The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-20

grafton for the fiscal year ending June =.
1sss. vii b. much hrgsr than Il has been
for a long tine. During he past fsw years
OF depression. II IS estimated that more
people have returned . Europe than care
into The country. IN fact, a. one tiue the
eagernezs of many 10 get back to their
fataerlzn4s was only equaIsd by The great
desire immigrants had 20 get over here
during TIRE unusual immigration boom soma
fifteen years ago. II Is not likely We shall
have a repetition OF the great influx dur
ing the years from isso to 1854 The i'm
migration laws would not permit Il. and
even II they did. the general condition OF
the country = not such as 70 invite to our
shores such horaes as came through the
Eastern sesports during the years men
toned
Tn. present Increased immigration II
Cue. however, 10 the general Frightening
up and a prospect for improved indus
trial conditions. Whether II VII con-
t.nue depends, Of course. upon the fulfill
ment Of the hopes OF those who predict
better times. There is. no doubt. . more
confident feeling all over the country. with
everybody convinced that the worst is
over. but the actual improvement and re-
lief from panic troubles has not yet been
such as 70 warrant so heavy an increase
OF immigration during the past six months.
The reason for II. therefore, outside OF
the restoration being brought about here.
must be found In the general depression
also existing among the o~ver-populated
and heavily taxed nations OF Europe. The
financial upheavai OF the past three years
has been worldwide, and IL the people In
the United States have felt II, so. too,
have the poorer population Of Europe
suffered from the consequences.
No doubt the new immigration is in
hnitely more desirable than that with
which the country was flooded at the time
when fl was coming in at the rate OF half
a million a year. Then the steamship COM
panles and immigration agents were vie
ing with one another TO see which could
dump the greatest amount Of scum upon
our shores. TIL has been TO a great ex-
tent remedied, and the laws have been
fairly successful In keeping out the IN
desirable class OF immigrants. The turn
ing back OF SO many vicious and worth
less characters and the rejection Of
those who had no means OF livelihood has
taught the steamship companies a lesson,
sand they exercise no little care now in
bringing only those people who Will un-
q-uestiona5ly be permitted TO and. The
day for shipping over the refuse of the
large European capitals has passed.
The immigrants now seem TO be Of the
more respectable sort. a large part Of
them are sgrieulturists. people who will
not herd in the cities. but desire to move
on to the newer states where land may be
taken up and homes built. The distress
of the English farmers and the poor pros
poets for any reasonable returns from
leased land has impelled many OF them to
come 10 America. The immigration
OF this class OF foreigners is said TO be Iarg-
or than ever before. They. no doubt, viii
be heartily welcomed. They are active.
frugal and intelligent. They will become
producers. assist in utilizing vacant land
and become good citizens. No immigra-
ton law ever intended that such people
should be excluded. There are thousands
OF acres TO Which they can give value. and
in the doing OF which they will be adding
to the wealth OF many a Western state.
Possibly those who believe that all immi-
grafton should be suspended for a period
VIII not greet these worthy newcomers
cordially and. should immigration increase
hrsely in the near future. IL is possible
that an attempt VIII be made TO put in
force more restrictive regulations. The
necessity for such action may well be
questioned. our laws now ave greatly
reduced the danger Of undesirable people
coming to our shores. and, II they can be
kept out. It would seem hat the admission
OF The more intelligent and generally bet
ter class OF immigrants should cause no
uneasiness for many years 20 come.