The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-01-06
. McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JAM g. 1864

because the soil and its products are cheap
in the hope of some day being able to brini
hither the dear friends they left on the 9th
er side of the Atlantic-the wife and chill
dren-the aged parents-thc brothers Of
sisters, who anxiously await the period
when their enterprising relative shall send
for them, and the broken family be reunited
We are in the habit of hatteling ourselves
that our free institutions attract emigration
to our country; but common sense, and 9
little acquaintance with this class Of ou,
population, shows different motive. They
came here upon facts palpable to the plain
est understandings; to wit: that work is in
demand and well paid. To theories of gov.
ernment, and the operations Of laws, they
look not at all. Independent Of any argu-
ment, the ignorance exhibited on all occa-
sions by some of the educated classes OF
Europe, as to our institutions, is proof con.
elusive. These men, whose family ties and
domestic affections, are at least as sacred as
those Of Americans, (perhaps both by char
acter and habit, more so,) are asked to fore.
go this object, and as higher duty, enter
the military service. II is demanded Of
them, that in this respect alone, they
be placed on an equality with citizens. The
only equality accorded them, is that of
bearing arms, and dying, if need be, in de.
Tense of country to which they owe moth.
ing but the hopes thus broken. The citi.
Zen goes to war with the feeling of per.
sonal interest in it. He is fighting for the
institutions that are hallowed to him by a
thousand influences of habit, association,
kindred and education. He reveres the
Union as sacred thing. His national and
ancestral prde-his sum of honor and jus.
tice-"his affairs and his fires, and the green
graves of his sires" combine to inspire him
with enthusiasm and devotion. What
though he fall There will be mourning
It is true, in the bereaved family circle, but
there will be no distress and they have
the consolation that he fell in the defense of
country-the solace of companionship in
common misfortune-the sympathies Of
a society watchful of each such case-he
leaves the legacy of name and heritage
of noble pride to his children, and gener-
Gus nation provides from its plenty and
bounty, for his dependent family. But of
all this, there is nothing to the foreigner.
Death, to him, is the wreck of his world
There remains to him not hope. Even
the bounty which he would have received
had he given less than his life, is refused.
For him, six feet Of earth; for his family,
not thought do not know, indeed, if
he is not to be reproached because he had
only one life to give, or that he presumed
death wvuud.
1t is not perhaps to be expected that the
pension system should be extended to the
nonresident families Of deceased soldiers :;
perhaps it is not possible. But should not
this fact make us hesitate to induce mis-
fortunes which we cannot in any measure
alleviate? Should we not be chary of
lives upon which so much depends, if we
cannot transfer any part of that depend.
ence to ourselves? But is there the same
difficulty in regard to the bounty money !?
1t is part Of the contract price of service
and is as much the due Of his family as his
monthly earnings. He has performed to
the last tithe the conditions upon which it
was to be paid. Can there be valid rea.
son why it should not be paid to his legal
representatives? 1t is unworthy a great
nation to make this demand of service and
refuse the pttance promised because of the
non-residcnce Of the claimant. Many of
those on whom this demand is made, are
subject to greater sacrifices than are posi-.
ble to the citizen. If, in the nature of
things, or Of established policy, or conflict
ing laws in his native country, we are de-
barred from melting out to the foreigner
even handed justice, let us at least do him
no injustice, and either withdraw our claim
or make some provision whereby our prom.
Use can be kept.
Messrs. Editors, l am sorry to occupy so
much of your space. did not intend it.
Yet as little coercion is suggested for for.
eigners, and great deal Of relief for the
negroes, and as Congress will no doubt act
effectively on both suggestions, hope you
will not find the subject unworthy of your
columns. IT.