The times., 1898-07-03
IMMIGRATION IN WAR TIME
Hispano-Amerfcnn Struggle n Slight
he

Deterrent.
New York. July 2.-ImmIgration to the
| United States through the port OF New
York is somewhat below the normal OF
this time of the year. To assume that the
decrease is due TO the Spanish-American
war would. of course. be to assume too
much; but, in the opinion of a commis-
i sioner at the Barge Office. the war is di-
rectIy 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.
i but that the war is the strongest of all
is. in my opinion. beyond question. 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 as
cribe it TO the greatest probable cause
the war Such effect, it seems to me,
would be inevitable. The people of Eu-
rope know through sad experience what
war is. or. rather, what ii has been. The
old have felt the suffering OF it; the younl,
have been told of it: and whatever glory
il may offer does not in the least appeal
to the generality of men who are looking
for honfes in a new country nor TO the
men of the spirit and intelligence of the
| average immigrant. A country at war. to
| them. is place to be fought shy Of They
doubtless fear lmpressment: and perhaps.
many another service that citizenship In
their country gives their government the
right to lay upon them So they stay at
home. waiting for a more favorable op-
portunity, or go elsewhere-that is, If they
know that Spain and the United States
are at war; many of the arrivals do not
However potent these considerations
may be, it is somewhat strange that most
of the immigrants who land here day af-
ter day know little about the war and
seem to care less. Some Of them know
nothing and are surprised TO learn upon
arrival that the nation is indeed at war.
I The reporter was informed that those who
read the newspapers know the fact. but
have distorted ideas about the merits OF
the struggle, an amusing fund Of misin-
formation about the progress of events.
and grave fears for the ultimate outcome
Even they are in the great minority, and
do not appear to communicate their
knowledge, such 1t is, TO their fellows
on shipboard. So that the average immi-
grant. when he passes through the Barge
Office. is either absolutely ignorant or
eomprehends. in a dull, useless sort OF
way, that there is "a fight going on
somewhere 1t is said that. on the way
/ over. the war is not subject of inter
est; and that. as the ship steams up the
harbor. no one seems TO wonder what
the city may be like in war time. The
talk is of the high buildings the arrange
ments for the landing and all the other
staple things Of interest TO arriving i'm
migrants To one who stands in the in
spection room of the Barge Office when a
ship load of 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
whom the war draws 10 this country.
These are they who think that it may
have made work for many men az good
wages and they who come TO enlist An
| average of not TO exceed three of each
come by each boat The most of the for
mer are Italians who have lived in large
cities-men Of that class which passes for
educated at home. il was said, who have
made hurried arrangements 10 leave their
native country, and bring their little cap
/ iJai with them with the hope of turning
! every penny Of il into an honest tWB or
more Others apparently. have expecta-
tion OF no greater fortune than the priyiI-
ege OF swinging a shovel fora high wage.
| The men who want 10 enter the army
! have, for the most part. served in armies
no doubt whatever that they viii be able
70 find profitable employment. II is said
that the probability of there being a sur
| plus Of fighting men here does not enter
! their minds, or that. If il does, they be-
iieye their former service will effeetuaIiy
secure them against rejection These men
are. almost TO a man. the reporter was
told. German or British. and if British
| almost surely irish Some of them have
I .-,rf- 81
the South A Syrian inspector said that
there were 800 of his countrynen with the
insurgents in Cuba. having all gone there
through the United States within a year
Some weeks ago there arrived a group OF
immigrants whom the Barge Office Off
/ Gals were in A qnandary how 10 receive
| They were three or four Spanish youths
from sixteen to eighteen years old, who
had left Spain after the declaration OF
war. and fully aware of il. TheS came
to New York by way of Hayre and were
| it is said, desirable citizens in every re-
spect save that of nationality. They vera
detained by the inspectors for special ex-
animation. and finally appeared before the
board of special inquiry.
Why have you come here2" was an in.
evitable question
ITO get out OF serving in the army"
was the unanimous answer.
All seemed quite sure that safe refuge
could be found here, and were confident
of hospitable reception The board.
however, had no guiding precedent. and
after some consideration. asked an opin-
ion from the department at Washington
This was that the Spaniards should be de-
ported. because il would not be wise to
admit them They were accordingly sent
back. having protested 10 no purpose
i want 10 enlist in the army" appeals
to the detained as promising excuse for
all deficiencies The immigrant detained
is an angry and voIuble fellow as a rule
The fear of being sent back is enough 10
make him tell as many lies as he thinks
he safely can. and to make as many prom
ises as may enter into mis- head 1t seems
to be taken for granted by them that the
offer TO enlist and fight for America.-
when they chance to know that America
! is hghung-is a guarantee of good faith
that must surely be effectuaI TO remove
every bar against them The 'stowa-
ways are sure to say that their only in
tention in hiding themselves away was to
I take up arms against SPAIN As a mat
ter OF fact. this argument has no influence
, at all with the board of special inquiry
, IL the man whose case Is under eonsid-
Grafton does not fulfill every requirement
of the law he is rejected and sent back
No additional requirements have gone into
! force since the war began, and because OF
4 it; but, as a commissioner said the ex-
aminations under the old ones are more