Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-08-26

ture between these several
branches of the great Slovic race.
They speak different languages,
frequently practice different er-
ligions, and generally live in sep
arate parts of the city, or in diff
fe1ent districts of the country.
Thus the Slovacs prefec the coal
district Of PennsylY ania while the
Poles show a marked liking for
Buffalo and Cleveland, both of
which cities they constitute a very
large element of the popular.
The Americanization of these
peoples is one of the most difficult
problems Of the country; but it is
proceeding far more rapidly and
satisfactorily; than was expected.
Politics has some effect; but the
greatest element of Americaniza-
tion is our public schools. Their
good work cannot be exaggerat-
ed. Not only do the schools con-
vert the children of the immi-
grants into good Americans, with
rare exceptions, but these child
rem react on their parents at
home with an Americanizing in
fiunca that cannot be seen, but
proves in the end most effective.
This country would inveitaly have
suffered greatly by the immigra-
ton of an almost overwhelming
horde of invaders but for our
school system.
An interesting and at the same
time demOralizing feature of the
italian and Sclav immigration is
the fact that SO large a proportion
of the newcomers return home
after having made what in their
own country is regarded as a COM
competency. It is difficult to say,
in the face of this movement to
and from this country, how many
of the immigrants actually remain
to become Americanized. We
know that they take away or send
away some S25O,OOO, 900 a year,
which helps to support many
thousands of people in Europe, but
against this drain there remains
behind the wealth they have
created, the railroads they have
built, the mines opened, the high
ways constructed, etc. Moreover,
the returned Sclavs and Italians
are largely responsible for the con-
tinued immigration from Italy,
Russia and Austria, for there could
be no stronger incentives to immi-
grafton for the peasants at home
than to see the money their breth-
rem made in America. These re
turned immigrants are probably
having another beneficial influence
broadening and liberalizing ideas
at home. We will in time see
how this leaVen is working in
Russia, Galicia and other cOun-
tries.
OF the others coming from the
East, who are not ScIavs, includ-
ing Hebrews, Greeks, ROumanians
and others, we had last year an
immigration of 49,, 634, and of the
far Orentals, Japanese, Chinese,
Indians, Koreans, etc., Is, $40.
Thus, of the total immigration
54S, SSS, considerably more than
half, came from the east of Europe
or from Asia.
Will this movement of popula-
tion affect the United States, for
let us not forget that the downfall
of Rome was largely due to the
invasion of the capital by the
OrientalS, which left the empire
weak and an easy prey for the bar
barians battering at it's frontiers.
Thanks to our public schools. and
the rapidly civilizing influence of
modern times, there is no reason
to doubt that the United States
can stand any amount of immigra-
tiOn, from almost any land.
Racially the type of the average
may change, but there
seems to be no reason to fear any
effect on our institutions and prin-
pies from these millions of new
cOmerS,