Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-10-28


at all future congresses our country
will be entitled to two Votes, as against
one vote each cast by every other NJ.
ton In the world.
No doubt the Democrats may inquire
as to what all this has to do with the
welfare of American citizens For
their enlightenment and information it
may be stated that, according to the
United States census of 1900, the for
eign born population in the United
States at that time was 10,460,0S5. The
population, born Of foreign parentage
Zone or both parents having been born
i'll foreign countries) was 20, 1884, $3.50,
or total foreign population of &c.
659,O24. The report Of the Immigra-
ton Commissioner by years since then
shows that 6,66S,656 have since come
to America, thus eking out the total
foreign population at the present time
to 1922 $50. This does not take any
note of increase since 1900 in Ameri-
can-born children, one or both of whose
parents are Of foreign blood. Estim~t-
ing that only one-half Of this number
q 1868 S40-write one letter to foreign
countries every two weeks, OF 20 weeks
each year, we have 12O9S3,O40 letters
written annually, which, at the present
rate of 8 cents postage each. amounts
TO an expenditure of $6,499.152 annu-
ally. Under the present postal law
foreign correspondents may send let
tiers to the UAited States collect" but
when they reach their destination the
recipient must pay double postage. Fig
uring the double postage on the same
basis, the foreign population of the
United States pays during each year,
for postage under the present system,
$19,497, 1856.
Under the new and cheaper postal
charges advocated by the Republican
party, should the 2-cent rate become
universal, the foreign population in
the United States, to their direct cor
respondents, would only pay S3.2i9,576
annually for direct postage and. Sofas
i2S, for letters sent to them from for
eign countries collect" In other
words. this Republican measure will
save the highly esteemed adopted citi-
Zens Of our country and those born
here of foreign parentage S12,99S,2 54
annually, in the necessary correspond
ence with their loved ones abroad. But
perhaps the Democrats do not think
this is worth while
Some Glaring Inconsistencies.
AT present an American can send a
letter 5000 miles by land-say from
Mexico to Alaska-for cents. but
must pay cents for letter of half
the weight sent 300 miles to England.
An Englishman pays ) cents on let
ter crossing the Atlantic. 300 miles, |
and > cents on one crossing the Indian |
and South Pacific Oceans. 10000 miles, |
edied on October the first next, thanks |
TO an enlightened Republican admins |
tration.
World Is Ready for Reduction.
1t will probably be but short time
after the convention between this coun- |
try and England goes into effect, until |
the dream OF universal 2-cent letter
postage, championed by the Republican
party, will be realized Australia. New |
Zealand and Egypt have already called
for the 2-cent rate. The Emperor of |
Germany has said that If England es-
tablishes 2-cent postage rate with
many do the same. France. Italy.
South Africa. Japan, Belgium, Hol-
land. Denmark and Sweden would netd
little more than an invitation to fol- |
low suit.
A 2cent postal rate would bind all
the South American republics and the
United States still more closely togeth-
err into Il peaceful reciprocal. progress
sive. civilization. which would mean a
more rapid development of both Amer-
can continents ana a new application
Of the Monroe doctrine. With these
agreed, on the object desired,
the continent of Europe alone would
then be wholly outside this compre-
hensiye postal union, and then the
continental powers would not long
stand aloof from IT,
Ii has remained for the United
States TO take the initiative in move
to reap the great glory of being the
.ioncrrs of a world wide 2-cent post
age Nill', NJ of our citizens win feel
almost as grateful for this beneliccnt
act ms millions of slaves did. when the
Republican party broke the shackles
.hat bound them to perpetual physical
services.