The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-20
The Deeper Problem.

er, not to speak Of many lives.
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The Deeper Problem.
The immigration restriction league
an organization which has done work
of inestimable value in stiffening pub
lie opinion in favor of better regula-
ton of immigration, in circular offer
ing some recent evidences why the
present congress should re-enact the
substantial features of the Lodge bill,
which was vetoed by President Cleve-
land, mentions these two facts of es-
pecial interest in this section:
The legislature of Pennsylvania has
been investigating the cost to the state,
sn its pauper institutions, of the great
mass of ignorant and INDECENT foreigners
within its borders; and the results of the
Investigation prove conclusively what the
league has always maintained. that the
cost to the country of supporting alien
paupers far exceeds the amount of wealth
added to the country through money
brought in by immigrants. The leGisla-
tive committee reports that there are
10000 alien paupers in Pennsylvania, cost
ing 81, 100000 per year. AS a sample of
the state of affairs continually occurring
In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia In
quirer for March 16, 1897, states that of
sixty cases for assault and battery in
the Schuylkill county criminal court in
one session, fifty concerned Poles and
Hungarians.
There is nothing surprising in these
figures to residents in the affected re-
gion; the latter have grown accus-
toned to them. But the presence in
the community of this mass of unas.
simulated foreign material, whether 1t
remain technically unnaturallzed or
fear the alien tax sufficiently to apply
for a certificate of citizenship valued
only as an escape from a three-cent
impost, should arouse enough con-
cern along economic if not along hu-
manitarian lines to cause a determined
effort to be put forth for it's reclama-
tion. Even should the bars be put up
against further immigration of this
character, there is enough potential
irritation and trouble in that already
among us to give pause to thoughtful
citizens and incentive to earnest work
ers for better conditions.
The laws on this subject can be
changed somewhat easily and bid fait
soon to be made stringent and effica-
cious. But the great problem of in
dividual development among the for
eigners already with us; the problem
of fitting them as they should be fitted
for the surroundings IN which they
have been placed and in which their
children must grow uD-this is more
important than the wording of any
law, and what are we doing to solve it ?
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Recent lynchings in portions of the
south have revived the outcry against
mob law; but if we will look at facts
as they are, we shall see that the in
clination in a warm climate to take
swift vengeance on the lustfu! defilers
of women and moralize afterward is an
outcropping of human nature requiring
more heroic reformative and educa-
tional treatment than the occasional
utterance in a platitudinous way of
perfunctory depreciation.
.
1t is reported that President McKin-
ley has offered the Russian mission to
Carl Schurz. Such report can be
credited only on the supposition that
the president wants to get Mr.. Schurz
as far out of the country as possible.
The selection of this pessimistic Mug
wump and vilifier of Republican lead
ers and policies for an Office under
| the present administration would be
an affrOnt to every man who made
McKinley's election possible.
.--------
A woman out in Salt Lake City at
tempted to commit suicide the other
| day. She is the wife of an aeronaut,
and no one can find it in his heart to
blame her for the rash deed although
there may be room for wonder that she
| did not adopt the custom of accom-
panying her husband on his aerial voy-
ages, when the same result might be a
little delayed but equally sure.
/ -
The rival New York publisher who
recently gave orders to his subordin.
ates to Cripple the Sun" knows now
! how the man felt who went against
the buzz saw. The Sun is by all odds
the liveliest cripple that ever drew
breath of life. More power to 1t!
An inquiry made by the Indiana
| bureau OF statistics in the divorce prob
lem In that state reveals that nearly
| three-fourths of all the divorce actions
are begun by women. Is marriage a
failure for the wives Of this country
| -
The Alaska gold fields may make q
few rich but they are more likely to
make thousands poor. Hard work and
thrift will win results as well in Scran-
ton as on the Klondike.
=
The Peary expedition goes forth to
the music Of brass bands and will
probably return, If at all, on a stretch
er. Is the game worth the candle?
| -----s-----
| When the sugar trust tackled Tom
Reed 1t simply repeated the error OF
judgment made at Carson City by the
distinguished Mr.. Corbett.
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While the new tariff bill will un-
doubtedly tend to improve the general
business conditions, don't make the err
ror Of suDposing that It will thrust
prosperity into the pocket of the LOAF