The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-27
IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION.

Readers Of THE TINES are well aware that
this paper has, ever since the killing OF the
supposed assassns of Chief-of-Police Hen
messy in New Orleans, taken the position
that the circumstances connected with that
assassination and its summary and extra judi
cial punishment would. in all probability, lead
10 a demand for a radical revision of our pres
ent liberal immigration laws. That this Is true
has already been shown by the letter recently
sent 10 the President by Mr.. William Hosea
Balou. the novelist. which was published in
our telegraphic columns yesterday morning.
In his letter Mr. Ballou makes the very
strong point that "the presence Of an i'm
mense body of foreigners in the United States
not in sympathy with us, our customs and
laws, who, whatever the provocation, call
upon a foreign country for aid. cannot be de-
pended upon in time of danger and war. and are
a constant menace to our peace and safety" In
view Of this very uncontrovertable proposition
he suggests that immigration laws should be
made sufficiently stringent topreyent foreign
countries. which may become hostile to us,
prospectively, from planting large bodies OF
men and women on this soil. who will breed
others Of their kind, and who will rise against
us whenever called upon by the Government
from which they came, while profess
ing allegiance to the United States"
lie continues while we may regard with
pride all foreign Amer lean patriots, the time
has come TO distrust all who look 10 foreign
country for protection while claiming loyalty
10 this country"
These are the conclusions which must nat
urally be reached by all thoughtful persons
when the late events in New Orleans are re-
fected on. Even 80 conservative paper as
the Baltimore Sun, discussing the report that
Italy intended TO take steps 10 prevent the
emigration Of her subjects TO the United
States, drifts into the same line Of reasoning.
1t says: Valuable IA is the bulk of the addl-
tons to our population from many foreign
countries il may be doubted, nyiew of the anti
immigration law enacted by the last Congress,
whether our Government will be offended at
the new policy of Italy. Tho great influx OF
unskiled labor in recent years has quite
demoralized our labor market and has pro
duced social dislocations the importance OF
which we arc not yet in position TO fully
estimate We have allowed the foreign steam
ship companies, the East and West trunk
lines and the Immigrant railroads, inspired
solely bv their own selfish interests, tOflood us
with unassimilable elements of population.
We have permitted them TO hasten by fifty
years the growth among us of social difficulties
of a formidable character. Our public domain
has been consumed in the interest of Europe
rather than in our own. We have been eX-
plotted and we have nothing solid TO show
for the expenditure of our resources. The
transportation companies have brought among
us in many cases hordes Of persons who were
without the intention of becoming citizens.
They have come. they have displaced the nat
uralized and the native laborer, they have
gone back TO their respective countries with
their earnings At times they have camped
among us in groups, distinct in language,
| ideas and mode of life. and have kept up here
vicious secret organizations for the existence
| of which the conditions OF American society
| offer no justification or excuse"
These various utterances show plainly the
| tendency of public sentiment on matter
which must necessarily grow in importance
| each year. The same conditions do not exist
| now which did exist when our immigration
laws were originally framed, and this, to-
| gether with the unfortunate results OF tho
exceedingly liberal policy pursued by the
United States, as manifested Of late years
throughout the country. will almost surely
lead TO those laws. at an early date. being
hedgod about with very material restrictions.