The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-07
And all moneys to
VIM TERRY. Treasurer.
Indiana and the Immigration Ques.
81. .saass ti0n. s,aa

Indiana and the immigration Ques-
81. .soaea ton. @ Eoa :.
From Indianapolis Telegraph, (Geunan.)
As the time when our General As
senbly will meet is drawing near, we
deem it our bounden duty to call the
earnest attention of our public men 10
the Immigration question. Of all the
measures which will be submitted
to the consideration OF our Legisa-
ture, none will be more important for
the welfare of the State. than those
relating to the immigration question.
and it will depend on the decision OF
the latter whether Indiana hencetorth
shall be proudly and gloriou iy in the
van of her sister States of the Great
West, or whether she shall lay be-
hind them in point Of population,
wealth and general development.
In presenting the following views,
which We know to be those of the en-
tire German population Of Indiana,
to the consideration Of our respected
Chief Magistrate, of the members of
the Legislature, and of our Ameri-
can friends generally, we may assure
them that we are actuated by the SIN
cerest wishes for the welfare of our
adopted State, and especially do we
disclaim any narrow-minded aud clan
nish motives. An impartial and Sc
rious examination of our views, we
are sure, will satisfy even those who
have been prone to charge the liberal
Germans of Indiana with a tendency
to Germanize our institutions, that a
faithful execution of such measures
as we deem indispensable will pro-
mote the interests of the Germans of
Indiana limo greater proportion than
those of the other elements of our
population. @ .soo.s
Let US briefly advert to the facts of
the case. 1t is an undeniable fact
that Indiana, up to this time, has not
got that share of European immigra-
ton to which she was naturally en-
titled, and it is also an undenlable
fact, that. at this very time, immi-
grants mostly shun our State, and
wend their way to illinols,a and especial
~ to Missouri, rather than to Indi-
ana
IF this state of affairs had not pre-
vailed for the last twenty years, the
population of Indiana, instead of fall
ing short of one million eight hun
bred and fifty thousand inhabitants,
would now amount to fully two mill
ions two hundred thousand souls,
and our general wealth would be
larger by at least one hundred million
dollars.
The reason Of this deplorab'e state
of affairs is not altogether unknown
o our American fellow citizens.
They have been told repeated y byGhe.r
chief mag strates that Ind ana has got
bad name in Europe, which deters
immigrants from settling within our
borders. It is, of course, of the high
est Importance that this untavorable
impression should be cOunteracted as
effectually as possible, and in or er to
do so, it is first necessary for us to
show by what agencies this injurious
impression has been produced. An
opinion is prevalent among our Ameri-
can feilOw-citizens that the financial
calamities which befell our State
some twenty years ago and certain
occurrences ia the Mexican war were
the principal cause of the prejudices
entertained ny the Europeans against
Indiana, and inducing immigrants to
give our State the cold shoulder
While those events had undoubtedly
SOME such influence. the truth, at
least so far as the German immigration
is concerned, lies elsewhere. We will
premise that it is unnecessary for us
70 say that German Immigrants are
the most desi lie. and tn It all meas
ures Tor the promotion OF INN grafton
should be principally aimed atattract-
ing the vast stream of Germlns wi
now sail every day from Hamburg,
Bremen, Antwerp and Havre, toward
our shores. The value Of German
settlers for State is 40 universally
admitted, that no thoughtful man will
charge us with petty pride for refer
ring to it in this manner
Well, Indiana, has not got q good
name in Germany. Our financial dis
asters have been well nigh forgotten,
and 70 have our misfortunes in the
Mexican war, But il is generally be-
IbeSed in Germany-and we are free
- jnHBlsa T. E3oif