Speech #590091375

The number of Mediterranean vessels of the HamburgAmerican. North German Lloyd. and other companies has been largely increased. This shows a very large growth in the steerage passenger traffic from southern and eastern Europe and from Asia. The increase in the number of steamship agents all over eastern Europe. northern Africa. and Asia Minor likewise means increased immigration. The last report of the CommissionerGeneral of Immigration (pp. 109 and 110) says: o A change In the source of Immigration. It will be seen however. commenced about 1882. and has assumed enormous proportions during the past eight years. until now 70 per cent of our immigration comes from avic and Iberic countries of southern and eastern Europe. 700.000 having arrived from those countries during the past year. among whom were great numbers of illiterate aliens of dIfferent races. customs. and standards. Further on he says:With the continuance of present conditions. It will be seen. the time will come when the new element. containing 70 per cent from southeastern Europe. will outnumber the old. which eventually can hardly mean less than a changed nationality. The CommissionerGeneral of Immigration says also in his report: .What willbe the effect If the present phenomenal Immigration continues. Is a question that Is constantly being asked. With regard more particulary to quantity. the question may be answered by the following illustration: China proper is the thickly populated portion ot the Chinese Empire and is the country popularly thought of as practically representing the limit of density of population. At the present rate of immigration. say 1.000.000 per annum. and the present rate of natural increase (14.66 per cent per decade) the United States would reach the density of China proper in about four generations. or. more particularly. in one hundred and thirtysix years. at which time we would have a population of 950.000.000. This is In no sense an estimate of future population. it Is simply an answer to the mathematical problem as to how long it will take to reach a density- of populati6n equal to the estimated density of China proper. with an annual immigration of 1.000.000. at the present rate of natural Increase. and represents the present pace. Mr. Jefferson. in his notes on Virginia. In speaking of the question of Immigrationand the immigration that came at that time was of the same blood and stock as the American peoplesaid: The present desire of America Is to produce a rapid population by as great importation of foreigners as possible. but is this founded in good policy? Are there no inconveniences to be thrown lnto the scale against the advantages expected from the multiplication of numbers by the importation of foreigners? It is for the happiness of those united in society to harmonize as much as possible in matters which they must of necessity transact together.