Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-31
The roroisn-boirn ropaiation and tho

Census.
Few questions asked by the census
Office are of more Importance than
those regarding the place of birth OF
the individual and his parents. There
is no great country which has received |
so many immigrants and lost so few |
omigrants as the United States. 1t is
doubtful whether more than 200, 900
Americans by birth are living outside
of the United States, while the num-
Der of persons of foreign birth living
in the United States is probably ten
mil lion.
In the coming census the enumera-
tors will endearor to ascertain where
each person, and the parents of each
person, we've borr; and, If the person
was not born in tho United States, in
what year he came to this country, the
number of years he has been here,
whether he has heen paturalized or
not, and IL not, whether he has taken
out naturalization papers.
| The tables made from the answers to
the inquiries respecting birth place
show tho number and distribution of
the foreign-born residents Of the
| United States, the number of them
born in each Of the great countries,
the amount of intermarriage between
\ these foreigners and tho natives, the
proportion of the foreigners who settle
in the cities and those who seek the
1 a. -. ,o,1 To
speak English, aud the law abiding
character of the population. 1t is
sometimes said, for instance, that
crime is specially common among the
foreign population. But this state
ment can not DO supported by the
census figures. Few crimes are com.
mitted by persons under fifteen years
OF age, and vast numbers Of the natives
are under that age, and therefore can
not commit crime. When comparison
is made between the native prisoners
and the natives over fifteen years of
age, and the foreign prisoners and the
foreign population over fifteen years Of
age, one finds that the proportion OF
persons in prison is about so per cent
greater among the natives than among
the foreign-botn population.
Another point brought out clearly by
the census figures is that immigrants
move but a comparatively short dis
tance The Canadian immigrants live
mainly along the Canadian frontier,
and the Mexicans mainly along the
southern boundary. Thus in 1890 the
Canadians were In plurality among
the foreign born IN Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Michigan, Montana,
aud Washington. The Mexicans, on
the contrary, were in u plurality In
, New Mexico and Arizona. The Ger
mans. however, have spread all over
, the United States, and were in a
, plurality among the foreign born in
/ twenty six States and Territories.
, To the several foreign born elements
Of our population it is a matter Of
pride and interest to Know the number
of persons of their nationality in the
United States, and their genera
: economic condition. In 1890 there
were more than 9,eO0,0 residents il
. tho United States who were born il
foreign countries. OF this number
,, about 30 Fer cent were born in Ger
many, 20 per cent in ireland, ant
. about 10 per cent in Canada and New
. foupdland. From 1921 to 1880 thu
4 United Kingdom contributed So pc
q cent Of the total immigration to tn,
United States, and Germany 35 pc
cent. In the decade 1881 to 1890 tn,
immis grants from the United Kingdom
!. constituted only % per cent Of tn
total immigration, the proportion form
Germany being slightly less. In th
ten years 1861 to 1870 the combine,
q immigration from Austria, Hungary
Russia, Poland, aud Italy constitutes
: only per cent of the total immigration
!. In the decade 1881 to 1890 this pro
:. portion rose to II per cent, and in tn
. nine years 1891 to more than 6
a per cent.
\ We Of the United States are all I'M
], migrants or the descendants of in
: migrants, A proper pride on the par
a OF recent immigrants in the land {
their birth, and reasonable desire
!; secure that recognition which is due (
: their numbers and Importance, shout
lead all persons Of foreign birth
. welcome the census enumerator and
: ansYer his questions Willingly an
al accurately.