The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-02
A Half Way Maasnra

The MORNING News thinks the President
has made great mistake in deciding to or
der the detention Of vessels from infected
ports twenty days instead Of absolutely pro
hibiting all immigration. The detention al
quarantine is only half way measure and
cannot be made effective. Thousands Of
immigrants from cholera afflicted districts
are now on their way to this country, and
the volume Of immigration will rapidly In
crease as the plague spreads in European
countries. The desire to get away from the
plague-stricken countries will grow In IN
tensity, and within a month or two 1t will
be impossible TO take care OF the cholera
infected cargoes OF human freight that will
be unloaded at the quarantine station at
New York, and also at Boston, Philadel-
phia. Baltimore and New Orleans.
The President says that If it is found
necessary absolute prohibition of immigra-
ton will be declared. But why wait until
the cholera has gained foothold in the
countryg What good will it do to shut out
immigrants after the germs of the disease
have been scattered among our peoplei 1t
is the same old mistake of locking the stable
President would have bad the approval OF
the entire people II he had announced two
weeks ago that no more immigrants would
be permitted to enter the country until after
the disappearance of the cholera from Eu-
rope. Such an announcement would have
been followed by feeling Of security that
would have helped all kinds Of business.
But it is not now too late 10 adopt the
policy Of prohibition. The health boards Of
nearly all the states favor that policy. Not
one of them would protest against it. No
one of them would dare tooppose it because
the responsibility attached to such opposi-
tion would be greater than any one would
care to assume.
1t is admitted that if the cholera gets
foothold in any one Of the great seaport
cities it will spread throughout the whole
country and will, in all probability, Stay
tens Of thousands of people It would
absolutely paralyze business, and cause
loss thousand times greater than could
possibly arise from shutting out immigrants
for three, or six or even twelve months.
The immigrants will only be a burden if
they bring the cholera with them and there
Is no demand st this time even for Inn
migrants that are healthy and clean.
1t is about impossible to keep the
cholera out by means Of quarantine. And
the health officers at the very best quaran-
tine station-that Of New York-are not at
all confident Of their ability TO keep it out.
They talked enoouragingly before the
cholera came, but when they we're in the
presence Of a shlpload Of cholera infected
immigrants they realized the diff
culties TO be encountered, and frankly ad-
mitted the gravity Of the situation. And.
IS matter Of fact, there is not such a per-
'ect system in the health department of
New York as the public has been led to be-
ieve. Already reports have found their
way into the newspapers of the
ia the department OF doubt.
and conflicting orders, showing
hat no adequate preparation has beeu
lade for the emergency that has arisen,
nd that the talk about perfect system of
quarantine rests upon very slight founda-
ion. The fact that a ship on which there
ad been twenty-five deaths from cholera
as permitted to go up to the quarantine
-ation and anchor among large number
steamers filed with passengers. instead
{ being stopped In the lower bay, shows
hat sllp-shod methods prevail at what is
LEGGED to be the best equipped and most
arefully conducted quarantine station in
he world.
And what about other quarantine sta,
ons-the Philadelphia station, for instance?
hat station, from all accounts, would be
isgrace to city of 5000 inhabitants. 1t
an Anticipated institution, fully fifty years
ehind the age. 1t is only ten miles below
be city and in a thickly settled section of
ountry. The station should be at the Della
rare breakwater and 1t should be furnished
With all modern means for protecting the
reat city up the river against infectious
nd contagious diseases.
THIS country is not prepared to fight the
holera at Its quarantine stations, and IL the
resident doesn't know it isn't he
ught TO be informed. If the cholera is
'rought into the county by immigrants he
will be held responsible to a great extent
or the calamity, because public sentiment
would support him in closing our haroors
gainst immigrar Is if he has the authority.
#, II he hasn't, in calling congress together
md asking for authority.