The American telegrams report a significant incident. On Tuesday, Mr.
Palmer introduced into the Senate a Bill for pre- venting the introduction of undesirable emigrants into the United States. He wishes to exclude all persons of anti-social opinions, or without definite means of support ; but his speech went a great deal further. He deprecated the undue pressure placed upon the labour market, and the growth of classes whom American institutions found it hard to assimilate. He would not allow the United States to be made a " dumping- ground " for the vicious and pauperised of Europe, and thought that "the asylum business was about played out." There can be no doubt that Mr. Palmer speaks the mind of a great many of his countrymen, especially with reference to the Irish, or that the proposal to confine naturalisation to born Americans is finding supporters every day. The pressure as yet is not great enough for action, and Mr. Palmer's Bill will be withdrawn ; but those now living will live to see the emigration of Europeans discouraged in America by laws such as now " discourage " the emigration of Chinamen. The workmen in particular weary of an influx which, as they think, keeps down wages to the European level ; and though they do not rule America as they do England, they generally hold the balance of power, and as the anti-Chinese laws show, they are not scrupulous in the use of it.
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