The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-27
Immigrants of Recent Years.

each annual increase of our population
by the absorption of newcomers from
abroad the public demand for more re-
strictive immigration laws becomes
louder and more persistent There is
no doubt that there Is now a more
careful scrutiny of incoming homeseek-
ers from Europe than ever before, but
it cannot be denied that a great many
get in who are not wanted. The gem
eral standard Of immigrants is not inn
proving, in spite of more rigid inspec-
ton, and the records of the last fiscal
year are far from encouraging to those
who have made study of the effect of
foreign immigration upon the future OF
the country.
An examination of the reports made
for the twelve months ending on the
first of last July shows that Of the
341. 700 immigrants who landed in New
York during the year. 10000 over IA
years of age could neither read nor
write. Nearly third Of the whole
number were Italians. The remainder
were made up of Bohemians, Slavs
Firms. Armenians. Magyars. Poles
Lithuanians, Slovacs. Greeks. with a
comparatively few Germans. Scandna-
VANS English. Irish and Scotch. The
greater number of these newcomers had
in their possession only enough to en-
title them to admittance under the law.
$40 each. while the average of the whole
was but 800
IT has become apparent that, instead
of getting some OF the best blood Of
European countries, there has been a
gradual lowering in the quality of our
immigrants: and that the great steam
ships, instead of unloading on our
shores people who will be easily assim-
Hated and made good citizens, are
bringing over hordes who are gathered
in many instances from the very slums
of the continent. The trip across the
Atlantic can now be made easily and
eheaply, and the inducements offered
by the tireless agents of competing
transportation companies attract the
ignorant. thriftless and criminal and
afford them an opportunity TO land in
this country and continue their vicious
ways Of living with far greater license
than was ever allowed them in the
lands they left behind.
There was time when a cordial In
vitation was extended to the people OF
all other nations TO come TO n country
where they would be made welcome and
could enjoy the blessings OF liberty and
popular government. The door was
thrown wide open and thousands came
over to take on American citizenship
and assist In the great work OF Building
up the republic. The policy was wise
one. The land needed more people and
the arrival Of some OF the hardest
most enterprislng and best Of the old
worlds population worked 10 the coun-
,ry's advantage IN giving Il a strong
and sturdy foreign element that has be
come thoroughly Americanized and Is
devoted 10 our Institutions.
But conditions have changed radically
since the time when the people o,
Europe were first urged to make their
home In America We have become
great nation Of seventy-tive millions ~
people. and while there Is stiu room
for those from abroad who have char
acter energy ard intelligence. Il has
become evident that IN Justice 10 the
Americans Of today and those who are
10 follow them some sort o. protection
must be- afforded against that ignorant
and vicious class that conGitutes 50
large a proportion of the people now
making up the Immigrant passenger
lists. They are not Of the old northern
southern and southeastern Europe. and
represent the lowest types ~ those
races They do not come here a. adj
mirers 81 our form % government. they
have no high aspirations. they 90 no;
care 20 settle upon cur vacant lands:
and even citizenship Is priced only be-
cause IL carries with Il franchise privi-
leges which may be disposed II as
sort 81 merchandise on election day.
These people herd In the larger cities.
adding nothing to their wealth and sup
plying no Imperative demand as pro-
dgcers. They remain foreign IN
thought, habits. language and notions
OF life. and their presence IN any Amer
lean community can make for no good.
Too much Importance cannot be at