Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-05-31
WHERE WERE YOU BORN2
Foreign Born Population and
the Census.

rents. There is no great country
which has received so many i'm
migrants and lost so few emigrants
as the United States II is doubt
full whether more than 100000
Americans by birth are living out
side of the United States, while
the number OF persons of foreign
birth living in the United States
is probably ten million.
In the coming census the enum-
orators will endeavor to ascertain
where each person, and the pa
rents of each person, were born;
and, il the person was not born In
the United States, in what year he
came to this country, the number
Of years he has been here, whether
he has been naturalized or not,
and il not, whether he has taken
out naturalization papers.
The tables made from the an
swers to the inquiries respecting
birth place show the number and
distribution OF the loreign-born
residents OF the United States, the
number OF them born in each Of
the great countries, the amount of
intermarriags between these for
eigners and the natives, the pro.
portion of the foreigners who set
tie in the cities and those who
seek the country, their ability to
read and to speak English and the
law. abiding character of the popu-
lation. 1t is sometimes said, for
instance, that crime is specially
common among the foreign popu-
lation. But this statement; cannot
be supported by the census figures.
Few crimes are committed by per-
sons under fifteen years Of age, and
vast numbers of the natives are
under that age and therefore can
not commit crime. When COM
parison is made between the native
prisoners and the natives over fif-
teen years of age, and the foreign
prisoners and the foreign popula-
ton over fifteen years of age, one
finds that the proportion Of per-
sons in prison is about fifty per
cent greater among the natives
than among the foreign-born pop
: ulation.
Another point brought out clear
| ly by the census figures is that i'm.
migrants move but a comparative
ly short distance. The Canadian
immigrants live mainly along the
Canadian frontier, aud the Mexi-
cans mainly along the southern
boundary. Thus in 1890 the Ca
nadians were in a plurality among
the foreign born in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Michigan,
Montana and Washington. The
MexicaDs, on the contrary, were
in plurality in New Mexico and
Arizona. The Germans, however,
have spread all over the United
States, and we're in a plurality
among the foreign born in twenty.
six states and territories.
To the several foreign born ele.
ments OF our population it is q
matter of pride and interest to
know the number Of persons ol
their nationality in the United
States and their general economic
conditions. In 1890 there were
more than 100000 residents il
the United States who were born
in foreign countries. o. ISIS mum
ber about 30 per cent were born ir
Germany, 20 per cent in Ireland
and about 10 per cent in Oanads
and Newfoundland. From 1921
to 1880 the United Kingdom con
tributed SO per cent of the tota
emigration to the United States
and Germany 35 per cent. In the
decade 1881 to 1890 the emigration
from the United Kingdom consti
tuted only % per cen Of the total
the proportion from Germany be
ing slightly lees. In the ten year.
1861 TO 1870 the combined emigra
tion from Austria, Hungary, Rus
sia, Poland and Italy constituted
only per cent of the total immi
grafton In the decade 1881 L
/ 1890 this proportion rose TO IL pei
cent, and in nine years 1891 Il
1888 to more than Ga per cent.
We of the United States are al
immigrants or the descendants o
immigrants. A proper pride OF
the part OF the recent immigrants
in the land Of their birth, and I
reasonable desire to secure tina
recognition which is due to thei
I numbers and importance, shoul'
lead all personsof foreign birth Il
welcome the census enumerato
, and to answer his questions will
ingly and accurately.