The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-20
Foreign Emigration.

FROM the IelegFaph, monroe, La.
The Germans of portions of Tennessee are holding
large meetings, the object of which is to induce
heavy emigration of their countrymen to that State
The work there appears to have begun in earnest and
that in the right quarter. In the Southern portion OF
this State similar movement is assuming tangible
aud real shape, and expect before long to
organised and successful effort made to fill up the rich
acres of lower Louisiana with industrious and pros
porous German population.
These, and similar enterprises in other portions of
our broad and fertile domain, unerrDg indications
of the speediest remedy which can be applied to all
the social, political and financial troubles affecting
the country 1t is to be observed, however, that it is
not much labor that is in demand as thrifty and
industrious farmers-not laborers much as citizens
As yet the Southern country is not much altered from
wilderness. Millions of acres of the richest soil
have never been furrowed and thousands which have
lying idle for lack of tenants and capital. At
the present rate of progress, centuries eapse
before these lands reclaimed and the country
tied up. Those who actors upon the stage
will have finished their parts long before that auspi-
cous event shall transpre and their and faces
have passed ont of remembrance. They will have
lived and died surrounded by all the natural wealth
and resources of country peculiarly favored by ma
ure, without having pictured in their minds the
prosperous land theirs might have been but for lack
of energy and application of abundant means, which
is without justification plausible excuse.
The State of Louisiana, for instance, has room and
afford comfortable homesteads for FIVE millions of
people. And yet she has population probably not
exceeding three hundred thousand souls. The old
world is overrun and burthened with people, thousands
of them wel-to-do artisans mechanics and farmers
who do not real estate to the value of dollar
exorbtant have grown the prices of land. In
trast here fine farming lands be had at SOC. per
acre, less than the original cost.
Where the obstacles forbiddng heavy emigra-
ton to this State? The intervening ocean is almost
paoD1ad with vaSSnIs tn he rhartarad anton
prise, while the passage is comparatively safe and
speedily accomplished Almost any inducement the
emigrant may desire be offered except that the
government is Objectionable in respects which is
not likely to continue much longer. 1t used to be
that slavery was serious objection with foreign emf
grafton. Now that has been abolished, what stands in
the way? The preponderance of the black element
might be objection but that be counterbaanced
by white emigration and will be, in few years. by
the gradual and decay of the black itself.
Thus, it appears that the people have only them
selves to blame for the briars and weeds that choke
up our fields for the scarcity of capital and for the
secdy and dlapdated appearance of their homes
They night at any time inaugurate plan which would
bring thousands of hardy adventurous and industrious
Germans, Scotchmen Englishmen and 1rishmen to
our shores, whence they would spread out our
fair State and become the pride and stay of the land
The hndrances the close stedness and caousness
of our own people, which find no parallel but in the
case of the miser, who boards dollars for the sole
pleasure Of counting them. When will our views be-
come enlarged and expanded to standard becoming
the great land have inherited? When will the
people move as people in the development of their
boundess resources, the restoration of their
country to its former material prosperity and great
ness? Will they never recover from their stupor? !?
Brazil has been talked about and explored, and has
Honduras. Maps and biographies have been conned
over and over to find some country superior to
We have talked and murmured, and yet none of our
complainings, longings Or explorations of foreign
countries have enriched US single silver. We are
still poor, and still harping on my daughter We
have longed after mpractcables, and relied too much
upon ''luck." Energy determination and unanimty
what most require and all these it is our
province to command.