1 64 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



IMMIGRATION.* 



By Dr. ALLAN MCLAUGHLIN, 



U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE. 



CAUSES of emigration may be considered according to their origin, 

 and divided into three classes. ( 1 ) Individual — the spontaneous 

 desires for better things arising in the emigrant himself; (2) local — ex- 

 isting conditions surrounding him in his old world home which develop 

 and stimulate his inherent desire for social, political or financial better- 

 ment; (3) extraneous — outside influences operating from America or 

 other countries. 



In considering the causes arising within the emigrant himself — the 

 desire for ownership of a home will be found present in a very large 

 proportion of cases. This desire for his own home probably exists in 

 the heart of every man worthy of the name. It forms the foundation of 

 our social structure and is the unit of civilization and advancement 

 among all progressive races. In the early days of the republic it is 

 certain that the immigrant was a homeseeker in nearly every instance, 

 like his predecessor the colonist. And probably this desire to become 

 owners actuates the majority of immigrants, even in our own day. 



Often coupled with the desire for ownership of a home there exists 

 in the independent liberty-loving immigrant a desire for free institu- 

 tions, for a country where the schools are open to all regardless of race 

 or creed, where he may worship God in his own way, according to the 

 faith of his fathers, and where in time he may through the franchise 

 play at least a small part in the political life of his adopted country. 



The emigrant leaves often to escape compulsory military service in 

 support of a government in which he has little or no representation. 

 Thousands of European immigrants who arrived in the United States 

 just previous to or during the civil war left Europe rather than submit 

 to compulsory military service, and yet voluntarily enlisted and served 

 faithfully in the union armies in the great conflict. They showed that 

 they were not afraid to fight when the cause at issue was in accord with 

 their principles, but that they resented the military system of their 

 native land. 



* Dr. Allan McLaughlin, of the Bureau of Public Health and Marine 

 Hospital Service, of the Treasury Department, has contributed to The Popular 

 Science Monthly several articles on ' Immigration,' which have been of much 

 interest to readers and have been highly commended by experts. We are pleased 

 to state that Dr. McLaughlin has consented to continue this series of articles, 

 covering in a systematic way the whole problem of immigration. — Editor. 



