The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-24

ports was. on n rough estimate. 100000.
| In 1882 the incoming Hood reached us
| high water mark the number OF foreigners
landed footing up $500 In 1883 the total
CT arrivals was 603,S22; in 1881, 669,43l.
and IN 1892, 629,0Si The first signs Of
| serious shrnkage came In 1894, when the
| total number OF aliens admitted at Amer
lean ports fell to 3l4,467. In 1895 the re-
| turn was still more meager--279 94S. The
year following showed a slight reaction,
| the number of arrivals mounting to 3i3,-
| 267. In the fiscal year, however, which
ended on June 80 last. the gain OF 1896
| was more than swallowed up. only 23O S32
aliens entering our gates-the smallest
number admitted since 1879.
| Many unrelated causes have undoubt-
eddy contributed to this sudden decline Of
more than 30 per cent in the volume OF
immigration to the United States. With
the opening of South Africa, Brazil the
Argentine, and other fields to the adven-
tureus fortune seeker the United States
has ceased to offer the attractions It
once held out as an Eldorado to the rest
less and discontinued Of Ill lands. Ger
many, England ard Italy have found
new outlets for their overplus II popuia
ton, and IL the stream Of immigration
hither from Ireland, the Scandinavian
kingdoms and certain Austrian prov
lnces continues unchecked 1t is apparent
ly only because of special social and in
dustrial conditions which invite home
seekers OF those various nationalitieS
here.
Again. the hard times nj the last four
years have unquestionably done much to
slaclten the current Of alien arrivals. The
widespread depression In American man.
ufacturng and agriculture which first be-
came noticeable in the early months OF
1893 could not but have a discouraging
aft art Mr.. l,IN r,,,
intending to better their condition by
migrating here, and In he single twelve
month from June &c. 1898, TO Jane so, 1894,
the volume of immigration fell from 502,-
9l7 to 3li, 467.
Finally the apprehension Of the lower
classes OF European immigrants has been
thoroughlys aroused by the restrictive
legislation which in the last few years
has gone upon both State and Federal
statute books. The establishment of the
Federal inspection system. with its pro-
visions against the admission Of contract
or pauper labor, and he vigorous agita-
ton for an illiteracy test-such as that
carried In the Lodge bill. vetoed by Mr..
Cleveland-are, indeed. sufficient warn
ings to the peAles of Europe that the
free and unrestricted admission of aliens
is no longer to be an ACCEPTED feature Of
American public policy. The State law
recently passed in Pennsylvania, and
only few days ago declared unoonsti-
tutional. which sought 10 tax .lien la
borers at the ratio Of > cents a day.
though aimed only at she unnaturalzed,
has also been taken as distinct ex-
preston Of hostility to foreign immigra-
tion and its effect has been a deterrent
one to the Hungarians. Poles end Bohs-
mians. who have been latterly crowding
cut all other classes Of operatives in the
PENNSYLVANIA coal mines. The return of
general prosperity in the United States
will. OF course. tend to revive tho slack
ened flow of Immigration across the At
lantic