The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-15
CHOLERA AND IMMIG kATION.

The efforts which have been made by
the State and Federal Governments to
keep the dreaded cholera from the coun-
try have met with very gratifying sue
cess. and the people are to be congratu-
lated upon it. 1t seems probable now
that we shall escape a visitation until
the weather becomes sufficiently cool to
reduce the danger to a minimum, and so
during the coming winter We shall proba-
Div enjoy immunity from the scourge.
But the danger will by no means be
over. even if there is no appearance OF
cholera this fall and winter, for we read
that il is not at all certain that cola
weather. even the coolest. kills the latent
germs of the disease. Surgeon-General
Cornish, of England, states, in al article
on the subject in the current number of
the New Review. that the cholera germ
survives the effects Of extreme cold tenn
perature. He comedies that wintry
weather retards the spread Of it, but he
recalls the very pertinent fact that the
cholera reached Great Britain in No
vember in the fearful epidemic of 1929
1888, and that it was not until the spring
of the yeaI following that it had such
fatal consequences. 1t lived through two
winters, and subsequently prevailed with
great virulence and destruction of life for
two years.
1t is quite evident, therefore, that,
though we may escape the disease this
winter we will be liable to its ravages
next spring and it will be necessary for
the Governments, both State and Fed
eral. to continue, without any laxity, the
quarantine precautions they have already
taken. The greatest source of danger
will be from the hordes of immigrants
that are poured upon our shores upon the
frrival of each steamer from Europe,
and as it has beel found necessary to re-
strict that immigration now, so it will
be equally necessary to continue that
restriction next spring. Congress, when
il meets in December. could do nothing
better for the public welfare and safety
than to pass laws vigorously suspendi1g
immigration altogether until all possible
danger from the dread scourge has passed
away.
If this action is taken. as 1t surely
should be-indeed it would be criminal
for it not 10 be-ths question low quite
frequently mooted of a permanent re-
vision of our immigration laws will be
invested with renewed interest. II has
long been a favorite sentiment with the
American people that the United States
is harbor of refuge for all the poor and
oppressed of all nations. This, perhaps,
did very well in the early days of the
Republic, when immigrants were needed
to till the soil and settle up and develop
our waste places. Now, however, the
population of the country is large enough
for all practical purposes, and the natu-
raj increase of our people will be sutfi-
cient TO take care of the future of the
fore, is now neither necessary nor de-
sirable, since nearly every trouble from
which we have suffered during the past
several years can be traced TO this same
free and excessive immigration which
has, to a considerable extent. filled the
country with the scum of Europe, and
with creatures who, as rule, are will
ingly parted with and gladly spared by
their respective Governments.
1t would be a good idea, then, for the
practical to prevail over the sentimental
In this case, especially as this is a prsc-
teal age, to the extent of this idea OF
our being a harbor for the poor and OPP
pressed being dispensed with for the
time and that our immigration laws be
revised for the practical good Of the
country. We should. at least, so legis
late as to preserve ourselves against the
danger Of becoming tina psst-houss oi