The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-10
ONE MILLION 4 I.E4R.

NA1dANufoAs ApTi o.-N tbs United
States Is 10 be the land Of refuge for che
politically and economically oppresssd
millions Of southeastern Europe e is time
that New York and other coast cities ceased
To he catch basins In which the majority
settle and become a menace TO our insd-
tltions
The problem Of immigration il not the
number Of arrivals We have some four
millions, and all may be made contributors
10 our national wealth. Danger to US and
to thcm lies in their concentration in our
o.hea, and the remedy for tho evil i their
olstrlbilion through the country. Much
~ said about this remedy, but nothing Is
doue. There are many areas where these
people are needed. and many Of those who
come would doubtless be glad enough 20
60 10 them. on one hand stands demand
ana on the other stands supply. The bridge
which N 3uld jJin them s lacking.
Objection b, made TO an enforced difu-
son OF distribution. !. Il declared 70 be
un-AEericsn. Il il held that the owner o.
foot set down on American soil becomes
a. once free man, at liberty to go where
ne viii, to stay in New York and dig trenches
or trundle pushcart, or to sell his ser
vices TO some robber padrone who will send
hln with SCORES or hundreds Of his kind 20
work on a railway out In the country. This
may be a sound political proposition, but
II has its proper limitations. The funda-
mental principle even in q republic Is not
the freedom Of the individual, but the pres
ervation Of the State. That purpose must
dominate II the State would live. Individ-
uel freedom is hedged about by laws. and
may in time u need be entirely Withdrawn
by compulsory service in defer o, Of the
State.
Those who come TO our shores encounter
bars erected in the interest Of those who
are hero. The Chinese may not come at all
except In limited number Of specific
cases. The victims Of disease or poverty
which threatens the public veal may not
come, and II they come they are sent back.
In such limited ways tn public interest
e safeEuarded. To other dangers which
attend this vast influx, which will probably
number 900 600 for the current fiscal year,
the American people seem indifferent.
Political conditions in Europe and the
activities Of transportation companies arc
driving 10 this country hundreds OF thou
sands Of people whose conversion into
desirable citizens is a slow and difficult
process 80 long az they are permitted 10
form communities Of their own in cities
and manufacturing centres. So long as
there continues a condition Of reasonable /
national prosperity the majority Of these
find means Of ssIf-support Were there assur-
ance that national prosperity is a fixed |
and permanent condition the danger would |
be minimized. But that may not be relied !
upon, and a period OF industrial and COM !
v,,@v.tg1 xw1Vt1A ffoh
suit in appalling distress ard misery, IL not |
in worse
A system Of restriction in the number Of |
arrivals is proposed. This presents end /
less difio I,tiss Proposals for their dis
trbuuoA are discussed, but the propo-
sails are vague. One way is open, lawful
and seemingly justihable way. by which
effect might be given 70 both OF these meas
ures. That is by means Of a system not
unlike that now employed ir the reclama-
ZION service. A head taz Of s. is now i'm
posed on each arrival, and the sum thus
obtained pays the expenses Of the Immi-
grafton Bureau. The increase Of that tax
to $40 or to SIS per head would tend to eI-
rude many Of the least desirable and so
restrict the number Of arrivals, while i'm
proving the general character Of our immi-
grafton. This country has no need Of the
zero political refugee, nor Of those who
AZ swept together by agents Of transpor-
.ation lines for the sake OF making business
-or their employers. A head tax Of an appre-
sable sum would bar large numbers Of
hose who are not wanted.
The money thus received, like that OBJ
aimed for the use Of the reclamation sar-
rice by the sale Of public land. might be
made a diffusion fund for the distribution
Il those who are willing, but who are finsn-
tally unable. % get out into the country
md settle on the land where there is ample
oon for them. Ont Of this fund areas OF /
arm land could be purchased In the South
Tos' and Southwest for division into
mall holdings. These could be sold %
ettlers. to new arrivals or n those who
rave arrived within term Of, say, three
ears prior 10 the operation of such an act,
N easy terms OF payment, and tho pay
rents retu med 10 the diffusion fund for
zee in further extension Of the system.
These who really wish 20 become Ameri-
an citizens, 10 enjoy the benefits and privi-
eyes Of our social and industrial system,
hould be willing to pay for It AID should
q IT ada to pay for it. The syst IN mas been
reat I'd by the industry Of others, ard there |
no reason why those who wish to share it
houid not pay a modest sum for the oppor-
unity Of doing 80.
Through the application Of such a sys-
an there would come restriction and
illusion. both Of which are now most de-
irable il not imperative for our national /
-elfare. ?