The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-27

are found among criminals. Statistics snow
that over so per cent. Of our criminals are from
the foreign pauper class, which, considering
that they do not constitute 10 per cent. OF tue
population, is largo percentage.
There is one instance in which figures DO not
lie, but misrepresent: That only 561 Of these
immigrants should be returned as paupers does
not show close enforcement of the law. From
the year 1880 there has not been year wDlch
has averaged less than 80 600 migrants per
month, except in 1894; the highest year being
1882, with 1892, over 5000 per month, ana
in the past 10 years the average has been nearly
AZ 900 per month. Over s. COO. 900 people, ana
one-half of them with no business. trade, or pro-
fession. and little education, even in their
native country's tongue.
As 10 where this cheap pauper labor lmml-
CRATES to in the United States, in reply to Mr..
McKenna, will repeat what / said in my pre-
vious article They locate in the OvercrOwded,
congested tenement districts of large cities,
midst vice and insanitation. Again, Mr. Nc
Kenna asks: "Who populated Ohio. Iowa,
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the
Territories that were made within the past III
years? Who built the cities of Chicago, Mil
waukee, ST. Louis, aud other large and -four
ishing cities of the West?"
/ answer, not the pauper labor or undesirable
class of immigration we have to-day, but the
honest, toiling settlers of years past who came
here not to exc out their existence by robbing
or begging it from those already here, but VINO
went to work on farms, who put up their niue
shops who created business with the resources
ef the land and the sea, and thus opened the
avenue to building mp localities where soon the
farmer and artisan was to find a market for his
products, wares and labor Thus were OUT
cities built, and not by overcrowding them
with men, women and children, ignorant, with
no visible means or chances Of support, except
to put these children into factories, the women,
too and these men at work, which they would
do cheaper than American labor by one-half, II
necessary, because they had to do something,
beg or Starve.
Mr. McKenna agrees to the proposition that
it would be better for foreigners to settle where
there is more land, and asks how they are to
get there and how they are to get the land
when they do get to it?
That is q timely question: and answer by
saying that If they cannot get to the land they
will have to stay where they originally located,
in the same congested, overcrowded parts OF
the United States. which they usually do, un-
less they want 10 walk ties. Here is good
reason why we should restrict immigration.
When these undesirable classes get here they
have nothing to carry them farther into the
unde veloped country, with nothing to do to
give them a start, even should we admit that
they want start. Their means are dwaIfed,
many penniless, and their chances few. They
vigur and thrift but rather empty purses. per-
verified and depressed mentally, with cramped
and erratic notions Of government born OF
tyranny and oppression, which time fails to
eradicate and with such material we are ex-
pected to build up American citizenship.
NArUEAL1zrNG FOREIGNERS.
assure Mr. McKenna that they do natural
ize foreigners in large cities before they have
been here five years. some before they arrive.
\ Ls.k kl,Arv hnr4
reform in New York and Chicago and other
large cities, and yet St. Louis is angelic by COM
parson.
We have in tho United States good crop Of
we'll grounded Americans, who populated this
country from back in the days of the early
celonists and settlers. who were not from tho
scum of Europe, either. Their sons aud
daughters and tho generations thereafter, with
immigrants Of the earlier period Of our coun-
try's history, are quite sufficient, good and
plentiful enough to populate this country, and
the present imported goods are not to be COM
pared with our American stock. They are an
over. production. for which there is no demand
and drug the market.
Mr. Mex Jenna seems TO have an idea that we
must depend on importations for the growth in
population Of the United States. / believe
that we can grow fast enough without inviting
to our shores every class and condition Of man
kind. regardless Of their fitness for American
citizenship. The mere formal act of naturai.
zation by the courts legally makes citizens Of
immigrants. but morally and practically it
dnes not. That is point III which believe
err, and the laws in regard to naturalization
should be more stringent. The man who comes
here from abroad, regardless of his atncss or
understanding, is a machine made citizen as
soon as politicians can get hold of him.
As to illiteraey. while Of great import. its
bearing tho question under discussion is
merely incidental The question Of iiiiteracy
involves other considerations aside from immi-
grafton. Regarding illi.cracy. however, the
question is more upon the character Of the for
eigner's education, SO called, than the mere
fact of his being able to write.
Men, women. aud children who come over
here from the midst of suppression. oligarchy,
and mont u servitnsie are hardly in fit cond iton
to be received ut our ports Their conception
of a free country must he erratic, If they have
any conception of IL. In five years they are
naturaiized and tho conditions are favorable
for little improvement in their understanding
in that time.
Yet the boys who are schooled at home in the
excellent schonlhouses of country must
study and wait for u years for the same privi-
lege of citizenship.
But taking tho figures Of illiteracy from the
largest immi grHnt-proiuciEg countries, which
constitute over 70 per cent. of all Immigration
y
cent. They send only l24 per cent of the
whole number, and these are mostly from their
ilitcrate classes. The remaining S7l per cent.
range from about 25 to 65 per cent, with an
average Of over so per cent
Mr.. Mckenuas quotations of illiteracy in
the United States lily chosen. Alabama,
Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina Arkansas,
etc. are all Southern States, where, until the
! past few years. opportunities for education
have not been extensive desirable, and
the high ratio Of liiteracy is further increased
| by the negro population. Why not quote from
! "a few Northern States?
Again referring to foreign illteracy: In
! Germany the per cent. is low; but while fig
! ures may show who can write, they do not
show tiIe character of the education of immi-
| grants. largo per cent. of whom grounded
| in foreign ideas, wbc are in such contradis.
| tinction to the form and Institutions of our own
! Government that the citizenship of these
classes mems to temporize with foreign per
vcrted notions of Government, thus cndanger-
ing the liberty and long.estabished covenants
and customs of the American people as laid
down in the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution.
The same may be said Of immigrants from
Russia, Italy. France. and Hungary. I say
with you friend McKenna, let US stiff" but
let us have n thorough sitting, that We may
protect our American labor ard institutions
from the invasion Of undesirable additions to
our population and disintegrating influences
among our citizens. Amos T.. Seaman.
HAPPY HOUSEHOLD.
Recipes for Canning Corn and Peas and
Chocolate FilliB:. Called For.
EMMA HANDS LETTER.