The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-01
The Tide of immigration.
Southern Europe Now the Quarter
From Which 1t Sets.

immigration continues to flow into
this country in a fuller and fuller
tide. Our ports are crowded with
aliens seeking homes within our Dor
ders. ApriPs arrivals alone have
reached and passed the one hundred
thousand point. And the total for
the year ending June 30, 1908, will
probably break the highest previous
record of admissions-76S, 992, in
1882.
In the decade between 1882 and
1892 immigration slackened, and it
is only since the beginning of the
present period of industrial expan-
sion and national prosperity that it
is again rising to its fullest flood. So
long as the boom times we now en-
JOY continue, we shall probably be
called on TO assimilate a raw material
of citizenship verging on million
souls year.
Since 1882 it is important to note
this influx of aliens has greatly
changed in character Formerly we
drew for future citizens almost ex-
oiusively on the northern European
races. Twenty years ago Germany
sent us by far the largest immigrant
quota. Her share of the total for
the year-7SS, 992-was $50, $50.
England contributed 1884; Ireland,
76,432; Scotland, 1887; Sweden,
64,607; Norway, 29,101; Denmark,
11,618, and Holland, 9,517. By 1892
immigration from Germany had
fallen to l19,16S, from England to
1900, from Ireland to 51,3S3, from
Scotland TO 7,177. Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, and Holland sent only
72,436 immigrants, against 114,843 IN
1882. But In the meantime the in
flow from Italy has doubled, that
from Austria Hungary had tripled.
and that from Russia chiefly south
ern Russia-had quadrupled.
The shifting of the base of Eu-
ropean emigration southwark was
still more strongly emphasized in
1902. Last year Italy sent US 1885
immigrants, as against 80, 100 in 1882.
Acknowledgements quota roseN to
III, $3.50, eight and half times the
1882 total. Russia's contribution
was 107, 347, five times the number
she had shipped us twenty years be-
fore. On the other hand, immigra-
ton from Germany dropped to 29,-
304, from Sweden, Norway, Den
mark, and Holland to 56,222, and
from England, Ireland, and Scotland
to 1928.
1t has been fashion among us to
deplore this shifting of the base of
European emigration to this country
from the basin Of the Baltic to the
basin Of the Mediterranean. We
have been warned of the perils to
American ideals and American char
acter of this influx from southern
Europe.
But as a writer in the Century
Magazine" Gustave Michaud, re-
Gently pointed out, the value of an
infusion of southern European blood
into our body polite has been wholly
understated. In the creation here Of
a new and composite race type, the
Germanic elements have already all
the predominance necessary to insure
our development along the settled
lines of Anglo-Saxon civilization. Yet
the American temperament may
easily be frightened, American intel
ligence broadefed, and American
taste elevated by the grating of a
larger Latin element on our native
stock.
The United States has assimilated
successfully all the human raw ma
terial hitherto poured so lavishly
through her open doors. With our
elastic social and industrial system
we can assnnilate the millions of
aliens still knocking for admission.