Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17
SUSPENSION IN IMMIGRATION.

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The medical congress recently in ses-
sion at Washington recommended the
temporary suspension of immigration,
which the president is authorized to do
under the law providing for national
quarantine in order to shut out a pos
sible invasion Of cholera. A great,
many newspapers, particularly in the
east, are urging that this be done.
They point to the fact that Russia Is
ful! of cholera and that reports from
Europe tell Of the spread of the disease.
Immigrants continue to com to this
country from all quarters, and it is said
that a great many Of them are of the
class that may convey the seeds of
disease. II is true that these inn
migrants are subjected to a much more
rigid system OF inspection than formerly,
and that under the quarantine regula-
lions as they are now being applied there
Is comparatively little danger of any
body bringing cholera into our ports.
Yet such u thing is possible, and the
argument is that we should avoid all
danger, however slight it may be. We
nave numerous ports and a very extended
s~eacoast. We have also very extended
northern and southern frontiers. SO
long as there is immigration there will
be danger that at some of the ports o
points of entrance into the country
inspection will be defective and
people will get into the country.
bringing disease with them, either de-
veloped in their persons or harbored in
their baggage. Our northern border is
not now adequately protected, and it is
noted that since the immigration law of
lS92 was enacted the number of
immigrants coming into the United
States through Canada has largely
increased. 1t is said that per-
sons who have been refused en-
trance at our Atlantic ports have sue
ceeded i'll getting into the country by
way of Canada. According to "a report
OF DR.. Banks, who is stationed at
Quebec, in the three months ending
on July 81 the number of i'm
migrants who passed the St. Law
renee quarantine was %, $50, and of these
lI,453 were on their way to the United
States. The quarantine service at the
Canadian station is said to be very salts
factory, but ought we rely altogether
upon this? Is it not expcdient that our
own government shall adopt such q
policy as will render the country abso-
lutely secure against a possible invasion
of cholera?
Self-preservation is natures first law.
1t Is well known that this paper has no
sympathy with those people who want
a restriction or suspension of immi-
grafton on the grounds that we do
not want any addition to IL popu
lation from abroad, that we should keep
what land we have for the natural in
crease of our own people, and that by
allowing an unchecked immigration, ex-
cept as to certain classes already inter
dlcted, we are in danger of suffering
economically, socially and politically.
We have never been able to see any
force IN arguments of this sort, believ-
ing that there is still and will be for
many years to come abundant oppor-
tunity here for the industrious and
thrifty of the old world, while as to
their influence politically or socially it
is a poor compliment to the American
people to assume that there is even
a possibility of their not being
able to protect their political institu-
lions and maintain their social charac-
ter against any assaults likely to be
made upon them by emigrants from
Europe. But the question of keeping
out the cholera is a very different mat
ter. and If the authorities should believe
the danger of an invasion of that scourpe
to be really serious they would be justi-
fled in temporarily s%uspending immi-
gration: indeed, it would become their
imperative duty to do 80. The season is
so far advanced, however, that it seems
highly probable the president will not
lind 1t necessary to exercise the author
ity which the law gives him in this di-
r~ection.
1t is interesting to note in this connec-
ton, for the relief especially of those
people who are in a chronic state of fear
that we shall be overrun by emigrants
olS hiop vi oCNcIul Weeks
more people have been going out of this
country than have been coming INTO it.
This is the report of the immigration
commissioner at New York. There is
usually a considerable ef1lux of foreign
workmen in the autumn, but this year
the number returning to Europe is un-
p~recedented. The explanation is in the
business depression here. The ex-
istence of this is known throughout
Europe and this knowledge checks the
usual movement of the emigrating popu-
lation. AT the same time it operates to
send unusual numbers out of the conn
try in addition to the customary exodus
at this season. Except the possibility
of "A cholera invasion, which grows less
every day, there is nothing in the pres
ent condition of immigration to cause
any alarm.