CHAPTER XI

IMMIGRANTS IN POLITICS 259

The Hibernian domination of Northern cities--Political psychology of the Celts--Practical consequences--Immigration as foe to party traditionalism--Citizenship of the new immigrants compared with the old--Accumulation of voteless men--How this lessens the political strength of labor--Psychology of the ignorant naturalized immigrants--How the cunning boss acquires "influence"--Feudal relation between the boss and his humble constituents--Naturalization frauds--The Tammany way--The political machine--The liquor interest and the foreign-born voter--The foreign press in politics--The cost of losing political like-mindedness--Political mysticism vs. common sense.