New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-15

| THE STR4NGERS-ARE THEY WELCOME
At New-York alone 100000 more immi-
grants arrived within the last year, and at all
points probably $4,000. But the fact is no
longer recorded as such facts used to be- with
unmixed qualification and pride. Americans
do no longer rejoice, as they once did, that this
land has been made the asylum Tor the OPP
pressed of all nations. There IS no longer the
same glad Christian enthusiasm because another
host of fellow men and women have been
brought within the uplifting influences OF the
churches and the schools and the more fortunate
life of this country. Is it because the churches
begin to doubt their power TO Christianize?
Is it because Americans begin to distruSt the
educating power of free institutions?
No doubt much of this latter distrust may be
traced to the influence of labor organizations,
and to the desire which they enecnder for mo-
nopoly in particular occupations. When the
fathers of American born sons can deliberately
resolve in their trades unions TO shut out those
sons from opportunity to learn as apprentices
the trades of their fathers, it is not strange that
organizations chiefly controlled by men who were
once immigrants themselves should think it well
to bar the door against other immigration. Out
of this spirit comes most OF the current outcry
against immigration, and its low and selfish
motive does not prompt enactmenS that are
wise, far-seeng or patriotic. Just as the lrlSh-
men who came day before yesterday protested
against the Germans who came yesterday, so the
Germans who came yesterday are protesting
against the Hungarians who come to-day. But
all are drifting away from the patriotic spirit
which welcomed whether from Ireland, Ger
MANY or Hungary, the American citizen of to-
morrow.
1t is not to be denied that importation OF
convicts, Oh paupers, and OF coolie or contract
labor, had become an evil against which the
Nation might we'll guard itself But no one
has seriously pretended that large proportion
of the recent immigration is of either OF the
Justly prescribed classes. The convictS and the
paupers are not those whom the trades unions
wish most to exclude. There has grown up a
feeling, moreover, even among the most lnteHl-
gent and liberal people, that this country can
not assmlate and lift TO worthy citizenship so
large an army each year of ignorant, prejudiced
and essentially alien people as comes 20 our
shores, and that danger to American civilization
and American institutions is involved by the
continuance of unrestricted immigration.
If this is 50, the fact is not a compliment to
the influence of American institutions, or OF
American life and character and Christianity,
upon the minds OF those who come hither to
live. 1t may be that the pride and the JOY OF
earlier DAYS were mistaken. 1t may be that our
| institutions and our churches cannot uplift or
| degenerate as readily as our fathers supposed,
| and need to be fenced in and defended from
degrading contact for their own safety. If that
| be the fact, it must be manfully faced. But ii
! would surely be well to consider the question
somewhat seriously and even prayerfully, be-
fore deciding that we can only afford to send
to the heather a few picked missionaries, but
cannot afford to admit within fhe sound Of our
| own church bells, and within the example al
our own lives, the millions who would gladly
come.
immigration and suffrage are often confused
| in the thinking of men. There may be sound
reasons for excluding from suffrage every i'm
migrant until he has lived il this country some
years, and if so the easy remedy is TO be found
| n alteration of the laws of some States Whether
the immigrant shall be permitted to come here
| i've here and labor here is different question
| perhaps it has not been discussed of late az
carefully or as dispassionately as it should BIZ
| in view Of its real importance.
I