The morning call., 1893-03-15
THE EUROPEAN EXODUS.

Over two thousand immigrants were
landed in New York on Sunday. The
annual exodus from Europe, and princi-
pally to the United States, has commenced,
although winter has by no means disap-
peared. Additional checks have by recent
legislation in Congress been placed on the
admission of foreign elements undesirable
as settlers and if exercised impartially and
unfiinehingiy good amount Of wedding out
must result. But this is an exceptional
year The holding of the Worlds Fair at
Chicago will spread the belief that great
prosperity reigns in the United States In
Europe it is a period OF depression in trade,
and the unemployed are numerous and
desperate through distress. There will
naturally therefore be desire to begin life
under new conditions among many Of those
who can afford to emigrate. Alongside of
those who are. comparatively speaking, in
dependent, to the extent that they can pay
their way for short period until they obtain
work, there is a percentage of the almost
destitute who are assisted to emigrate But
when all grounds Of objection have been ex-
ercised there still will remain at the end of the
immigration season hundreds of thousands
who are for better or worse destined to aug
ment the population of this country In
some degree the new arrivals will displace
or press irksomely upon certain branches of
the labor field, especially in cities. where
there is chronic disturbance, in the struggle
for employment, but if the country as
whole is considered there is always room for
the better class of immigrant, who may be
expected to develop into an Intelligent
American citizen. If immigrants would
settle in the rural districts and engage in
agriculture or other productive vocation
there would be less complaint of over
pressure and less protest against making
the United States the dumping ground" for
the European surplus. Unfortunately,
very large number linger in the cities and
cOngregate in fostering slums and really
constitute a useless and well-nigh hopeless
addition to our population. Compulsion
cannot, however. be applied to set these
matters right All that the United States
authorities can insist upon is that immi-
grants shall conform to the regulations laid
down by Congress or be sent back 10 the
country whence they came.
Precautions are being taken at some Of
the European ports against the acceptance
of immigrants who may bring cholera with
them. AS it were, they are quarantined or
are under surveillance for few days prior
10 eUl DdI kdJlOOs lllS Is com NJ elQaDle eau
tion, as far as it goes. but if cholera does
again sweep across Europe it would be a
poor barrier against bringing the epidemic
across the Atlantic. When the disease does
appear IN alarming form strong action will
be needed on this side TO keep it out. The
suspension Of immigration altogether may
be advisable. To wholly rely upon the good
faith and wise measures of the steamship
companies would be very indiscreet No
great harm could be Inflicted by sus pension.
The country is filling up with sufficient
rapidity as a whole, and can dispense with
much OF the immigration it now receives.
No other Land receives such an inpour of
strangers. II we take England into COM
parison, the contrast with the United States
is decidedly strange. Hundreds of thou
sands arrive at our ports annually, but the
last census of the United Kingdom showed
that only 200.0 900 foreign-born persons were
there resident at that time. Yet over in
England. and especially in the east end of
London, there is complaint Of the inroad OF
foreigners and consequent scarcity of en-
ployment. The present Government, too, is
sending two representatives to the United
States to inquire into our methods OF re-
StTietiOn.