The Washington herald., 1908-02-01
OUR IMMENSE IMMIGRATION
By FREDERIC J. HASKN
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

was observed In the AmeTicanward emil
grafton OF the lowest class of Italians.
The great embarking ports Of Havre,
BoulOgne. Antwerp, Rotterdam, AmsteT-
dam. Bremen and Hamburg, all having
railway connections with Italy, even to
its southern extremity, along with agents
Of steamship lines. were drawing from
millions of unemployed a dangerous class
OF people to send to the United States.
This awakened American citizens to the
danger they are now seeking TO avert.
But the government OF the United States
has gotten after these Overzealous agents
with a big stick, and that manner of in
ducing immigration does not figure so
largely as formerly.
The main incentive 70 immigrants is
now furnished by letters from their
friends and relatives. The average letter
is from some once almost hopeless pauper
at home, who, since he went to America,
has in a short time become comparative
ly rich. Proof Of this he sends home in
good money. That letter is read all
around the community and passed along
10 others, and the result is hundreds in
the neighborhood subject themselves to
all kinds of privations TO get money
enough TO pay passage to America. Less
than dozen years ago so enterprising
were the steamship companies that they
brought over absolutely penniless people,
on surety that the passage money would
be paid out of the first they earned after
they obtained employment at their desti-
nation. This class of immigrants grew 20
be so seriously objectionable that a
United States consul stationed i'm south
eTn Europe wrote 10 one of the immigra-
ton investigators advising a material re-
striCtion Of immigration questioning in
deed whether il would not be best 10
suspend it altogether for a decade.
Tile immigration question began TO find
place in the very beginning of American
history. Even with Puritan and Cavalier
came 'undesirables The sturdy pioneer
leaders after crossing vast solitudes o.
uncharted seas i'm little vessels scarcely
bigger than the galleys Of the ancient
Romans or the ship i'm which the Apostle
Paul was cast ashore at Antoninus,
plunged into the unbrOken mysteries of
primeval forests. seeking refuge from
tyranny cruelty injustice, misery. ignOr-
anCe. superstition, and murderous repres-
sion of freedom of speech. Injured 20
suffering and subjected TO cruelty. the
Puritans made others suffer who dared TO
differ from them; cruelty taught them
how 10 be cruel.
With Capt John Smith there came 20
the jamestown settlements in Virginia
persons whom he declared were better NJ
to spoil than build a commonwealth.
some who having been given the choice Of
hanging or emigrating. came to Virginia
Yet with them were captains and leaders.
men 0f dauntless courage and clean. clear
conscience. whose descendants won tine
Revolution and founded the institutions
which more than all other influences drew
to our shores from every spot Of the
earth repre- esentatives Of all classes Of
humanity. There came heroes of wars
for liberty from all countries and the
blood Of their pOsterty has been shed for
the honor and Independence Of the nation
in every clash with oppression and ag-
EressiGn. There have come. and have
threatened 20 come, dep0sed rulers Of ma
tions. The widowed queen of Charles
would have SIT up her court in Virginia.
Oliver Cromwell and Jchu Hampden. his
cousin. were cn a ship about 20 sail for
America. when King Charles. alarmed at
the growing independence of the colonies
stopped it with proclamation in which
he termed The emigration that of persons
whose only end is to live beyond Jhe
reach Of authority"
To-morrOu-Some weather super
StitiOne.