The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-23
Dsspstisn, In Hursps and nnAIgratssn to
America.

The despotism that now reigns securely all over
Europe he destined TO have most extraordinary
effect upon emigration from the old country TO the
new. 1t will stimulate it into degree Of activity
unprecedented in the history of this country or of
any nation Of the world, while it's influence upon
the destnes of the United States is beyond the cal
culation Of the human mind.
In all ages Of the world, extensive emigrations
have been produced by political and religious causes
The persecution Of the Israeites drove them out of
Egypt, to settle in Palestine, after forty years wan
dering in the wilderness and the migratons of the
ancient Greeks were caused by war, and rapne, and
determination; and those of the Huns, and Goths,
and Vandals, who ovcnan western Europe, and
ruined the gigantic Roman empire, prang from the
same causes. Great Britain would never have been
the mighty power that she is, but for the ancient
migraGons into the leland, and the fusion of tho
most enterprising and the most vigorous races Of
the earth. The prosecutions of the pilgrim
Fathers" brought that hardy, sturdy race from Old
England to New England, where, by a singular
retrbuton Of Providence, they afterwards defeated
the armies of the mother country, and in Corpora
tion with other cmgrants driven from their native
land by oppression, wrought out the indepen-
dence Of the colonies and laid the foundation Of such
a republic and such a nation as the world has
never Even recently in this country, persecu-
ton for opinion has had its effect in producing a mi
grafton, whose extraordinary character is only
equalled by the exodus from Egypt-the march ofthe
Mormons overhc desert, to the great valley ofhe Salt
Lake, where they have grown into mighty people
Emigration has been produced from time to time,
like the swarming Of bees by the pressure for room
and food, leading to fitting and the formation Of
hives. But the grand cause--that which has al
ways produced the greatest amount Of emigration,
and particularly emigration ndsse-is political
oppression, and most of all, after wars and the
failure Of revolutionary movements.
Since the failure Of the Irish revolution in lS4S
the emigration Of the people to this country is
NOUS beyond all example. During the last two or
three years, the emigration of the German popula-
tion, from the cause has increascdto wonder
full extent; and as despotism is growing stronger
every day in Germany, and the cause will continue
in operation, the effect will also continue. With the
exception Of the inhabitants of Great Britain and
Ireland the Germans possess the greatest facilities,
in point Of language in settling here for there are
vast numbers of Germans before them who speak
their native tongue, and constitute the link that
unites them to the social and political chain. The
anu anu SUCH nunRdIltDs Us az UOl
speak German, labor under great disadvantages in
that respectthe French not so much as the others,
but still to such extent as hitherto to prevent
large emigration; but recent events will overcome
all these obstacles and despair Of ever seeing liberty
and prosperity at home, will induce vast num-
bers to come out to this great field for hui
man enterprise, where there is room enough
for all, and every man can enjoy not only physical
plenty and even comforts ard luxuries as the reward
Of his labor and sxcrtions, but complete civil and
ligious freedom, such as was never possessed by
nation before. There is not ray Of hope for repub
licanism or constitutional government on the conti
nent of Europe. Louis Napoleon is firm in his seat,
and will form such league with the other despots
around him that the absolute government of each
one will be sustained by all the others, in the
event Of revolutionary struggle to over
throw it. The tide Of emigration will, there
fore, continue to swell, and the greater the num-
Der Of emigrants the more firmly will despotism
be established in Europe; for it will be thus re-
heved ola troublesome class Of restless spirits, and
be permitted to enjoy undstubed possession Of its
power by the men OF law and order who remain be-
hind: and this result, on the other hand, will keep
up the emigration Of those who love freedom better
than home, so that, in the course Of the next ten
years, the emgrants TO this country will be counted
by millions, and the effect IN developing its gigantic
resources and in swelling the population. will be
tremendous.
In the nations Of antiquity, migrations were
generally destructive to the people among whom tho
migratory hordes came-for they were warlike, and
conquered or drove out the natives In fact, they
were large armies, accompanied by their wives and
children and being driven out by stronger nations
they made weaker ones their prey in turn. The
hordes which come from Europe to the United States
are men OF peace, coalesce with the population
and adopt their institutions and, strange as it may
appear, it nevertheless fact, that despotism in Eu
rope is for the interest Of this country. IfEuropeans
enjoyed liberty and prosperity at home, they would
not abandon their natal SOIL where lie the bones Of
their ancestors and brave the pcrils of the to
seek an asylum in a strange land. But not enjoy
ing these blessings, they come in quest Of them to
the New Word and even the sedtious, the rebel
lious and revolutionary become useful citizens
friends oflaw and order-in the United States. Some
OF these spirits, it is true. entertain extreme OPT
MONS, that would peril the peace and integrity Of
this republic if they prevailed to any great extent;
but they are counteraeted by other influences and
their growth is choked; go that what was 30 forrni-
dable in Europe is powerless here. The foreign ele-
ment is so absorbed and moulded by the plastic
influence ofthe American race and their institutions
that it is lost, and is only seen in its effects upon the
growth and health Of the body polite; like food
which taken into the human SYSTEM docs not change
il to its nature, but Is itself changed and assi
inflated to the body which it developes supports,
and susans. The greater the number Of cm-
grants therefore who visit shores, the greater
and the more vast viii be our prosperity, and the
more rapidly will the wealth and power ofthe nation
be unfcldcd. This, as we have said is peculiar to
America. The immediate result Of emigration on a
large scale, in other ages and other countries
different; though H. too, not without mn ulti-
mate beneficial effect upon the civilization Of man
kind