New-York tribune., 1897-08-30
mn IBR ~ IUuIGR1IION

The decisive check which the flow of ilnnii-
grafton To this country has suffered within the
last four years mas recently been the subject
of much conflicting comment: and concern ana
satisfaction have both been freely expressed at
the marked shrinkage in The volume of alien
arrivals which the Immigration Bureaus re-
turns for the years 1894. 1S9J. 1S9G ana 1871
show According to these statistics. the current
of foreign immigration which. setting strongly
toward our shores after the close of the war or
the Rebellion. reached its flood tide in the early
eighties has now wholly lost Its impetus ana
entered apparently upon period OF exhaustion
and chh From 1850 TO 1899 the average num-
her of aliens annually seeking admission AT our
ports was. on rough estimate Ioooo" III
1SS2 the incoming food reached It's high-water
mark the number of foreigners landed footing
ND 1SSTy2 In 1889 the total Of arrivals was COB
322: in 1891 9.431. and in 1892. G23,oSi. The
first siens of serious >hrinkage came i'll 1891.
when the total number of aliens admitted AT
American ports fell 10 314,461. In 1880 the re-
turn was still more meagrc-2l99iS. The year
following showed a slight reaction. the number
of arrivals mounting TO 343.2G1 In the fiscal
wear however which ended on June 80 last, the
gain Of 1896 was more than swallowed up. only
o30> ~ aliens entering our gates The smallest
number admitted since 1919
MANY unrelated causes have undoubtedly con
irihuied 10 this sudden decline Of more than
~ per cent in the volume Of immigration 10
the United States With the opening OF South
Africa Brazil. the Argentine and other fields
to the adventurous fortune seeker. the United
States has ceased TO offer the attractions il once
held ont as an Eldorado 10 the restless and dis
contented Of all lands Germany, England and
Italy have found new outlets for their overplus
Of population: and If the stream of immigration
hitber from Ireland the Scandinavian kingdoms
and certain Austrian provinces continues un-
checked. it is apparently only because Of spe-
csl social and industrial conditions which in
yife homeseekers Of those various naiiOnal!ties
here.
Again the hard times Of The last four years
have unqucstionably done much 10 slacken the
current Of alien arrivals. The widespread de-
preston in American manufacturing and agri-
clilturc when first became noticeable in the
carly months Of 1893 could not bu, have dis
couraging effect on European labOrers and
artisans intending 10 better their condition by
migrating here. and in the single twelvemonth
from June 30 1893. to June 80. 1894. the vol
urDe o. Immigration fell from 502G17 10 314
4G7
FINALLY the apprehension OF the lower classes
OF European immigrants has been thoroughly
aroused by the restrictive legislation which in
the las. few years has gone upon both State and
Federal statute books. The establishment Of
the Federal Inspection system. with i< pro-
visions against The admission Of contract or
paurrr llhor and the vigorous agitation for an
iteracy test-such as that carried in the Lodge
bill, vetoed by Mr.. Cleveland are. indeed, snffi-
eient warnings to lAe peoples Of Europe that