Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-28
LOOKING Into the Future.

in 1908. OF these 100000 came from
Austria Hungary, $4,000 from Italy
161, 900 from Russia, $4,000 from nrea'
Britain and Ireland, 10000 from Ger
many and $4,000 from Asiatic countries
This incoming tide has prompted
thinking men to ask what sort of &
race will inhabit America 100 years
hence
Probably we shall be race in which
IL combined the strongest characterls-
tics of al the races now coming to us
The assimilation of races OF widely d.
vergent temperaments. characterlstlcs
and habits will go on as it has gone cl
for years and the result VII be people
combining the best OF many peoples.
Some nationalities lose their ch2rac-
terigtics much more easily than dc
others. but in time all are welded into
one nation with the rest of us. The
great majority of Immigrants WHO
ema,. to t,;is country constitute" mater
ial for good American citizens. The
criminals and degenerates are few
while the home seekers and home
makers are many. The very
face that in countries where in
dustrial conditions are so depiorable
these young men and women have been
able to save enough money 10 pay
their passage to this country ana
comply with the requirements of our
immigration laws. stamps the most OF
them as the better grade Of citizens IN
the land from which they came
Nothing can prevent this large Tor
eign population from eventually pc
coming part of the people mere
though several agents tend t" retard
assimilation. Chief among these hind
ranceS to develop is the tendency 10
congregate in the large cities IL Is
imrerative that this colonization be
stopped and that the new c"fn"rS ne
spread throughout tn" country IN Sinali
communities or as individual home
builders of course it is severe
wrench to deprive family oil the as
sociation with people OF the same
nationality and religion. The ltnnl-
grants are SLOW to encounter H. bu.
the second AMI third generations
through the wonderful levellinS in
t,ucnce of the common school system
are more willing to forego these asso-
Citations. They have become essential
lv q mart of America and the yearning
for companionship with the people
of their ancestors is only Slightly de-
welcomed. if indeed it has not entirely
A notable example of this tendency
was recently brought to notice through
the disbanding of German Clubs in the
middle West. In this particular case
there were a large number of a3socla-
tons affiliated with a central body. me
purposes of the associations We're to
foster the use of the German language
among the children in the homes and
to provide sociable intercourse among
the Germans One of the strongest OF
the organizations reached the point
where the young men and women no
longer wished to make a study of the
language of the Fatherland. The mem
bers chose to eliminate it from its laws
on the ground that there was no lon
ger any reason for it, that those who
desired to become proficient in German
had ample opportunity for doing SO
and those who did not care to could
not be influenced. Though but few
lays have elapsed since this action
was taken it is undisputcd that similar
action will be taken by most of the
,ther affiliated organizations. Many
other nationalistic societies have been
through similar experiences.
Some immigrants Immediately fit
nto our scheme of life and de-
,elopment while many more only
partially embrace our opportuni-
les for education, and advance
nent. Almost invariably the chill
iren seize every opportunity to be-
come as american" as the children in
families which have been in this coun-
Try for several generations. II there
ore devolves upon the present gencr-
alton to see to it that the children of
receive the fullest n "asure
IF education and training that can be
provided for them. to the end that
they become lreI and women
they will have imbired oar spirit
If Independence. self reliance. re-
spect for oUr instr cations and
honor for our traditions which
Will renocr them as nearly Xix"
the great majority as possible. /; is
also mp To us to raise the standard
higher. from generation to generation.
49, 132P3 -