The Irish standard., 1896-01-18


Hungary, Italy and Russia each gave
small percentages by this census, but the
immigration from these countries has
largely increased since 1890.
In 1880 the whole nuI:lber Of persons
Of foreign parentage was 10, 1892, ,0l5, the
total population being 50,155,7S3. The
percentage shown by this census OF the
nationalities of foreign bern population
does not materially differ from that
shown by the census of 1890.
In 1870 the foreign born population
was 5,567 ,292, of which England fur
nished 550,eSS, or one-tenth.
From the statistics given it may be
safely inferred that more than so per
cent. Of the population OF this country
has come to us from abroad, or has de-
scended from those who have come since
the revolution Making a liberal allow
ance for those OF English blood who have
come from Canada and other provinces
there is not over one-seventh OF this add
ed population English.
It will, then be seen that the people
of the United States, OF America, as we
are called abroad is not composed OF
pure English stock. 1t is safe to esti
mate that NOT 30 per cent. is English.
In fact, think that outside Of New Eng
land not one family in 100 is OF un-
mixed English blood. and into New Eng
land there has been during recent years,
a heavy Immigration of Canadian French
to the manufacturing towns. while Scan
dinavans have begun to occupy the de-
serted farms, notably in Massachusetts,.
Mr. Carnegie says that the American,
in many respects. resembles the Scotch
man more than the English There is no
doubt that the infusion OF Morse blood
into the American has brought him to
resemble the Scotch who are largely of
Scandinavian origin Matthew Arnold
noted the difference in the appearance CT
the two peoples, In his first visit to this
country be wrote of us: THE Ameri-
can Philistina, however. is certainly far
more different from his English brothers
than l had before supposed All travel
ers note this difference. An American
in London is known at sight by every
bcctblack, while in America an English
man can no more conceal his identity
than can the beWhiskered Russian. With
the Scandinavian it is different, A. young
man from the cities of Sweden or Nor
way has but to change his clothing and
learn to speak our language and he be-
comes an American, through and
through. In looks, in actions, ne cannot
be detected from one to the manner born.
It is not strange that Mr.. Carnegie, re-
clining within the shadow of the craigs
of his native Scotia, should "look for
ward" with fond hope to a union Of his
native land with the country Of his adop-
tion. His natal instinct binds him with
reverence to the land of his birth, while
admiration for the land where his years
of active manhood were passed would
Ixva
and foresight, he wrought a name and
acquired fortune, which enables him to
recline with ease and to dispense with a
liberal hand from an ample store in aid
of worthy objects. What more natural
than t5 overlook all obstacles to q union,
which would be fraught with such pleas
urable emotions?
In his desire for the union he fails to
read Alright the writing between the
lines in the credentials to and the res
olutions and petitions passed by the con-
tinental congress. There was desire
for liberty and separation, widespread
and general, throughout the colonies.
Had his ancestors passed through that
struggle he would have felt that some
thing deeper than the asking for few
concessions animated the mem mbers of
that convention and the people whom
they represented. But they were willing
to wait, were willing to petition for that
which they knew would not be granted.
By a conservative, cOnciliatOry course
they cemented more firmly all classes at
home By this course they won many
friends among the liberals in England
and appealed more strongly to the SYM
pathies of other nations. Had England
at that time yielded to the petitions the
separation might have been delayed, but
that it would eventually have come there
is little doubt.
The obstacles to union with Eng
land are insurmountable, were it even
desirable The, argument for the union,
on the ground of unity of race, hangs by
"a very slender thread. There is but one
bond, and that is one language. Great
Britain is too great and too powerful TO
become component part OF another ma
ton. II she could be come the control
ling spirit, the governing hand, then
would she consent to the union, or an ab-
scrption
Mr.. White speaks of a possible disso-
luton Of the British empire, and says
"The welfare of the United States is
bound up in the maintenance of the
British empire Great Britain is not
going to dissolve, nor will her power be
materially curtailed for centuries. She
is the newest nation of Europe, with the
latest commingling of races, and, by the.
trend Of natural causes, should be the
last to decay. And America is large
enough, strong enough, to take care of
herself. She does not need, as suggested
by Nh White, the assistance of the pow
erful British navy to protect her COM
merce Or cause her just edicts to be re
spected throughout the world. For four
decades her internal development has
absorbed the greater part of the atten-
tion anu energy Of her people. The bulk
of her products, both of field and factory,
has been required at home. When the
surplus, to any great extent, exceeds the
home demand, she viii find ways and
means to increase her commerce. She
will not ''be satisfied to take back seat
in the councils of the world" Neither
will she be required to do so.
1t IS not best, We're it practicable, that
there should be such a union. Great
Britain will accomplish her proper des--
tiny. The United States has work to
do which she can better do alone than by
uniting her destiny with any other ma
tion. True, as Mr.. Carnegie says. The
combined fleets would sweep the seas,
But this is not what we want. It is not
what the world needs. Americas ambl-
tion is not, and should not be. to help,
ITO strike terror. Her mission is and
should be "On earth peace, and good will