The record-union., 1896-07-02
INFLUX AND OUTFLOW.
Conservative View of the Restriction
of immigration.

INFLUX AMI UUIELUW.
Conservative View of the Restriction
of immigration.
While there is general concurrence in
the opinion that immigration should be
restricted, there is great diversity of
views as to the lines on which reStric-
tions should be applied. 1t is scarcely
doubtable that the country would be
BETTER off at the end of the next five
years if not a single immigrant We're
permitted to land during that period
than it will be if the present rush con-
tinues unSOrted and unabated. 1t is
certain that wealth and prosperity of the
country would be greatly increased if
the American people would stay at home
instead of rushing over to Europe and
expending fifty to a hundred millions
of dollars every summer.
But neither the incoming tide of pow
erty nor the outgoing stream of wealth
can or ought TO, be totally checked.
There are immigrants who are desirable,
who make good citizens, and add to the
general growth and development of the
nation There are States that want
such immigrants; want them SO much
and send agents to Europe to offer in
ducements. And as as to the outflow
of the wealth of the country by reason
of the regular annual exodus to Eu-
rope, it is nobody's business except those
who own and spend the money. If
hundred thousand Americans, who
never saw anything of their own coun-
try beyond the environments Of their
~ 1oly
heard the roar of the Niagara, crossed
the prairies, steamed up or down the
Mississippi, gazed on the geysers of the
Yellowstone, climbed the Rockies or
went down into the Yosemite--if they
prefer a tour of of Europe to all this,
that is their matter. We may deplore
their seeming lack of interest in their
own country, and we cannot help re-
GREETING that so much of the money that
is made in the United States is spent
abroad; but we cannot put up fence
to keep Americans at home. Nor, on
the other hand, can we prohibit imani-
grafton. Our country is one member
of the family of nations, and we must
not greatly violate international comi'ty
The desire for restricting the influx
of ignorance and wretchedness is gen.
eral, the necessity for such action is
urgent simultaneously with the in
creased outcry against undesirable i'm
migration comes the protest against
the summer exodus. With the latter,
as we have said, the Government and
the public are powerless to interfere.
With the former the Government can
and, in the interest of the people, ought
to interfere. But where shall the line
be drawn? The Philadelphia I'm
quirer," which is paying special atten-
tion to this subject, and demands that
the Republican party shall put an
! immigration restriction plank into its
platform, objects to the admission Of
men who leave their own country to
avoid military service. 1t says that
80 per cent. of the immigrants who
/ landed in the port of New York be-
tween January 1st last and April 18th
were Italians who fled from their
homes to escape the danger of being
Impressed into the Italian military SER
Evice; that what with the Abyssinian
war and the danger of a European
conflict they became frightened and de-
liberately fled to this country for safe
ty. They were so unpatriotic,' the
| Inquirer" continues, "as to leave their
| native country at a time when as
| they believed, their services were need
ed. Every consideration was sacrificed
to the one desire of saving their
precious necks." And the Inquirer
concludes with the comment that
these men, devoid of the first instincts
of the patriot and tearing nothing for
lanything except their own safety, were
allowed to enter this country and take
up their residence here. Is it not upon
such additions to our population that
this nation can rely if the time ever
comes that it also shall be in peril"
This is illogical and unjust 1t was
no proof of cowardice or want of patri-
otism for Italians to leave their coun-
try to avoid taking part in the Abys-
sinian war. They did not leave home
to avoid defending their country Patri-
otism did not call them to lay down life
in a needless and foolish struggle with
African barbarians. Instead of dis
lparaging their character, their getting
away from Italy at such time is
creditable to their intelligence We may
not need them here. Indeed, we are
confident that their coming will not
be helpful to the country, but it would
not do to set up the rule or law that fu-
gitives from military service cannot
come in. Thousands OF such fugitives
have come and have acted their part
well as American citizens in peace and
war Many a man who had fled from
Europe to keep out of the army laid
down his life for the old flag in our
lgreat struggle.-Wa Washington Post