The Restriction of Emigration.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5009, 17 May 1889, Page 3

The Restriction of Emigration.

The Bill just submitted to Congress by the Immigration Committee of the llouae of Representatives is the first of a series of enactments which will ultimately prohibit or seriously restrict emigration from Europe to the United States. The respectable classes throughout the Union,and especially all capitalists are becoming seriously alarmed at the increase in the unmanageable foreign vote, and at its influence in their cities. Aspirants to office are compelled every year to risk a war which the body of the people do not want, in order not to lose the votes of an unassimilated clan which has encamped itself among them. These respectable classes could, if they would, cure the evil in a year, by adding to the Constitulion a clause that none but born citizens of the Union should have either votes or office; but they have not the civil courage for that proposal, and prefer to prevent the increase of the danger by restricting immigration. Behindjthem march an immense multitude of workmen who are as yet indifferent about the vote, but think that ‘the foreigners ’ diminish wages, who detest their ‘low'gttleof living, and who look Vfioft tiio ‘ ’ of the Voivo as ft groat.

properly which may be whittled away by division among too many claimants. They are especially annoyed just now by the arrival of swarms of Italian,and Hungarian Slavs, whom they set down as uncivilised beings, and who are willing 'like the Polish Jews of East London to do hard work for bare subsistence. The workmen are seriously excited ; they have already compelled the exclusion of the only Asiatics who arrived in any number, and they are now seeking to keep away all but picked Europeans. Their representatives, of course, obey them, and this Bill is the first instalment of concession to their demand. It is a much more serious one than it looks at first sight, for besides prohibiting the introduction of disqualified immigrants, it introduces three entirely new principles, which may, as time goes on, bo made precedents for much more drastic legislation. In the first place, no immigrant can land without a certificate from the American Consul at that port from which he sails—that is, in fact, without a

passport—which hereafter it may be made impossible to obtain. In the second place, every immigrant is required to prove to the satisfaction of inspecting officers that lie is not an anarchist or socialist or polygamist or convict; that he is not liable to become ‘ a possible charge to the community and that he does not intend to return to Europe with his savings,—provisions which may easily be extended as the demand arises, until no foreigners nor capitalists can claim a right of residence within the United States And, in the third place, every immigrant is taxed a sovereign on arrival, an impost , which is doubtless intended to pay the cost of all these inquiries, but which may be raised, should public opinion so demand, until it becomes an absolutely prohibitory tax. The state is, in fact, furnished with weapons which have only to be a little sharpened to keep out immigrants altogether, and this without recourse to the difficult and complicated device of formally amending the national ConstituThe Bill is not, it is said, to be passed this session, perhaps because the Representatives would like to consult their constituents beforehand ; but when it passes its provisions will, wo fancy, be made more and not less stringent than at present.