Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02

numbers been seven
millions. OF which
Germany dncluding Austra) has contrib
uted about two and a quarter millions Ire
iano little over one million. and England
ana her North American colonies about
a million and half Then comes Sweden
with nearly half a million, Norway with
something over three hundred thousand and
Scotland with upward Of two hundred thou
SAND. The Slavonic people cut much less
OF figure than, considering their promi-
renee III the newspapers. we had been led
to expect Russia. Hungary, Bohemia and
roland aggregating but $40, 625, OF which all
but about 5000 is increase since 1850 The
Latin nations. including French. Spaniards,
portuguese Italians and their American
colonies. fall considerably below the half
million (3I6. l9D.
If 1t be true. as has been frequently as
serted that the most composite nations of
pure Caucasian stock will be likely to de-
velop the vital qualities which determine
survival. we need not. in spite of all the
problems which harass u.s. be troubled
about our tenure OF the future The En-
glish. from whose cominions all over the
globe this Inference has been drawn, re-
Joica In compound mixture of Celtic
Morse and German blood: but they canlot
In point of compositeness hold a candle
to the American of the twentieth and the
twenty-first century, into whose veins all
the varied elements of the above-named
races shall have been distilled. This Iro-
cess OF the gradual absorption and assimi-
lation of the constantly increasing i,nmi-
grant population will be a most interest
ing one to watch. But 1t is not to be de-
MED that 1t is frauSht with dangers to the
state which offer many reasons the sang line
American legislator has until recently re-
fused to recognize.
The Money Value of an Immigrant.
t. The view Of the immigrant which pre-
vailed in and out of Congress until about
1850 took into account nothing but the
value of his muscle and the money he
brought in his pocket. The country of his
birth was deprived of his productive energy
just as he was becoming capable of repay
ing the cost of his rearing, and it was taken
for granted that we gained what it lost.
1t was computed by its German economist.
Friedrich Kapp. that the average loss to
the old world was about $500 for every per-
son who immigrated; and his value TO us
would, In mere financial sense, average
more than twice that amount According
to their estimate the loss to Europe from
immigration in the single year of 1852 when
I3O.340 souls were shipped to our shores,
was 1854 1900 and our gain. without ref
erence to the actual capital which the i'm
migrants brought, would exceed the dizzy
sum Of billion dollars.
Optimi5ts who reason thus however al
ways take 1t for granted that every man is
worth what 1t cost to raise hinn-which is,
in my opinion. far from being a self-eyt-
dent proposition. Many are worth a vast
deal more; but the number OF those who
fail to yield interest on the capital in
vested is also very considerable. Probably
when both classes are taken into considera-
ton, Friedrich Kapps estimate will be
found to be as near an approach to the
truth as we may ever hope to arrive at.
But unhappily the problem has another as
pect which political economists of this
class have not sufficiently taken into ac-
count. The immigrant is good deal more
complex quantity than these gentlemen are
apt to consider him. He brfngs not only
muscle and loose change with him. but a
heart and brain which are epitomes OF the
history of his race and country and which
Will politically affect the destiny of the
race and country with which he chooses
to Identify himself. He will raise or lower
In accordance with his quality the average
intelligence and morality of our electorate
which again will be reflected in the char
acter of our representation in state and
national legislatures. Being what they
are, the vast majority of immigrants and
particularly those of allen races compli-
cate by their presence the problem of self
government and make it's issue more prob
lematic than otherwise it would have been
Citizens of American Origin.
There is no constitution conceivable which
is so abstractly excellent as to be applicable
to all nations. Every known system of gov
ernment is completely adapted only for the
people which evolved it, and of whose spirit
and historical tradition 1t is legitimate ex-
preston. 1t may by stretch be applied to
people differently constituted; but it will
in that case work less satisfactorily and the
allen people will constantly take it in hand
through the suffrage, and gradually fit II to
their physical and moral condition. 1t is
tbs very thing which is taking place in the
United States today. Our people is no
longer what 1t was a century ago. Fifteen
million immigrants, many of whom were
the subjects of despotcally governed coun-
tries, have since 1920 taken up their abode
among us; and If we take their descendants
into account, we cannot escape the 'conclu-
sion that scarcely one-half of the American
nation today are of American origin, that
is, descendants of people settled here be-
fore 1920.
/ cannot but believe that lin spite of
much that points in the opposite direction)
many OF the sinister phenomena in our
present political condition are due to the
changed character of the electorate and
its lack of ability to work representative
government for the greatest benefit of the
greatest number l am well aware, of
course, that the widest political heresies
have found their adherents In states like
Kansas. Mississippi and Colorado, which
have attracted comparatively few aliens;
while Wisconsin and Minnesota, which are
overwhelmingly German and Scandinavian
are fairly well governed states, with an in
telligent and wholesome conservative cleo
torate. This fact proves only that Ameri-
can birth is in itself no guaranty of DO
ntical maturity: and that aliens of kindred
blood may make very excellent American
citizens. The Germanic element in our pop-
ulation in fact, has always been q most
valuable one, and furnished a needed coun-
terpoise against the mercurial, volatile
and emotional Celtic.
Evils of Boss Government.
1t is, indeed. the latter who is, in a large
measure. responsible for the failure Of our
system as applied to municipal govern
ment The Irish have been despotically
governed at home; and it would be a Won
der If the mere act of transplanting them
uucc IN erican coil To invest thox-.