The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-07
DANGERS OF IMMIGRATION.
A Strong Presentation of This Peril
to American Life.


General Francis A. Walker. president of
the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology. Is
recognized by many scholars at home and
abroad as. perhaps. our foremost political
economist. He has at his command a larger
mass of than any other author
ity, for his special Investigations date from
in 1870. His work is scientific and his tenn
permanent Is calm. but he shows very decided
emotional earnestness in discussing this sub
Ject. He has studied its social bearings.
its economic relations. and its political ef-
fects. and the conclusion that he has de-
iiberate.y reached after twenty-five years OF
close investigation Is set forth most compact
ly and earnestly in an article in the June
Atlantic Monthly, and his conclusion Is that
too promiscuous immigration has brought
false standards into our social life, has pre-
vented the natural increase of the old-stock
American population, and has DETECTED us
in many ways from the line of our national
Among the emphatic positions taken by
General Walker in his Atlantic article. in
reference to restriction of immigration are
THE frst thing to be said respecting any
serious proposition Importantly 10 restrict
immigration into the United States Is. that
such a proposition necessarily and properly
encounters a high degree of incredulity.
arising from the traditions OF our country.
From the beginning, 4. has been the policy
of the United States. both officially and ac-
cording to the prevailing sentiment OF our
people, to tolerate, to welcome, ana TO en-
courage immigration. without qualification
and without discrimination. For generations
II was the settled opinion OF our people,
which found no challenge anywhere. that
immigration was a source Of both strength
and wealth. Is ii. however. necessarily true
that If our fathers and grandfathers were
own time. those who advocate the r%estric-
ton of immigration to-day must be In the
wrong? Does it not sometimes happen, IN
the course of national development, tnat
great and permanent changes IL condition
require corresponding changes OF opinion and
of policy?"
General Walker then gives three reasons
for a change of policy now:
First, we have the important fact OF the
complete exhanssion Of F,th the free pa aSn : lands saas
farm of 100 acres could be had at the mil
imum price of $125 an acre. or for merely
the fees Of registration. Under these cir
cumstances 1t was a very simple matter to
dispose of a large immigration To-day
there is not a good farm within the limits
of the United States which is 10 be had on.
these conditions. The wild and tumuituous
scenes which attended the opening 10 SCI
element of the Territory of Oklahoma. a few
years ago. and. a little later, OF the so
called Cherokee Strip, testify eloquenfly 10
the vast change of our national conditions In
IA second change in our nations, condi-
ton. which Importantly affects our capacity
Of taking care of large numbers OF ignorant
and unskiiled foreigners, is the fall or agri-
cultural prices which has gone on steadily
since 1873. 1t is a necessary consequence OF
this that the ability 70 employ a large num-
Der of uneducafed and unskiiled hands in ag-
r~icuiture has greatly diminished
s.Still a third cause which may be indicated.
perhaps more important than either or those
kthus far mentioned, II found IN the fact that
we have now a labor problem There Is no
country Of Europe which has not for q iong
time had a labor problem From this evil
condition we have. until recently. happily
been free. During the last few gears. how
ever. we have ourselves come under the
shadow Of this evil. in spite OF our mag
nfdcent natural resources. We know what II
is to have even intelligent and skilled laoor
unemployed through considerable periods OF
time. This change of conditions Is likely TO
bring some abatement OF our national pride
No longer Is Ii a matter OF course That every
industrious and temperate man can md
| work In the United States. And IL Il 10 be
| that, OF all nations. we are the
ore which is east qualified TO deal with a
| labor problem. We have not the machinery,
we have not the army. we have not the
police. we nave not the traditions and in
stincts for dealing with such q matter. as the
great railroad and Other. strike OF the last
fex years have shown"
In conclusion General Walker says
Have we the right to expose the Republic
to any increase OF the dangers which now
so manlfestly threaten our peace and
s:For II Il never to be forgotten that self
defense - the frsf law Of nature and Of
n1ttone- II that man b careth not for
tie natlcp which permits It, Institutions
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