Evening journal., 1894-08-01
the Immigration Problem.

Inc lhtN NutA lnibiaNivA Aun AiAAvoN
come TO standstill, that there are no
more people coming to this country now
than there are leaving our shores-if 1t
is a fact-does not by any means prove
that many Of our troubles have not been
caused by immigration. The hard times
SEEN to have produced a result that
every well wisher Of his country has
believed would have to be brought about
by new and more stringent laws against
the importation Of immigrants. So far
all is well, but we should not lose sight
OF the fact that there are hundreds Of
thousands only waiting to learn that
prosperity has been restored to take
their passage for the United States
Since Anarchists have begun inn
migrating to this country IN considerable
numbers the necessity OF self preserva-
tion, rs a nation, and Of security TO our
people in their homes and civilization.
must enter largely In all calculations on
this subject. Before this emptying Of
the criminal classes Of European nations
began to menace us many thinking people
foresaw that the time would come when
the competition Of newly.landed laborers
would reduce the prices Of wages to
American workmen-indeed IN some Of
the mines and manufacturing industries
the managers have systematically i'm
ported the verlest scum Of Europe to
keep down wages aud compete with
American wage earners.
The United States is now so large that
1t does not seem possible to change. In
any marked degree, its institutions
through the medium Of immi grafton
But suppose that the same facilities for
transportation to the United States had
existed a century ago, when our govern
ment was 6rst established, and we had a
population, approximately, Of three
millions Imagine what the result
would have been II attracted by our free
institutions and by our great and un-
developed natural resources, Italians.
Poles, Russians and Chinese had come
into this country to the number Of Eve
or six hundred thousand year In less
than ten years time aud before any
possibilities Of absorption and assimila
tion the greater part of the people Of this
country would have been men and
women entirely ignorant OF and often
hostile to our political, social and
religious institutions.
Fortunately the lack Of facilities for
getting here prevented a very large i'm
migration In the youth. Of the uation
As valued exchange says In rep
resentative form Of the government the
laws and the rules cannot be expected to
be any better than the average intelli
gence and morality Of the represented,
hence IL Is safe to say that under such
circumstances the American republic
would long before this have passed into
eclipse; for II It existed In name its ex
istence would be comparable with that Of
some Of the Spanish American republics,
where the chief executive dictates his
own election-unless some more power
ful military rival bars the way-and
where ostensible democratic rule Is N
practice in no way more liberal than th,
autocratic government Of the Gar Of
Russia
In England, as well as In this country
the immigration problem is becoming
question of mush Importance Wages
are much higher In that country than IL
continental Europe and Anarchists hav'
been received there almost as freely a
they have here. though they have no
been allowed the liberty they have II
this country. A bill has been introduce,
in the House Of Lords to give He
Majesty s ministers additional power ii
respect. to lallens" with special refer
ence to this matter and no doubt Con
gress should pass additional laws whicl
will restrict immigration and make It th
duty Of the Government to return a.
Anarchists who come here without Civ
ing them a chance to land.
The shreWdest Of advertisers, says a.
exchange, have advertised exteusivel