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

whites Of native parentage; OF Man
haitian borough only about o sixth.
In this small percentage Of people Of
native birth, moreover, we're included
the grandchildren OF foreigners. II
you carried the ancestry even only
one generation further back you would
find that the real Americans in
New York are not a tenth, probably
not more than . 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 food very large part
has remained In New York.
The real American" element In New
York must be fifth numerically In the
distribution Of the races in the popula-
ton. OF Germans, Irish and Jews the
number OF each race is about the same,
or about 100000, with the Jews gaining
by far larger present immigration.
The Italians must now be toward half
q million, and they also are increasing
rapidly. The real Americans might
be estimated as about half as many as
the Italians.
How have the order and moral condi-
ton of the town been affected by this
introduction of 30 great preponderance
Of the foreign elements? Before the
time Of the famous Know Nothing agi-
tation New York was relatively a far
more disorderly community than 1t is
now. Riots were frequent. Elections
were notoriously vitiated by frauds.
Political animosities entered into private
life and destroyed friendships. Tho
housing OF the poorer part Of the popu-
lation was wretohed and disgraoeful.
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 wret chednees COM
parable only with the very worst quarters
in any city of the world. Now that dis
trict has been transformed 80 that its
past evil fame is scarcely conceivable
by the later generation.
New York, too, was very provincial
town in 1850, and relatively to the pres
ent of little wealth and luxury. It's
steady material advancement has been
ooincident with the great immigra-
ton Of which the native Americans
were so much afraid, and its political
progress has been not less. The Tam
many of that time and before was largely
ruled by native Americans" yet it
was a rowdy sort Of concern as COM
pared with the Tammany under the
Irishman, Mr.. MURPHY, of to-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 IL the best immigration
to America did not come over during
that period. Jews and Guineas -?
How about the convicts and the re-
demptioners" transported to the Ameri-
can Colonies in the early period?
1t is q favorite complaint with certain
superficial observers that the quality OF
the immigrants coming over now is much
poorer than that Of those of the 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 slumbers 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 II
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 our
material prosperity and become a great
Power in the world.