The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-01
COME TO ENLIST.
This is the Plea of Many I'M
migrants
Who Have Been DepOrted From
America.
SPANIARDS ARRIVE.
Immigrants Have Many Strange
Expectations.
War Seems to Act as a Deter
rent.

New York, July 1.-Immigration to the
United States through the port of New
York is somewhat below the normal for
this time Of the year. To assume that
the decrease is due to the Spanish-Ameri-
can war would. of course, be to assume
too much; but, in the opinion of a COM
missioner at the barge Office the war is
directly accountable for some part of the
falling off. There may be other deter
rent influences, acting in the old world at
the present time" said the commissioner,
but the war is the strongest of all The
decrease in arrivals is greater than ex-
pected, and greater than any old world
condition that know Of can account for
think It. quite logical, therefore, to
ascribe it to the greatest probable cause
the war. Such an effect, it seems to me,
would be inevitable. The people OF Esu-
rope know through sad experience what
war is, or, rather, what it has been. The
old have felt the suffering of it, the young
have been told of it; and whatever glory
It may offer does not in the least appeal to
the generality of men who are looking for
homes in a new country, nor to the men
of the spirit and intelligence of the aver
age immigrant A country at war, to
them. is place to be fought shy of. They
doubtless fear impressment; and, perhaps.
many another service that citizenship in
their country gives their government the
right to lay hold upon them. So they
able opportunity or go elsewhere-that is,
If they know that Spain and the United
states are at war; many OF the arrivals
However potent these considerations
may be, 1t IS somewhat strange that most
of the immigrants who land here day
after day know little about the war and
seem 10 care less some or them know
nothing, and are surprised to learn upon
arrival that the nation is indeed at war.
me reporter was informed that those
who read the newspapers" know the fact,
but have distorted ideas about the merits
information about the progress of events,
Even they are in the great minority, and
do not appear to communicate their knoWl-
shipboaTd- So that the average imm 3n
grant when he passes through the barge
comprehends. in a dull useless sort of a
way way. that there is "a tight going on
over the war is not a subject of interest; |
and that as the ship steams up the har-
city may be like in war time. The talk
is Of The: high buildings the arraneenoents
for the landing, and all the other staple |
things Of interest to arriving immigrants. |
To one who stands in the Inspection room
immigrants passes through, and closely
observes the heads and faces he may see
this is all easy to understand
There are two classes of immigrants
These are they who think it will have
made work for many men at good wages, |
age not to exceed three of each come by
each boat The most OF the former are
4Iallans, VINO nave lived In the large cities
men of that class which passes for edu-
Gated at nome, 1t was said, who have
AleQe hurried arfangeInents TO leave their
native country and bring their little cap
1ta1 with them with the hope of turning
every penny into an honest two or more
Others, apparently, have expectat ton of no
swinging a shovel for high wage The
men who want to enter the army have
European power or other, and have no
doubt whatever that they will be able to
probability of their being a surplus of !
fighting men here does not enter their |
hnT
their former service will effectuaiIy secure |
them against rejection. These men are.
German or British, and if British, almost !
surely Irish Some of them have enlisted |
and are now with the armies in the south. |
three hundred Of his peopIe with fl7e ire ire
- Inc III
through the United States within a year. |
Some weeks ago there arrived a group OF 1
immigrants whom the barge office off- |
They were three or four Spanish youths !
from Is to Is years old, who had left Spain |
after the declaration of war, and fully /
aware of it. They came to New York by |
way of Havre, and were. it is said desir- |
able citizens in every respect save that of I
inspector for special examination and IL |
naily appeared before the board Of special |
Why have you come here?' was an in
ITO get out of serving in the army
was the unanimous answer.
AL seemed quite sure that safe refuge |
q hospitable reception. The board how
ever, had no guiding precedent, and, after |
some consideration, asked an opinion from /
the department at Washington This was
Jnat the Spaniards should be deported, |
because It would not be WISE to admit /
SneIn- Ihey were accordingly sent back, |
hay1ng protested to no purpose.
want to enlist IN the army appeals I
10 the detained as a promising excuse for /
all deficiencies. The immigrant detained 4
IS an angry and vOlubie fellow as a rule
The fear of being sent back makes him 4
Ieu as many lies he thinks he safely !
can, and to make as many promises as 4
may enter into his head. 1t seems to be /
taken for granted by them that the offer |
70 enlist and fight for America when |
they chance to know that America is /
ughung-is q guarantee of good faith that |
must surely be effectuaI to remove every /
bar against them. The 'fstoWe.ways'' are /
sure to say that their only intention in |
hiding themselves away was to take M
6rTns aga I5t Spain As a matter OF fact |
this argument has no influence at all with /
the board of special inquiry If the man /
whose case is under considera ton does not |
fulfill every requirement of the law he is !
rejected and sent back No additional re-
qu1rementS have gone into force since the |
war began, and because of it: but as a !
commissioner said, the examination un-
DER the old ones are more searching than
they were. Therefore, more immigrants
are being sent back in these days than
formerly.
Reduced Rates to Nashville.
For the International Christian En-