Show THE immigration QUESTION it cannot be concealed that there is ia a growing sentiment in this country against immigration and several sug bug gest gesti ions have been made recently with a view to the solution of the problem the danger of importing cholera has given rlee to the radical proposition to entirely suspend immigration except from north and south america from march let 1893 a measure which would hardly have met with approbation ba bal bai I it not been for the peare created by the prevalence of the terrible epidemic in european countries another proposition la Is to prohibit the steamship companies from advertising the united states as an el dorado this would probably have the desired effect evald it be carried out for a great portion of the immigrants come to this country on account of the glowing descriptions of high wages facilities fr fit acquiring homes and other addan which are co scantly published by the agents of the different lines but how williebe will willit it be possible to enforce any law framed in the united states to prevent the immigration agents from continuing their advertising advertis inn in jermany france russia italy or elsewhere A more practicable suggestion is that no immigrant shall hall be admitted into this country unless he be on landing proves himself to be the happy possessor ot of or its equivalent abent this would at least keep individuals out who neither have nor any chance to borrow the required sum for a few hours while passing through castle garden but although some would in this way be kept out yet the most undesirable of immigrants immigrant those who are depraved and vicious those who come with venomous feelings against all or g nihed governments would not thereby be barred from landing another suggestion is that immigrants must procure certificates from our consuls abroad showing that they are worthy to be admitted and another to is that ian migrants ini grants between twelve and fifty five years of age must be able to write their own laiD language guage satisfactorily some people seem to entertain the idea that laws for the restriction of immigration to the united states would be likely to lead to hard feelings between this country and europe there is already a subject for diplomatic correspondence with china on this account and it is thought other countries would feel the restriction as keenly as the celestial empire 1 does but this danger would not dot be very great should congress feel that immigration must be restricted for the good of this country there need be no hesitation on that score in inthe the first place this country is strong enough to hold its own and need not apen its gates to everybody against the expressed will of the people and io in the second place lace it is more than likely that the rn influential fluent ial classes in the old countries would hail bail with joy any rea reas mable measure whereby the terrible drain on their population lution could be checked the emigration business is in many MADY countries looked upon as an evil vil with which the governments have been unable to cope for by it the satisfaction of getting undesirable subjects out of the way is much more than offset by the fact that phoui ands upon thousands of the most thrifty and intellectual citizens are lost to the land of their birth and a vast amount of capital industry and brains has boo found its way with them across the ocean there to is also another side of the question thousands have left the old world because they yearned for the blessings of political and religious liberty denied them in their respective countries but open to them here were these compelled to stay at home their sentiments would gradually spread pread throughout and permeate all their surroundings until they became strong enough to burst the shackles and liberate the masses it is clear enough that for every liberal minded in who leaves hit his own cause of liberty in that country loses that much support and becomes weaker tf this reasoning Is corre correct c the con conclusion elusion is apparent that t the he prohibition of immigration to this country would mean the hastening of the day of liberty to the old countries it would ultimately be a boon to europe instead of a low loss there are many phases to the question as viewed from the Amer american amerlean loan standpoint and important reasons why it should hot receive legislative notice save in a broadminded broad minded liberal statesmanlike way however desirable it ay may be to exclude from residence in our country every element that cannot imbibe the spirit of our institutions observe our laws law and add strength to our social and industrial fabric it must not be forgotten that the history of im migration of the past shows all the balances to be in our favor and that in adopting a too restrictive policy we are re in danger of killing the goose that for lo 10 these many years yeara has bag been lay jay ing the golden egg |