Native Population of the U. S. in 1880, 

 35.000.000. 



Population Foreign by birth or parentage, 

 15,000,000. 



CHAPTER IV. 



PERILS. —IMMIGRATION. 



Political optimism is one of the vices of the American 

 people. There is a popular faith that "God takes care 

 of children, fools, and the United States." We deem 

 ourselves a chosen people, and incline to the belief that 

 the Almighty stands pledged to our prosperity. Until 

 within a few years probably not one in a hundred of our 

 population has ever questioned the security of our 

 future. Such optimism is as senseless as pessimism is 

 faithless. The one is as foolish as the other is wicked. 



Thoughtful men see perils on our national horizon. 



