The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-22
CONTROL OF IMMIGRArIoN.

In October of last year the first meeting
Of an international congress was held III
Paris, with a view to devise system OF
general international control of emigration
from Europe to America. The congress
started out with tho proposition that "eml-
grafton is good thing, as il eliminates from
certain countries elements OF social discard
aud creates new commercial relations be-
tween countries hitherto strangers to each
other" The congress proposed 10 define
the limits of the power of nations TO control
emigration. Prince Cassano, who acted as
secretary and was the chief speaker, spoke
of the shameless traffic of certain agents,
the departure of incapable and INDECENT
persons having neither the aptitude nor the
means nor the Will to work, and who cause
a considerable amount Of trouble TO tie
Government of the country from which
they depart and to tho Government Of the
country which receives them" The con-
gress passed resolutions declaring that it is
time to organize emigration and appointed
committee TO draft suggestions and report
them TO a future meeting.
The expense and annoyance to which New
York has been put by the recent arrival of
cholera ships from Hamburg impart actu-
atty to this movement Ii the immigration
from Europe should end in plant ting an cpl
demic in this country, Congress would be
supplied With new grounds for negotiating
With European powers to devise measures
TO regulate it. We do not occupy precisely
the same ground that they do. Many Amer
cans are disposed TO think awhile before
they admit unreservedly at this crisis that
immigration is a good thing. 1t may be
for ha xyh faia vaf sriH nf
elements of social dscord," but it is not
so sure that it is good thing for the country
which receives the elements and which has
TO digest them. If we could make sure that
the immigrants will all be persons who will
neither become criminals nor paupers, and
who will assimilate with our own people,
We might hold out hand Of welcome TO
them. But if they include among them any
considerable proportion of the criminal
class, aud which, as Prince Cassano says Of
others who are incapable and INDECENT,
having neither the aptitude nor the means
nor the will TO work." it is quite doubtful
whether we ought to allow them to land.
No foreign nation has a right to make
Botany Bay of New York.
In round numbers from half a million to
three-quarters Of a million Europeans are
now migrating to this country every year.
No such migration was ever witnessed be-
fore since the Jews made their exodus from
Egypt The invasion of Southern Europe
by Goths. Vandals and Huns comprised no
such numbers. Nothing like such a migra-
ton occurred when the Huguenots were ex-
PEELED from France, or when religious strife
led to the exile of Puritan and Cavalier
from England. Those movements of pOpu-
lation were triAing in comparison with the
wholesale decanting of foreign races and
tribes into this country which is going on.
And the races which are camping among us
are not the flower of the European people.
They are net British subjects, nor Germans
nor ScandinaYians, but Russians, Poles,
Hungarians, Bohemians and the peasantry
Of Calabria, among whom brigandage has
been a considerable Industry for centuries.
The people are the offspring Of bad laws,
tyrannieal rule. poverty and ign ORANGE.
Thirty odd years ago the large immigra-
ton from Great Britain and Germany was
stimulated by the land grant railroads,
which wanted to sell their lands and fill up
the empty places through which their lines
ran. They are now out of the business,
and their place has been taken by agents of
the steamship lines which carry emigrants
across the Atlantic. 1t is these persons who
keep the traffic going. They contract with
Government municipalities and cOmmune5
in Southern Europe TO relieve them Of so
many persons who are an element of dis
cord or a source Of expense. On the other
hand they contract with the steamers for
the transportation of so many human crea-
lures across the Atlantic. The emigrants
themselves have little to say In the matter.
They are corralled like so many cattle and
driven on board railroad and steamer.
When they arrive in this country they are
left to shift for themselves. and through the
necessity of the case they become an ele-
ment OF trouble and danger.
1t will probably occur to Congress when
it meets in December that. to a body which
proposes to legislate on the subject of immi-
grafton, the United States ought to have
something to say. And it is doubtful
whether it will be minded to seek the CO.
operation Of Governments whose interest is
antagonistic to our own. Hungary, Russia
and Italy are benefited by getting rid of
ignorant masses, who have to be fed. in or
out Of Jail. We are sorely embarrassed by
having 10 fad food and work for the same
masses here. As matters stand, we are
in the position of the man whose neighbOr
owned a mad dog and put him over the
fence into the premises next door.