The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-12-01

Paper Read Before the ChIutduQud Circle.
IN 1890 there were ten million of
foreign born population in the I
United States. The countries con-
tributing nearly ninety per cent
of that number, named in the order
following, were: Germany. Ireland,
Canada, England, Sweden, Norway,
Scotland, Denmark and Wales. At
that time all the other countries of the
earth had furnished us just a little
over one million people. But during
the past fourteen years, the countries
which in 1860 represented only ten per
cent of our foreign born population,
have been swarming to our shores by
the hundreds of thousands. The num-
Der of immigrants that have came to
this country from 1890 to 1903 were
twelve million, making total of
twenty-five million and during the
fiscal year, ending June 30, 1903, eight
hundred and fifty thousand foreigners
arrived in this country, and of this num-
ber, five hundred and eighty-six thou
sand, were from the following countries:
Italy, two hundred and thirty thou
sand, Anstria-Hungary, two hundred
and six thousand; Russia, one hundred
and thirty-six thousand, and Greece
fourteen thousand, while all the other
nations of the globe only contributed
two hundred and sixty-four thousand,
or to bring out the point 1 wish to
make more clearly, the immigrants
from the four countries last noted
were nearly three-fourths of the entire
immigration to the United States for
the year, with Italy in the lead.
Now, it is an undisputed fact, that
large per cent of these people last
mentioned, are an uneducated and in
ferior class. Particularly noticeable
where they mass themselves together.
They have very detrimental effect
on the labor market. To large ex-
tent prosperity depends on the main
tenance of reasonably high scale of
wages. 1t is not just to compel honest
labor to compete with those who are
Under such conditions, what folly it is
to talk of American equality. 1t is
not only the native born Americans
who fear the effect of all other nations
making the United States their dump
ing ground, but the Germans, Irish,
Scandinavians, Dutch, English, Scotch,
Welch and the better element of sever
al other nationalities, are just as anx-
ious as any of us that reasonable re-
striction should be placed against the
landing here of those who would nat
urally tend to lower the standard of
American citizenship.
Under the present system, the trans,
portatiOn companies, the land specu'
lators, the corporations and the un'
scrupulous politicians, who represent
less than five per cent of our popula
ton, are the ones benefited, to the seri
Gus detriment of the other ninety-fve
per cent of our citizens. realize tha
the subject is delicate one, and, tt
use a common expression, should b'
"handled with Gloves" that it is Gus
tomary to characterize those who ad
vocate the restriction of immigration
as adherents of nothingism; tha
political parties shun even a though
of such an Idea; while modern states
men hasten from the subject as the
would from the bubonic plague. Blu
notwithstanding this so-called d
plomacy, we believe large majorit
of our citizens are in favor and anxiou
to see some system in vogue that wi
tend to restrict the landing here of tn
more undesirable immigrants.
There are few sentimentalists VIII
court present conditions in order
preserve the idea that this is th
"Divinely selected refuge for the o.
pressed of all nations" but the re-
opposition comes from the large CO
porations, who are always on the lool
out for surplus of labor"
A few of the reasons why a larl
number of the immigrants now foe
ing here from certain countries
not make good citizens, are: The
make it point on arriving at the
destination to colonize; are very bac
ward about assimilating with 9th