The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27

whites Of native pasntsss; Of Man
haitian borough only about Z aixth.
In this small percentagV Of people Of
native birth, moreover, were included
the grandchildren Of foreigners. II
you carried the ancestry even only
one generation further back you would
find that tbs real Americans in
New York are not tenth, probably
not moro than q twentieth, part OF tho
inhabitants. Since 1900 this percentage,
too, has been been diminishing steadily,
for during that period has taken place
the greatest immigration In our history,
and Of this alien hood o very large part
has remained in New York.
The real American element In New
York must be fifth numerically In tho
distribution Of the races In the popula-
ton. or Germans, Irish and Jews tho
number of each race IL about the same,
or about 100000, with the Jews gaining
by a far larger present immigration.
The Italians must now be toward half
a million, and they also are increasing
rapidly. The real Americana might
be estimated as about half a. many "a
the Italians.
How have the order and moral condi-
ton of the town been affected by this
introduction Of 80 great prepondsrance
of the foreign elements? Before the
time Of the famous Know Nothing sgi-
tation New York was relatively far
more disorderly community than it is
now. Riots were frequent. Elections
were VIGOROUSLY vitiated by frauds.
Political animosities entered into private
life and destroyed friendships. The
housing Of the poorer part Of the popu-
lation was wret ched and disgraceful.
CHARLES DICKENS described the old
Five Points Of about the middle Of the
last century-at the meeting place Of
Baxter, Worth and Park streets-as in
respect Of filth and wretohedness COM
parable only with the very worst quarters
in any city OF the world. Now that dis
trict has been transformed so that it's
past evil fame ID scarcely conceivable
by the later generation.
New York, too, was very provincial
town in 1850, and relatively to the pres
emit OF little wealth and luxury. Its
steady material advancement has been
coincident with the great immigra-
ton OF which the native Americans
were so much afraid, and its political
progress has been mo- less. The Tam
many of that limo and before was largely
ruled by native Americans yet it
was a rowdy sort of concern az COM
pared with the Tsmmany under the
freshman, Mr.. MURPHY, of o-day.
We agree with Mr.. BLOCK, therefore,
that the "super-men, as he call. the
pretension of the native Americans,
needed improvement and were improved
by the introduction Of the foreign ele-
ments added to this town and this Union
in the last sixty years. 1t may even
be questioned II the best immigration
to America did not come over during
that period. Jews and Guineas ?
How about the convicts and the "re-
dempticners" transported to the Ameri-
can Colonies in the early period?
1t il a favorite complaint with certain
superficial observers that the quality Of
the immigrants coming over now is much
poorer than that of those OF tho past,
from northern Europe. Fifty or sixty
years ago the same sort Of philosophers
were grooming over the current deteriora-
ton Of the supply. As to religion, there
was far more alarm than there is now.
Horrible visions Of Papal domination and
Of the revival Of the Inquisition here in
America disturbed the slumber, OF
Know Nothings.
1t is question with some chronological
students II the native Americans
by themselves would not have become
a rather savage and bloodthirsty race il
this great alien food had not happily
poured in. Native American lynchings
at the South certainly suggest Co.
manche Indian ferocity, and the police
experts say that the native American
rioter, the Plug Ugly is the most
brutal of ALL The aliens have helped
to civilize our spirit and broaden our
view. They have made us less pro.
vincial. They have given us the strength
with which we have builded up oul
material prosperity and become a great
Power in the world.
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