial system and
endangering the stability of all govern
ment.
But in addition TO these evils, grievous
as they have been and are, another now
confronts US. We are notified that the
countries which are unloading these three
hasest elements upon us will hold us re-
sponsible at the lannon's mouth for pro-
lection against injury from outbreaks
which their presence, their habits and
their conduct cannot but provoke As
covered by this latest statement Italy has
,hsgorged upon our shores and into the
currents Of our industrial life one per cent.
of her entire population, and that drawn
mainly from its lowest and most pollutiny
stratum. And notice has been filed that
she stands ready, as she is evidently well
| inclined, TO lombard our chief seaports and
| make heavy reprisals if the lives OF these
/ are not held even more sacred than those
/ of our own citizens.
Ii, thr ough neglect OF quarantine regu-
I lations, a million, or a thousand, or even
+ one hundred lepers. or smallpox patients
I or victims of other infectious disease were
| landed from abroad upon our shores, the
| whole country would be filled with indig-
nant CONSERVATION, and would promptly
| lie up in arms 20 resent the outrage But
4 here is a moral and political leprosy whose
/ victims are being injected into the body
! polite by the tens of thousands annually.
which, unless II is stopped, will incurably
infect and must destroy our whole indus
| trial system and orderly free government
! in the land. And great people thus
! threatened look on, fold their hands and
/ do nothing. Ii is time for change.
/ ------------------