to immigration as a result of the European war, a very marked
movement of this kind set in. If this occurred on a much larger scale
it might result in greatly reducing the negro population in some
portions of the South, and as the "natural rate of increase" of the
negroes in the North is a negative quantity, it might cause the total
negro population of the country to begin absolutely decreasing.

Sec. 4. #Favorable economic aspects of earlier immigration.# Regarding
the immigration problem we are not confined to futile expressions of
regret as in the last case. For by the "immigration problem" is
meant primarily and mainly the coming of immigrants, and we can by
legislation limit or stop their coming, if we will. The question at
issue is whether their coming really is an evil or, on the whole, a
blessing to the country.

The historic American attitude toward immigration has been highly
favorable to it. The early settlers on these coasts were led by
various motives, some political, some religious, but far the largest
part economic, the motive of bettering their worldly condition.
Land was plentiful and all men of any capacity could easily become
landowners. An inflow of laborers was favorable to the interests
of all the influential elements of the population, especially to
landowners and active business men. Increase of numbers, favoring
division of labor and the economies of production in manufacturing,
and reducing the dangers from Indians and from foreign enemies, seemed
an unmixed blessing. Many of the newcomers soon became landowners and
employers, and in turn favored a continuance of the movement. Thus was
hastened the peopling of the wilderness. The interest of these classes
harmonized to a certain point with the public interest; but likewise
it was in some respects in conflict with the abiding welfare of the
whole nation. It led to the fateful introduction of slavery from
Africa, and it encouraged much defective immigration from Europe, the
heritage of which survives in many defective and vicious strains of
humanity, some of them notorious, such as the Jukes, the Kallikak
family, and the Tribe of Ishmael.

Sec. 5. #Employers' gains from immigration.#. The immigration from Europe
has furnished an ever-changing group of workers, moderating the
rate of wages which employers otherwise would have had to pay. The
continual influx of cheap labor aided in imparting values to all
industrial opportunities. A large part