The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-14
VII.

VII.
Mr.. Dougherty has collected some valuable
data In regard to the changes in the character
OF tho urban population which were begin
ming to take place. To the Dutch OF New Am
sterdam. at first succeeded the English: then
to the English. settlers from New England:
from abroad. carly in the century. had como
the Jewa. The elements which 20 to makes
proletariat and which early in the forties
made the Five Points q nest OF vice and
snuaior worthy OF the pen Of Dickens. were
only lust beginning to seek our shores in con-
siderable numbers. Immigration to the United
states from y 2 to 1870 had amounted. ac-
cording to the n~ccepted statistics. to only
ABOUT ninety thousand persons. A great In
crease LOOK place In tho next nine years. the In
now rising between 1880 and 1899 to 343. ST..
or these. 1852 came from Ireland. as
against 51.0l7 from the same island
between 1920 and 1920. Between Al
and 1916. tho figures OF the preceding
nine years were nearly trebled. ascend
ing to l.16l .504. During this interval had oc-
Cured the Irish famine OF 1S47. the revolu-
ton in Continental Europe. the discovery Of
gold in California. and the opening up Of our
distant West. Between 1920 and 1920 Eng
land ana Scotland had sent us 20. 900 emi-
grants. w..fle between 1880 and 1880 not moro
than 10000 natives OF those countries cam to
the United States. In no year prior to 1912
did the total immigration rise to 100. 900; in
that year the figures were 104. 565. one-half OF
tho number being from Ireland. A great
abatement was discernible in the following
TWO years. but. from 1S45 onward. there was
n steady expansion. A large fraction Of the
newcomers entered at the port Of New York.
and their arrival naturally exerted a sensible
influence on tho politics OF the city. The spon-
taneous tendency of the Irish element was to
affiliate with tho Democratic rarty. but the
recently formed Wing party at first bid with
equal zeal for the foreign vote. The success
OF the Democrats In controlling it re-
suited In the defeat OF the Wings In nearly all
the city and State elections. and this led to
what was termed the Native American move.
mont. In 1874 James Harper. the candidate
OF the Native American party, received up
ward OF 24.OO0 votes: C~oddington. the Demo-
cratic nominee. about 90 900. and the regular
Whig candidate only some 5000. Inasmuch
as the city was unauestionably Democratic.
number OF Democratic voters must have COM
bined with u larger number OF Wings to aid
the Native American movement. In tho same
year the Native Americans elected three Con-
gressmen and q State Senator from the city,
as well rs its whole Assembly ticket. The
next year. however. the Democrat , candidate
for Mayor. W. F. Havemeyer. was elected. and
tina opposition to foreirn.horn ci,iz.ns 60
ually died ont I'm the citv n, Nav yorL Inrnno.
q, the Mayor,s office ir shorld h. montion.s
that tbjs WAS not c,ectivo ur,u ,uo- 1901
B.twosn 1777 and 1900 ~. ntn,.. -.
the city Of New York VINO dosi,n,,sd
by tho Council OF Appointment. which
consisted of tho Goro,nor ~ Tho stot. ND
four Senators se,octed hv tb. .ss.rIIr -
from ench Of the four pren+ S,notori.i dtso
tricts into which tbe state was diviJ.d r.
treon 1900 and 1894 tbe Mavors WAC oho.n,
nv tho Road ~ Alderman ana ossistont A.
in State and national elections as to nm cunt to
manhood suffrage. only persons enjoying the
freedom OF the city and freeholders could vote
for Mayor. 1t WAS not until 1912 that all
property qualifications for city voters were
swept away. 1t is noteworthy that. as early rs
1910. the Legislature. at the instance OF the
Wings. passed a law for the registration Of
voters in the city Of New York. This was
repealed two years later. In the period
under review. an amendment of the
charter OF the city without the consent OF its
people was unneard of. The State. Constitu-
lions Of l777 and 1922 expressly recognized
and confirmed the ancient Dongnn and Mont
generic charters. Never before 1857 was an
ATTEMPT m ade to provide n charter or govern
mont for New York city without the express
appreciation of it's citizens signiled at tho