New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-23
IMMIGRATION.

immigration, we deem IL oil Importance 10 pOlht
to the measures rcsorted to by the enemies OF
this country, both in Great Britain and Ger
many, for the purpose of either preventing the
emigration of laborerS altogether, or of turning
the stream TO other countries than tho United
States.
III England, the Tory Members of Parliament
have been using every means to Islander the
Government and the people of this country, and
to warn English laborer' against emgrating to
the United States, and their efforts have been
vigorously seconded by a numerous anti-Amerl-
can press In Germany, the princes, the aris-
tocracy. and the priesthood of the State church
es, are allied for the same purpose, and strain
ing every nerve 10 represent our condition as
desperate aud our prospects as gloomyi ana,
AS in Germany correct information Is
! less readily obtained than in England
these efforts are not altogether unsuccessful
In 10th countries, the efforts Of those privileged
classes n,,,.stilc to emigration to the United
stoles bccaulc they hate our democratic insti-
tu,ons, are powerfully supported by returned
sympathizers with the Rebellion, or persons
who from other disreputable motives nave lett
this county after a few years residence ana
become its mortal enemies. We learn from
Trustworthy sources that persons Of this class
are very active, both in Great Britain and
Germany, and are eagerly circulating the most
stupendous falsehoods with regard to our condi-
ton. As they are presumed to have personal
knowledge of the subject Of which they speak,
they find, Of course many believers in locali-
ties where no well-disposed residents or we'll
informed friends Of this country are present to
refute them.
There is, as we see from our European papers,
still another class Of agents, who are zealously
Joining in the work of wholesale defamation of
the United States. We refer 10 the emigrant
agents, sent ont by the Governments or private
companies Of other countries, who are jealous of
the great benefits which the United States
have hitherto received from immigration, and
are determined to leave no means untried to
break the spell which the name Of the United
States has hitherto exercised upon thousands
of the industrious working men Of Europe. III
some instances, the willful falsehoods spread by
these agents are so extrayagant that TO every
one who has the least knowledge of our
condition they must appear ridiculous; but
in remote villages and among the ignorant
masses of the people even the most absurd
stories do not fail to gain credence.
The increase of emigration both from Great
Britain and Germany, during 1868 and the first
months Of the present year, conclusively proves
that there are still thousands of honest and in.
dustrious persons who are sufficiently intelligent
to distinguish wilful falsehoods from truth; or
who. from relatives and friends in the United
States, have received favorable information in
which they have full confidence. But these in
creasing numbers Of egigrants do not, of course,
prove that in the course Of u few years hundreds
of thousands Of able and industrious laborers
may not be induced TO seek homes in other
countries, because they have been misiniomed
of the condition of ours; nor that hundreds of
thousands Of others, for the same reason may
not prefer dragging out wretched existence at
home 10 ayailing themselves of the golden OPP
portunities which this country offers to them.
1t is, however, as we learn from European,
and especially from German papers, not
merely the circulation of slanderous reports
which diminishes tho number Of emigrants TO
our country, but some Governments and private
companies are beginning TO offer greater induce
ments to the destitute cmigrants than are Us yet
rendered to them from this country. Among
these inducements are q free passage, or a
loan sufficient to pay their travelling expenses,
as well as provisions for facilitating their
settlement in the new country, in addition TO a
free homestead. The unparalleled develop
ment of our NORTHWESTERN States has induced
Brazil, the Argentine Republic, Chill, the Cen
trail American States, Australia and other
Governments to take the whole subject Of emil
grafton, and the means by which it may be
promoted, into serious consideration; and there
is not the least doubt that several of these cOun-
tries will make extraordinary efforts TO turn the
stream of European emigration to their shores.
To some Of the above States, as Brazil and the
Argentine Republic, migration is already con-
siderably increasing.
Should these Governments succeed in Gre