The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-27
LEADERS NO LONGER
Teuton and Celt Come
Here in Fewer
Numbers.
A STRIKING CHANGE.
The Tide of immigration
Now Flowing Strongest
from Southern Europe.
A STRIKING CHANGE.

The character of the immigration to
this country has undergone a remark
able change in recent years. The idea
used to be universal-if, indeed, it is
not universal still-that the great bulk
of the immigration from Europe to the
United States was either Celtic or Teu-
tonic in nationality. That idea was
founded on the class of emigrants that
predominated in past years, a class
confined almost entirely to the people
Of the German, British and Irish races
Long before the revolution the Dutch
and the Irish were jewellers in this land,
/ though not at all as strong in numbers
as the English. New York was New
Amsterdam. Boston had an Irish Char
liable Society as far back<as Washing
tons time, and of which the Father of
His Country became an honorary MEM
Der. This society is in full organiza-
ton still and in most prosperous con-
dltion. AS the century began to adj
vance emigration from the old world to
the new grew largely in volume, but
stlll retained its Teutonic, Anglo-Celtic
character.
In 1847 a fearful famine visited Ire
land, and as one of its most momentous
consequences the world was soon gaz-
ing upon the sad spectacle Of a race
rushing from it's native land in one
mighty flood. The statistics of emigra-
ton went up by leaps and bounds, the
Irish ports We're thronged with men and
women seeking passage for America
and Canada, and all sorts of craft. in
Guiding the dread coffin" ship, scores
OF which never saw land after sailing.
We're pressed into the transatlantic
passenger business to meet the enor-
nous demand for accommodations The
stream, once started, flowed on for
years. Some idea of the extent of the
emigration from Ireland in the period
covered by the years 1849-1S70, may be
gained from the fact that within that
time the number of persons who sailed
from Ireland for foreign countries
principally the United States), amount
ed to 2,41S,O 900, OF this enormous exc
dus, 1,551000 emigrated between 1S49
and 1860 and SCI, 900 between 1851 and
1870 The ratio of the ages of the emf
grants, as given by DR.. Mulhall, was as
follows:
Under 10 years...........15 per cent
10 TO 30 years ............75 per cent
over 80 years. ............10 per cent
During the seven months of the
year 1883 that have expired" said the
London Times, 10000 people, chiefly
young men and women, have left Ire
land, most of them forever. They have
gone off with money in their pockets
and with strong limbs and stout hearts.
They have left behind the ailing, the
weak and the aged
This great tide of Irish emigration
continued, though in somewhat dimin-
lshed force, up to 1880, when the change
In the Irish Land laws and the legisla-
ton against the cruelties and excuses
of Irish landlordism began to give the
people of Ireland more confidence in the
future of their own country, and they
began to stay at home. From 1880 on
wards the Irish Immigration statistics
at New York have been steadily falling
The same is true of the German sta
tistics, though the cause of the Irish
reduction is easier to see. This falling
off in the two races that once led all
Others in peopling the United States is
accompanied by an extraordinary in
crease in the immigration from south
ern Europe. An official report recently
issued has the following:
Among the immigrants now coming
to us, there are comparatively few Ger
mans and Irish, the Italians, Poles and
Slavs being more numerous. The pro-
portion for the entire year is not yet
worked out, but for the month of Nav.
York brought, in this single month. 13.-
900 Italians, of whom 10000 were males.
5000 Poles, $500 Irish 5000 Germans. 250o
Scandinavians, and 1000 Slavs."
The report continues Immigration
into the United States was at its high
est in the year ending with June. 1882
the number coming to our shores that
year being 1888, an average Of more
than 1000 day. In 1888 the number
had fallen off to 603,322 in 1884, to SIS
592; In 1885, to 1896, 346; and in 1881 10
1874, 2O3. There was rally in 1887 10
490 ~, followed in successive years by
SAG. SS9; 444,427; 455, 1902; and 56O,S19. In
1892 the number had risen to SCI, 0S4. hut
the years following showed 502, S17: 214-
49,; and 279,94S, the falling Off being
probably connected with the business
depression in those years. There was
q rally again In 1891, to 1867, but 4
decrease In 1897 to 800, $780, and in 1898
to 229,299, probably because o1 the ware
with Spain. The tide has, however,