Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-19
Immigration.
THE T0PrC OF An EXCELLENT
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
By THE REV. c. M. oLIPHANT
Last Night-The Subject Handled
Most Interestingly by the Minister.
Peculiar Social Problem of the
United States Thoroughly Dis
cussed.

cussed.
Last evening at the First Christian
church, the sermon was delivered at
the regular service by the pastor, the
I Rev. C. M. Oliphant. The subject was
Immigration" The minister took as
his text. ]. Corinthians, Chapter XII,
20. But now are they many mem
bers, yet but one body"
The sermon follows:
These words spoken of the church
might also apply to society and the
nation All life is essentially a unit
many members but one body" True
development can only be secured when
this law of unity is obeyed. Every
member should be in right relation to
the body as a whole and to every 9TH
er member in particular, Whatever
violates this law produces friction and
works toward dissolution.
The United States has a social prob
lem, which, in some respects is unlike
l that of any other country. In no 9TH
er country executing Switzerland is
the essential bond of union SO largely
| the voluntary assent of the individual
to right principles. And no other
country is composed of such q on
| glomeration of diverse n~ationalities.
If u nation is to serve her early
purpose these Heterogeneous masses
must become one, dominated by the
one spirit
First-What proportion of our pop
ulation are immigrants?
Prof. r. M. Smyth estimates that
less than one-half Of the total popu-
lation of the United States are de-
scendantS of the original white colon
lists. Many of the early immigrants
became sc thoroughly Americanized
that they can hardly be called for
eigners and have been, and are, as
good citizens as native Americans.
| The place where a man is born must
not condemn him. Many native
Americans fail to be good citizens.
Second-From 1920 to 1890 the immi-
grants to United States were 1876
9S6. More than one-third Of these or
7 5,246,613 came from 1880 to 1890. One
twelfth of the population Of 1890 are
recent immigrants.
Third-But the foreign born among
us do not actually represent the for
eign element. Children If first sec
ond and even third generations in
herit characteristics and imbibe beliefs
of their parents. The census of 1890
tells us that the total number of peo-
PIE OF foreign extraction in the United
States was 20, 263 ,902, and that the to-
tai number of native born of native
parents was 42,35S,3 48. OF the latter
34,720, 066 were whites-leaving more
than 30 per cent of total white popu-
lation either foreign born or children
of foreign born. In Northern States
east of the plains as per cent, or near
| ly one-half, are either foreign born or
children of foreign born. In one sense
we are all foreigners.
Fourth-The larger per cent of i'm
migrants are between the ages Of Is
and 40 and mass in great cities. Twice
as many foreigners in cities as in the
country. Many large cities almost
foreign, and this presents a serious
problem.
In Milwaukee only Is per cent are
native born; New York only IS; Chi
cage, Detroit and San Francisco, 81;
Buffalo, %; Ishpening, Mich, popula-
ton II, 900, 6 per cent.
/ These facts show that from one
third to one-half of our population are
foreigners or of foreign extraction.
We owe much to good foreigners but
| there are many evils of immigration
and for this reason l strongly advo-
cate restricted immigration.
The IInitpd States would NOT hQ nor
feet If we had no immigration. We
take a ~pardonable pride in our insti-
buttons, but even this is in danger of
deesnerating into conceit. While we
owe much to foreigners yet the ma
jority are those who did not "get on"
at home, and their record disc1oses
several important facts, and l wish to
give credit to the good. Recent for
eigners represent a lower grade of
mechanical and Industrial ability than
the average American workingman of
those who arrived. between 1880 and
1890. 80 per cent are classed a. I'M
skilled. Skilled labor is what is need
ed In the United States. The age de-
mands this. Where the unskilled DOM
mate the wages of the workingman is
lessened and injustice is done the
l ohlIlCQ dDOlcl. Rlouy vi IACoC III
skilled foreigners are not good con
sumers and the money they get goes
back to the former homes.
The census of 1890 shows that they
furnish a proportion of illiterate four
times as large as is found among the
| people of the United States who were
born of American parents: Also they
furnish a much larger per cent of in
1 ~ ~An~14 +Loa %harA h1-1 80 -,a-
lean parents. The greatness of this
nation in a large measure depends up
on the intellectual power of the peo-
pie.
Many have brought their filthy
habits along with them. Many herd
together in alleys of our cities. Many
a large family lives in a single room.
The presence of such people often is a
menac to general welfare. They
frequently reduce the expenses Of liv-
ing to a minimum and work for almost
nothing and thus deprive our Ameri-
car working men OF their rights.
The census of 1890 shows that the
| proportion of criminals among the for
eign-born is almost three times as
large as that among those born of
American parents. The proportion of
criminals for each 10000 people. is
native born Of native parents 6 only;
and foreign born II; and native born
of foreign parents, Ii. Recent for