The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-16
the farm land in its vicinity selling for mo

the farm land in its vicinity selling for more
than loo per acre.
Our land on the Divide is excellent grass
land, but- ION account of the low price of cattle
horses. sheer wool, etc, supposed TO be dine 10
the tariff, there is no profit in farming, aud on
this account Judge Noonan, a Republican, WAS
elected TO Congress The Democrats OF this
district recently nominated man for Congress
Protection platform.
Amos L. Seaman, of St Louis, Mo-, had
letter in /. II w. department, in which he takes
a stand against cheap pauPer labor, anu states
that 80 per cent of foreign Immigrants are I'M
fit tn become citizens, and cites that IN BOSTON
but SO per cent. are native born aud In Cblcago
fi,cre are more foreign than native born, and
that in New York it is n common sight to see
no end OF beggars all day long.
| am not in favor Of cheap pauper labor, nut
! i believe that mechanic should be pald wei
| for his hire. Few white native Americans are
| common laborers, and if they learn a trade they
are SIX Tiled mechanics, and as 3 general thing
| they are able to do much more work ut what
ever trade they belong to than those OF simi-
lar trade in foreign countries; at least, so am
| informed by reliable American mechanics.
| The foreign mechanic, whether in Engiahn,
Germany or France / have been led to believe,
is much slower and accOmplisbes less work
than his American co-laborer.
Before the war when / was boy, the me-
clanc was not paid half the wages that he is
now paid. and he worked harder. There was
no one TO tell hin, he should not lay more than
a certain number of bricks day, or WORK more
than a certain number of hours, or have only a
certain nDmber of apprentices, or work Tor bot
less than a certain fixed amount day.
Complaint WAS freely made by American
parents that their children conld not learn
trades. bookkeeping aud clerkships were
preferred. and light occupations were eagerly
sought after by boys of business capacity or
of an ordinary Grammar school education.
This has been my experience as boy emu
Gated in the New York public schools. The
trades and tie more labOrious pursuits were
usually left to the children of foreign-born
parents who were not fortunate as those oil
AmericaD-born parents in obtaining positions
In mercantile houses.
IF 80 per ceut of the population Of Boston is
foreign born, which / doubt, it seems to me
that Mr. Seaman offers strong argument in
favor of immigration. The same might be Hp-
piled to Chicago the population of which he
states is more than half foreign born.
Bostons money is invested to develop every
railroad and enterprise in ST. Louis. as well as
the great West, and i am sure that Chicago has
within a few years outstripped ST. Louis, both
in its population. trade, money valuation OF its
property. and influence.
When ! studied geography in school there
were not more than 81 STATES in the Union :;
to-day there are As; the far West WIS sp:trssiy
populated, hut immi grafton poured into IL, de-
yeloped its resources and made IL what it is
If immigration had been stopped, trans
portatiOn lines would not exist or would not
pay, neither would manufacturing enterprises
and the development of sections OF the country,
like the ono have mentioned, would be arrest
ed. Lahorers in the country and cities are
needed, as are also servants.
couple OF days ago the newspapers stated
that q farmer having a large amount of land
committed suicide because lie could not got
he'll 10 cultivate the crops
The statement is also made that 80 per cent.
of foreign immigrants are not fit to become
citizens, and that few know anything about the
Constitution Of the United States, and he cites
the numbers naturaliged by both parties in St.
Ionis. There are many citizens, both native
Rnd foreign, who know very little OF the Con-
stitution of the United States and If we look
on the map Of illiteracy furnished by the Super
intrndent OF the United States Census of 1880,
we Will find that the greatest amount is in the
Southern States among the native born, chiefly
colored hut without this iliterate help does
Mr. Seaman think that the country would not
suffer?
Who wonld cultivate the soil, harvest the
crops, make money for the transportation
agents, tradesmen, etc, if this element were
eliminated?
These illiteratcs, probably do not know what
the Constitution of the United States is, but
who can say they were dsloyal TO the United
States and the Constitution when tire country
needed them? The soldier wearing the blue
from 1861 TO 1865 knew that he had friend
aud would receive assistance when he met a
poor, iliiterate coored man.
i do not know the occupation Of Mr. Sea-
0an, bat the ssscbaaics greatly OUTS N
bered by other scou patiors in the United States
suppose any single mechanical occupation
should prevent any increase in their mum Der ;
should all the rest of the United States be COM
PEELED to remain idle aud at standstill because
no others can be employed, and good healthy
immigrants, WHO are willing and capable to do
the work, are prevented from doing it? The
agricultnrists far exceed all those OF any other
occupation, aud these raise products to SELL aud
feed immigrants, both foreign and native.
j coincide with Mr.. Seaman that good
American labor should not be crowded ont by
cheap pauper labor" and that it is desirable
to have every citizen of this country able to
read and write, and know something of the Con-
stitution OF the United States and the hen fits
OF the perpetnaiion OF the principles OF Govern
rent under which he lives and ! hope to see
come effort made in this direction. / do not
agree, however, with him THAT il is a com o, on
sight TO see heggars in This city all day long"
habitants there are certainly some beggars and
traTps. In the Winter season the tramps aud
g buns" flock to the city for shelter. 1t has
been proven that few of them will work In
dull seasons many worthy people are idle, aud
assistance has to be given Them ] did not in
tend TO say any more on this subject. bnt
rainy day aud the query of Cornrade Nc
kenna gave me a little time, which availed
myself of.
1t seems to me that each State of the Union
should have its views about immigration. and
the States should be governed by representa-.
tives of each County of the State. 1t would
be then seen whether the Counties that in yite
immigration and receive immigrants would
not have more general prosperity than those
which do rot.
The most populons sections have learned
to look upon the sections which contain
the most wealth.
John I. Nagle, NJ d., AZ East Twenty. first
street, New York City.
HAPPY HOUSEHOLD.