which recognizes the sacredness of right and individual opportunity, whether the person affected has fortunately been born under the shadow of the stars and stripes, or whether, when the opportunity comes to him to exercise his own volition in selecting a home for himself and his children, he seeks that protection. Exact justice to all, irrespective of present or previous condition, is the rule by which I have endeavored to enforce the immigration laws, bearing in mind always that in any conflict of interests between my own people and those of other countries my primary duty is so to act that the balance will incline in favor of the citizens of this country, in whose service I am employed. THE DIFFUSION OF IMMIGRATION By ELIOT NORTON, ESQ., Of New York City Since January of 1850 to July of 1903, 18,998,383, or say nineteen million immigrants have come to this country, which gives an average of just about three hundred and fifty-five thousand a year for this period of fifty-three years and a half. Apart from this average, and taking the year from July 1st, 1902, to July 1st, 1903, by itself, the enormous number of eight hundred and fifty thousand, in round numbers, was reached. In the previous twelve months there had been, in round numbers, six hundred and forty thousand. It is impossible to say whether these great figures will be kept up. A falling off from certain countries is sure to happen. Italy cannot continue for long to send us the number that she has been doing over two hundred thousand last year. But whether the decreases that there may be from some countries will not be made up by increases from others is a question which does not permit of any absolute solution. Still it seems reasonably safe to prophesy that the yearly average of three hundred and fifty-five thousand will be kept up for another generation. In round numbers this will mean a total of thirteen millions of immigrants in the next thirty-six years. And judging from the records of the past about seven-eighths of these immigrants will be between fourteen and forty-five years old. About two-thirds of them will be very poor, and will have less than thirty dollars of money apiece. And the average of ignorance will be high; at least a fifth will not know. how to read or write, while scarcely any will have the simple education that a boy or girl can get at the common schools in this country. Whether this coming immigration will be of advantage to this country is not an easy question to answer. It is clear that our material development would have been slower had the large immigration of the past fifty years not occurred. Assuming that there is still enormous material development to be made, which is quite certain, and assuming that to do so rapidly is of benefit (which I think is doubtful), then the coming immigration will be of benefit. No other way in which this immigration will be of benefit suggests itself to me. Does this immigration bring with it dangers to this country? This I think can be easily answered in the affirmative. We are trying to govern a great territory with a large population by a system of government which demands as a prerequisite for continued success, certain political and moral beliefs, and an intelligent interest on the part of its inhabitants in public affairs. It is not sufficient to have a Constitution and members of legislatures. It is necessary that the moral and political truths which underlie that Constitution be commonly understood and highly valued. It is also necessary that legislators should be the political representatives of a people who, however divided by party politics, are united in an intelligent effort to realize in their government these moral and political conceptions; and that as such representatives they should at all times be animated by these truths and should try to embody them in practical legislation. The introduction of nineteen millions of immigrants in the past fifty years who were wholly ignorant of our political notions has lowered the average political intelligence of the country, and by so far affected representative government to its detriment. This can be readily seen in some of our cities where great numbers of immigrants have collected, and where their political influence is most strongly felt. Here a representative and republican government no longer exists except in name and outward form. Tammany Hall is not the kind of government that this country was founded to give its inhabitants. And if its defense is that it is a government such as the majority of the people of New York are pleased with, then we see the absence in that majority of the moral and political conceptions necessary to sustain a republican form of government. We can see the same effects to a greater or less extent elsewhere; and as immigrants continue to come over, all of whom are ignorant of the political and moral truths which underlie our form of government, we are likely to see them increase. If there were only enough of such immigrants they would tolerate a mild tyrant in the White |