The herald., 1894-08-18
PREGNANT FACTS FROM THE CENSUS.

Inc HERALD Is 1nde bted to the de.
partment Of the interior for an abstract
of the eleventh census which contains q
great many interesting facts OF a salient
kind, as well. OF course as much valu-
able data. Nothing is go usual as to re.
fer to the people OF the United States as
an off-shoot OF the Anglo.Saxon race. 1t
ls very doubtful, indeed, whether even
the people of Great Britain proper can
be rightly grouped under that designa-
tion. Shakespeare has given us, from
the lips OF the sweet Juliet. the catch
word, Whats in a name?" and we are
told that "a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet" All the same,
there is often great deal in a name.
Words are often deeds, and he who
would desire to have correct idea OF
the probable action of the United States
would do we'll to have regard to the
real components of its population. 1t
will surprise q great many persons to be
told that even "the right little. tight
little isle," of England itself has been
30 strongly impressed by the blood OF it's
Norman conquerors that fully half the
people are black haired. instead Of shar-
ing the traditional blonde tresses of the
Saxon.
This census compilation affords the
inquirer some astonishing facts. For
instance, in New England. if anywhere,
one would look for distinctively Amer
ican race. Vain expectation OF the
population of Massachusetts, composed
of 2,23S, ,943 souls at the date when the
census was taken, 1859, 121, or 1924 per
cent, were of foreign parentage. Boston
is looked upon az the typical American
city, and yet Boston is, even more than
New York. an Irish city, and the great
old Bay state bids fair to become, in
time, an Irish colony. This is owing to
two causes, viz, immigration and the
failure of the genuine New Englsnder to
breed up to the standard OF the good old
days. Probably to this should be added
q third cause, which was embraced in
the aphorism of Stephen A. Douglas,
himself Vermonter, and who said that
New England WAS an excellent place to
emigrate from. The Irish have got a
mold upon the best portions Of Yankee
land that it would be hard to release.
As the Massachusetts man pushes west
the European immigrant of all races
very contsntedly takes his place.
Large as is the proportion OF persons
of foreign parentsge that figures in New
England, it is nothing to the formidable
percentage which is reported from some
of the western states. In Illinois it is
49.6 per cent. with Chicago as the great
turbulent storm center OF the country.
In Michigan it is 54.72 per cent. In
Wisconsin it reaches the enormous total
OF 1859 per cent. while in Minnesota all
records are broken and the prodigious
percentage Of 70 AZ is resched-tbe
apexisl figure for the United States with
the exception OF North Dakota. 1t is a
fortunate thing for the whole country
that the foreign born population of Wis
consin and Minnesota is of notably
valuable kind, being made up princi-
pally of Scandinavians and Germans.
California is probably the most cosmo.
poltan OF all the states; although, con-
trary to the popular opinion, her pro-
portion OF persons OF foreign parentsge
is less than in a number OF other COM
mon wealths, being only 81 ~.
OF the $685. 250 souls, who are
enumerated in the Eleventh census,
20,676 ,046, or 2.02 per cent, are OF for
eign parentage. 1t is the contemplation
OF such gigantic figures that leads great
many persons who are in no sense
higoted, to think that the time has ar
rived to check by law any wholesale
immigration from abroad to this coun-
try. These persons think that time
should be allowed for this element to
aseimilate with Themselves and with the
older elements OF our population. This
idea has nothing in common with the
old and proacriptivs Know Nothing
party OF forty years ago. So much at.
tached have our people become to the
idea and practice OF extending a well
coming hand to people from every cline
that it will be very hard indeed to get
this sentiment crystalized into law.
And yet it is worthy of consideration.
The extreme business depression which
has characterized this county during the
past year or 30 has acted as check up
on our most valuable immigration. But
that from the south of Europe-fron
countries where anarchy and Iawless.
ness have been reduced to a malign
science-coutinues in something like
the old measure. There is little doubt
but that, at some stage, there will be
strong movement for at least tempora.
ry check OF unrestricted immigration, or
that this. in its potential form, will be
ounded on IDEAS which are in no sense
intolerant, and which recognizs the
enormous benefit immigration has bsen
to this country in the nast II will ho