New Mexico was colonized by the Spaniards about the close of the 17th century. Many missions were es- tablislied by the Roman Catholics and many of the In- dians were converted to that faith. The mineral wealth of the country was discovered, the colonists opened and worked the mines, and enslaved the Indians for that purpose. At length the Indians shook off the power of their oppressors and drove the Spaniards from their ter- ritory ; but near the close of the 17th century the latter regained a part of their former power. In 1821, along with the rest of Jlexico, New Mexico became indepen- dent of Spain, and was a part of that republic until 1848, when it was ceded to the United States. The Gadsden purchase was added in 1853, when it included all of Ari- zona and part of Colorado. Arizona was set off from it in 18G3, and a portion of Colorado in 18G5. The inhab- itants are largely Mexican, Spanish, and Indians, with an ever-increasing number of emigrants from the Unit- ed States.
2. Effects of more Recent Immifjration, — Tlie United States are peculiar among all the nations of the earth, as being composed of a population entirelj' foreign in its origin. While other countries liave been invaded and the lands occupied by conquerors, largely to the exclu- sion of the natives, yet the old stock has not been en- tirely rooted out, but has become the basis of the suc- ceeding race. In English history, the Anglo-Saxon united with the old Celtic stock, and the Norman with the Saxon, forming the Anglo-Norman race of the pres- ent. But in America the aborigines have always been treated as aliens and intruders, and are fast declining towards extermination. The great breadth of our un- occupied lands, and the excellent opportunities for ob- taining cheap homes, have rendered America a favorite resort for emigrants from all parts of the world, so that at the present time more than thirteen per cent, of our population are foreign-born. The aggregate immi- gration from 1820 to 1840 was 750,949 ; from 1841 to 1850 It was 1,713,251 ; from 1851 to 1860 it was 2.598,214 ; from 18G1 to 1870 it was 2,491,451 ; and from 1871 to 1878 it was 2,177,108 — making a total of 9,731,073; in the year ending June 30, 1880, it was 457,243 persons. C)f this vast number about one fifth have been from Ireland, one fourth from England, one tenth from Scotland and Wales, four fifteenths from Germany, one thirtieth from France, the remainder (nearly one sixth) from Scandinavia, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portu- gal, Russia, Holland, Belgium, China, etc. More than one twentieth of tliis immigration has been from Roman Catholic countries, and, in addition to this, a large pro- portion of those from other countries are of the same faith. Thus we have added to our population from foreign countries a large Catholic element, besides the natives wlio are of that faith, and the rapid increase of their numbers by the ordinary methods of propaga- tion. Among these Catholics have come many Jesuits (q. v.), some from choice, others because of their expul- sion from their European homes, who have used their influence so fiir as it was in their power to mould the government to their own ideas. Officers have been elected at the dictation of the priesthood, political par- ties and municipal governments have been under their control, and vast wealth has been amassed at the ex- pense of the public. They have maintained their own schools, and have waged an unceasing warfare upon tlie public-school system of our states. They have fought hard to exclude the Bible from the public scliools, and, when it was accomplished in a few instances, denounced them as godless schools. Lender pretext of the right of conscience, they have sought and obtained a division of the public-school funds in a few instances.
Protestant immigrants, as a rule, have been in sym- pathy with our institutions from the first, and have readily fallen in with American ideas and practices. The recent accessions from the British isles have found the institutions and customs established by their ances- tors, and have easily accommodated themselves to the new order. German I'rotestants as well as Roman Catholics have less readily Americanized. The}' con- tinue, as far as possible, to use their native language and retain their German habits. They gather into commiuiities of their own, and thus, in a degree, iso- late themselves from American society. Of the great mass of Protestant immigrants who arrive here from European countries, by far the larger part are poor; but in so far as they honestly endeavor to adapt them- selves to their new surroundings they make good citi- zens. The Jews who come among us are mainly from Germany. They still continue to be a despised race, and are compelled to seek their society among their own numbers. They live together in communities, and liave but little sympathy with American customs. With our Sabbath and the prevailing religion thej- are utter- ly at variance. A few infidels arrive from time to time, and join with those of our own country in antagonizing so much of our present system as is designed to restrain
UNITED STATES
655
UNITED STATES
state or Territory. Total.
1,26-.',T94
•40,441 80t.',5G4 S64,«S6 194,049 ()2i.',6S3 135,180 146,U54 177,638 267,351