Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-02
PITT>BrRG. FRIDAY, SEPT. ?. 1892.
TWELVE PAGES
STILL TRUSTING TO MAKESHIFTS.

The net result of President Harrison s
consultation with his Cabinet yesterday
is an order of fixed quarantine period of
20 days for immigrants coming from in
fected districts-and the issuance of ad-
ditional instructions for strict disinfec-
ton.
This is better than allowing the imml-
grants to step ashore upon transient view,
as was done in the case of La Touraine' s
passengers early in the week, or than
holding them merely long enough to give
them bath and steam their clothing and
baggage. The 90 days interval will pro-
long the chance for medical examination.
1t may give the germs, if they exist, an
opportunity to develop.
But if President Harrison suppo ses that
the public will take this step as full
measure of what the occasion demands he
is utterly and wretchedly mistaken. Not
withstanding the 500 thing talk of Secre-
tary Foster, of the Treasury Department
who seems to regard this crisis from the
point of view of revenue rather than
hygiene-there is no popular confidence
whatever in the probability or possibility
Of continuously excluding the disease by
mere quarantine. Notwithstanding all the
boasted preparations and multitudinous
circulars from the Treasury Department,
We have seen how easily the vessels from
infected ports got to the docks of Philadel-
phia and New York this week Eye
witnesses have borne evidence of hasty
and utterly worthless inspection of hund-
reds Of immigrants who came upon the
Touraine, even after full notice that
the port of departure, Havre, was
plague-stricken. Consider the immense
coast line from New England to the Gulf
OF Mexico, and imagine how little likely
an effective quarantine is to be maintained
at the scores of ports at which foreign
craft can discharge passengers or cargo
from Europel Let it be borne in mind
also that these quarantine precautions
will be required not merely for few weeks
or few months, but that likely as not the
condition of things in Europe will require
them TO continue for the remainder of
this year and for the greater part of next
Imagine the meagerness of the probability
of an effective quarantine at so many
points through so long a period! 1t is
utterly absurd to rely upon that policy for
protection.
In hesitating still about applying the
only safe and sure prevention against
the invasion of the dread disease, the ad-
ministration is simply SHINING away its
days of grace. Unless all signs and human
experience fail, it will hereafter have a
terrible responsibility to face for its su-
pinencss and halting measures. Common
sense dictates total temporary stoppage
of immigration, excepting only the COM
paratively few Americans returning from
Europe, whose sanitary condition is likely
to be good, and who can safely be allowed
in after due precaution. But what sort of
policy is it that opens the ports to thou
sands upon thousands of native Europeans
and Asatics, rushing here fresh from the
hot-beds of the plague and sure to bring
it with them? Is Secretary Foster so desir-
Gus of fine exhibit of commerce for the
November campaign that these risks must
be run; or is the danger of offending or
hurting the shipping and importing in
terests of New York City to weigh down
all considerations as to the health of the
whole people?
With painful concern the public will
watch for some early evidence at Wash
ington of a better perception by the ad-
ministratiop Of its enormous responsibility
in this matter