Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-08
CONCERNING IMMIGRATION.


Mr.. Emil J.. Boas, the representative
of the Hamburg steamship line, writes
plain and logical letter concerning
immigration. His letter says:
During the past year we have heard
good deal in disparagement Of i'm.
migration, many charges having been
brought forward against it. but the
character of these charges plainly
show that those loudest in denuncia-
ton know less about the nature Of
immigration than the much abused
Ignorant foreigner knows about
this country. The latter generally
has fair idea of what he may expect
here, but the ideas of the rabid nativ-
ist, who is very properly called a
''know nothing," are all unfair. Ger
tain catch-phrases, of a general and
invidious tenor, are taken up by him
and thoughtlessly repeated, which
finally culminate in the assertion that
continued immigration will endanger
the integrity and perpetuity of our
institutions.
Let US first examine the question
whether this country wants continued
immigration. There is no doubt that
throughout the West and South the
feeling of the people is strongly in
favor of an uninterrupted influx of
thrifty and Industrious immigrants.
This is manifested, not only by the
opinions of the press throughout the
interior, but also by the remarks made
in Congress, during the debate on the
immigration question, by the represent
atives of Western and Southern
constituencies. Besides the committee,
appointed last year by Congress to
investigate the immigration question,
in its official report made the follow
ing statement.
1--WE welcome with open arms the
worthy immigrant who, by himself or
with his family, comes to our country
to live under its laws, to make it his
home and, together with our yoemanry,
by honest toll and labor seeks to better
his conditions
Not less significant is the address of
the Governors of Southern States, who
met in convention at Richmond, Va,
at the beginning of the present
month. This address is directed to
the people of the United States and
Europe, and COZ tains the following
passage:
They (the Southern States) are
anxious to have immigrants settle
among them. To the worthy Immigrant
they extend the hand of welcome, with
the assurance that he will find an
educated, warm-hea1 ted, hospitable.
progressive people, among whom he
can live in amity and peace without
regard to his religion, his politics, or
his nativity"
1t seems therefore that the hue and
cry wich has been raised against i'm.
migration is confined almost exclusive
ly to few Eastern States, containing
the stronghold OF the nativistic element
But the people who so vehemently
inveigh against foreign immigration
because the populous cities of the East
are not apparently in need of an in
crease of population from that source
entirely forget that the West and
South possess nearly all the primary
wealth of the country, that theiI
natural resources are almost unlimited
and need for their development the
brawuy arm of the foreign immigrant
and, finally, that the financial, mercan
tile and industrial interests of the
Eastern, nay, even the value of proper
ty in the Eastern cities, is, for th'
most part, dependent on the untram
melled progress of the West and South
IsIMIGRANTs ARE NECESSARY.
Those who really have the interes
of this country at heart, have, there
fore, no doubt come to the conclusion
that foreign immigration is necessar.
for the growth and development of thi
country, just as necessary now, ant
for many years to come, as it has beel
in the past. No one now denies tina
it has played mos important role II
the past; that during this last genera
ticn it has built our railroads am
canals, opened our mines, promotes
our industries, and made itself felt il
multitude of ways that have greatl
hastened our march of progress
Nevertheless, it is a well known fac
that the prejudice against immigration
was just as strong and unreasoninl
among certain classes 80 years ago a
it is now. The same specious argu
ments which were used then are mad
now, although experience has prove
their fallacy.
\. The contention most PERSISTENT