[Alberta's Child]

The Irish and others came here mostly on ships that took forever to make it to the states but most importantly they came legally.

They came here "legally" because there was no such thing as "illegal immigration" back then.

Today they're flying in by the millions . . .

Yes, and the U.S. is a much larger country today than it was in 1850.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Yes, and the U.S. is a much larger country today than it was in 1850.

What difference does that make, travel is still far easier today and why the comparisons can't be made. In the 1850s thousands sailed in, today it's millions flying in.