The record-union., 1895-06-08
OUR IhLITERATE IMMIGRANTS
Statistics Show That the Larger Mum.
Der Come From Italy.

Statistics Show That the Larger Num-
Der Come From Italy.
The Louisville COurier-JOu1naI is in
receipt of communication from I'm
Romano, protesting against the state
Hungarians and Poles formed the least
desirable class of immigrants. The
writer defends his countrymen and as
serts what every one comedies, that there
are many prominent business men and
enterprising citizens among the Italians
who now live in America. This is quite
true. We have no desire to discriminate
against the coming of such people, be
they Italians or Slays. America was
discovered by an Italian, and Italians
have claim to consideration here aside
from the interest attaching to them be-
cause of the long and brilliant history Of
their country. After Italy lost martial
prestige and freedom the famous PENN
sula was the university of Europe. A
land so famous in song and story, so
rich in memories and associations, is
| worthy the pride of On Romano or any
one else.
Unfortunately statistics show that a
larger number of illitorates come to the
United States from Italy than from any
other source, and it sends fewer skilled
laborers than any other European coun-
Hungary. The report OF the Superinten-
dent of Immigration for 1888 says the
proportion of skilled workmen among
| the immigrants that year was as follows:
From Scotland. l in 4; from England and
Wales, / in 5; from Belgium, l in Z;
France, in 9; Germany and Norway.
| in 10; Italy, in IA; Russia, in Is; Poland,
l in %: Austria Hungary. l in 90 The
| percentage Of illiterate in the total immi-
grafton is ID. The number in each hum
dred immigrants who could not read and
write their own language was as follows:
Switzerland, d; Sweden and Norway, l;
Scotland and Germany. 2; England and
France, 3; Wales and Ireland, z; Russia,
26; Austria-Hungary, 20: Poland, 81;
Italy, SO.
The total immigration from July l,
| 1894, to April 1, 1895, umbered l40 $50
persons, of whom the Italians, Poles.
Russians and Austro-Hungarians aggre-
gated 81, 467, or 1873 per cent. OF the re-
manning 6l.2 per cent. came from the
United Kingdom, France, Germany and
Scandinavia. Among all were three
idiots, LOU paupers, eleven convicts. 353
contract laborers and 123 who have since
been deported for various reasons.
The amount of money brought over by
all was 50, 395, S46--only ST to each per-
| son. These figures are furnished by the
Superintendent Of immigration.
Our correspondent declares the Italians
make up no part of the criminal classes
This is not the general impression,
though they are probably no more law
less than their fellow immigrants of COR
responding illiteracy.
The United States have welcome and
home for every good man, no matter
whence he comes. Be he the descendant
of a Roman patriarch or be he Sicilian
laborer, if he only possesses honesty, in
dustry aud intelligence, he may become
one of the greatest and freest people on
the face of the globe. But to the scum of
Europe and Asia, whether anarchists or
lazzaroni, our gates should always re-
main closed. They have no conception
of our institutions, and they can not be
assimilated by the native population for
generations.