The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-28
DIR. CYRUS EDISON.

retain the germs roofing out the many foul
pest heaps of waste, improvement of the
water supply of cities and the like have
been going on ever since the epidemic
abated. These measures-albeit they are
something like locking the stable after the
horse has been stolen-will doubtless di-
minish the severity and lessen the preva-
lcnce of the disease when it reappcars. as
it surely will.
If, however, as was stated last September
by some Of the special correspondents, the
water supply of the great continental cities
has been thoroughly impregnated with the
germs of cholera and the measures taken
to remedy this are inadequate then of
course all these measures of protective
nature are useless. Then, too, nothing has
been done in Russia, and nothing NAV be
expected from the Russian burcaucrats.
The great empire Of the white car is n far
greater menace to Europe from the stand
point of health than it ever was or could be
from that of politics or war. We may be
certain, therefore, i'll view of all these facts,
that cholera will break out in Europe prob
ably toward the end of April, and that the
epidemic may be even more severe than in
September.
How does this affect us?
In the fall the disease did not get fair
start in this country. There were ten
cases III NEW 1OFk. In OJncr words, we
had no epidemic in the United States. In
New York city there was not one secondary
case-that is, there was not one case of the
development of the disease from any of
the eight centcrs of infection after the
board of health took charge. With the
record of the disease in the United States
last year we have little to dread, so far as
its temperance here is concerned 1t is
not probable that any germs of it remain
over from the September cases, nor need
we, when the record is considered, be the
least afraid that, should it rehappen, it
could not be stamped out. On the other
hand, Europe Threatens us in two ways
first, through tho immigration during tho
winter months; second, through that which
viii cometo us after the disease has reap
peared.
Tho danger from the winter immigration
Is this: 1t is perfectly possible that immi-
grants may have come to us bringing dor
mant germs of the disease in their baggage
or other personal property. When the
warm weather begins these germs may be-
come active and the disease appear do
not consider this danger very great one,
but look on it as being quite possible, and
one, therefore, for which we must be pre-
pared. OF course, were the disease to break
out in this country from this cause, we
should then have to handle it and stamp it
out as we did in September
believe this country will in May next
be i'll the same position as in August last
that is, with the cholera close at hand. The
safeguard which has been proposed-that
of putting stop to immigration-ca be
thoroughly depended on. At the same time
it is II drastic policy, and one that should be
avoided if this can be done with safety
hasten to say that am not one of those
who believe foreigners have any inherent
right to come to this country. look on
the permission to become citizens of the
United States, so freely granted in the past,
rs privilege only, and one which our gov
eminent has perfect right to revoke at
any time when for any reason it so desires
America is for her people first, and, al
though the advantages to this country of
immigration in the past have been of the
very greatest, this fact does not give the
right To one single person not n citizen to
come in the future.
While believing my position to be sound,
yet believe we should not cut ourselves
nway from the conceded value of good inn
migrants unless we are forced to. or
course the safety and health of our people
is and must be the first consideration by