The morning call., 1893-03-23
OUR FOREIGN POPULATION.

The census bulletins are growing more
rare and less interesting than they were a
few months ago; but a recent one on the
foreign born population of the United
States contains some in strucJive informa-
ton.
At the time the last census was taken.
1477 of the total population was foreign
born. Forty years before the proportion
was 96S per cent. Previous to that time the
census-takers were not in the habit of
segrega;inG the foreign born from the ma
tive born, but the memoirs which were
written at the time Of the revolutionary
war. and soon afterward. show that there
were al that period at the Atlantic seapOrts
a considerable number of foreigners, Eng
lishmen, Germans, French and Dutch. It
is quite likely that during the Presidency Of
Washington there was in this country at
least as large a percentage of foreign
born as were found in 1S50-say, in round
numbers. 400 600 souls.
In the decade of 1S50-6O the famines in
ireland and the political disturbances on
the continent OF Europe caused an unusual
exodus to this country; and this was
Swelled in the following decade, 1S60-70,
by the bOunties offered for volunteers in
the army. There was a partial check TO
immigration in 1S70-S0; but in the following
decade the large demand for labor and the
prevailing high rates of wages stimulated
immigration to the highest point reached.
During the decade two and a half millions
of Europeans, or IS per cent of the total
number now found in the country, found
homes in the United States.
At the time the last census was taken
9,2i0, j49 persons of foreign birth were found
in the Unite0 States, as many souls as there
are in Mexico. and nearly twice as many as
there are in Belgium. This body of for
eigners is divided into three parts; first,
nations OF Great Britain and Ireland, who
number 3,123,9 ,9u, excluding Canadians;
about 100000 Germans, including Aus
trians; and natives of all other countries,
who number some thing over three millions.
OF the natives Of Great Britain and ireland,
nearly twO-thirds. or 1871, 500 were of Irish
birth, something over third being English
and Scotch. Ii is curious to observe how
small is tue number of resident foreigners
Of other nations. who, nevertheless. are
felt in our national life. OF Spanish
born the cenSus-takers could only find 6iS5,
and Of natives OF Belgium, which is overflow
ing with population and is seeking an outlet
everywhere. only %, $50 The Sean
dinavlan born number nearly a million,
who are chiefly located in the grain States :;
their migration has depleted their native
land 10 such an extent that there is now
elbow room for every one there. Within a
few years there has been quite a movement
OF Russians, largely Jews. to this country
they were found to number 10000. And
the same number is assigned TO the
Italian born residents 1t seems singular
that Italy, with its extensive areas of un-
occupied and fertile land, should be unable
to support SO,000,0C0 people. But the Ital-
ian Government has seen in emigration n
short cut out of its embarrassments, and
within the last ten or twelve years not
much less than a million Italians have
sought homes in South America, chiefly in
the Argentine country. Nearly one-ffth as
many have migrated to the United States
where they have become one of the most
valuable classes of our foreign popula-
tton.
Adding all the foreign-born people to-
gether, they are as one TO seven Of the ma
tives. Their power OF injury is thus limit d.
BY combinations among themselves they
may. for time, attain a political strength
out of proportion to their numbers, but such
combinations always begel counter cOmbina-
tiOns which defeat the object of the original
combiners. 0Ee hears more about foreign
born citizens than would otherwise be the
case owing TO their propensity to locate in
cities in preference to the country. But
this will correct itself in time. An undue
agglomeration of raw labor in cities will
lead to decline in wages which will compel
an exodus to the country. where labor is
sure Of employment for at least the bulk Of
the months Of the year, and on wheat
field or a fruit ranch it does not matter
much where man was born.
There is no instance in history where one
country filled up by wholesale mlgrations
from other countries. and it may be expected
that new problems will arise before the
transfer is completed Thus far none of
those which have presented themselves
have involved serious difficulties in their
roltv