The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-01-13
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS.
Legislators win Act when the People

THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION:.
Legislators wM Act When the People
Concert.
A little over a half-century ago
there were not more than IL, 600, 600
people in the whole country. The
wealth Of forest soil and mine had
not been touched. Nothing was SO
needed as people, strong men and
brave women. In welcoming immi-
grafton IN those days we were en-
pertaining an angel unaware or
aware. We have been rewarded by
gigantic industrial progress in which
the born citizen and the immigrant
have alike participated.
OF late years vast change has
taken place in the character of those
who seek admission to our shore. In
place of the more daring and adven.
turous the trip has now been made
SO easy that the weakest most unfor
tunate and most vacillating are the
readiest to come. English, Irish.
Welsh. Germans and ScandinAvlans
those nationalities which have fur
AAoAO0 AS W poo Vi AVOl0 RdtElOtS A0O
done so much toward building up the
nation. are falling of. relatively. as
immigrants while the nationalities
of Southeastern Europe. which have
not held their own in the race strug-
gle. which have played a declining
part in the historic drama have re-
cruited the incoming ranks with vast
reinforcements OF the entire immi-
grafton of the last decade. over SO per
cent has been derived from those
parts OF Europe where wages are
lowest and the condition of the peo-
pie most degraded As consequence,
over halt the number of our convicts
and criminals. and three fifths of the
inmates of all juvenile reformatories,
jails and poorhouses are either for
eigners or their children. This is so
far in excess of the ratio of the for
eign- born to the native population as
to suggest the serious inquiry whether
we are not charitably but imprudent-
~ draining off the criminals and de-
fectives of Europe.
Apparently the careful execution
OF existing laws would go far toward
the exclusion of the undesirable
classes says Noble Candy in the
Chatauquan. But the law may be
entirely evaded by coming through
Canada Or M-xico. as there is no re-
striction placed on immigration from
those countries
Again. to sentence a family to
t,7rn hack ronuiroe a moral oO,r,ro
of more than ordinary fibre, and this
has led to the Introduction of bill
in congress re 3uiring immigrants to
produce consular certificates of TT
ness TO become United States citizens
before embarking. Another propo-
sition is to require an educational or
character test With regard to this
latter the venerable statisticlan,
Francis A. Walker says it can only
be successfully applied to intending
immigrants at the gates of heaven.
The same economist would place a
barrier before all immigrants. in
shape Of hundred dollar deposit
with the government instead of the
present SO cents capitation tax. the
deposit to be refunded to the immi-
grant at the end OF three years or
within that time if he leaves Re
country.
AS yet however. among economists
there is the widest divergence of opin-
ion as to our proper attitude to immi-
grants. Upon this subject as upon
many others it will probably be the
willow IF LOT RI hn~ h.
people concert The command of the
people is law to the government
After sentiment is concerted. legisla-
! ton is but the work of hours
Under present conditions the pros
pect is not promising. The slim ex
otto has taken firm root and is find
ing congenial conditions in American
soil. Every epidemic OF cholera has
been an immigrant importation.
Beggary as a profession is an
other import. Descript ons OF
the habits and haunts of ragpickers,
and kindred industrial elements of
our cities rival portrayals of European
slums. The labor problem which
should have no rightful place among
US for hundred years to come is
already upon US in puzzl ng shape.
| We cannot continue to assert the re.
speciality of LABOR and the govern.
ing right of the common people. if we
are continually importing elements
fatal to them. It is almost question
whether we dare further endanger our
institutions by lofty Indifference re-
garding the members of our national
household