The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-13
Immigration. n.

|
several parts of South Carolina,
proves that our landowners are alive
to the Importance of making private
exertions and sacrifices, with view
to attract agricultural labor from
abroad into our State. You have
requested me to state my views with
regard to tho n,odus operundi which
should be adopted by thesesocieties,
in order to insure the success of the
object which they desire to attain.
/ am willing to do SO, although do
not think that much can be accom-
plislcd until the political affairs of
the South have, i'll one way OF tho
other, become more settled than they
arc at the present moment. My re-
marks will be confined to the intro
duction of agriculturists from Ger
many, as my experience does not
extend beyond that country. AT tue
same time, I believe that the same
difficulties which we shall meet with
in our endeavors to obtain German
immigrants, will. to Il great extent,
have to be encountered in other
European countries.
The stream Of immigration from
the German agricultural districts,
has, for many years, bccn steadily
directed towards tho North west.
Whole communities of Germans have
there been formed, in which tho
German language continues to be
the common medium Of intercourse,
and where German manners nnd
modes of living continue, almost
exclusively, to prevail. Nearly every
town and village in Germany has
contributed its quota of men to build
up these thriving settlements. A
constant correspondence with their
relatives and friends, keeps those
who have, SO far, remained ut home
fully informed of tho prospects and
advantages which the West oflers to
the industrious cmigrant, and SO, it
is but natural that the great majority
Of those who desire to exchange their
German for M American home, and
and hnvo tho means of crossing the
Atlantic with their families, should
join the friends who have preceded
them and have met with success,
instead OF risking their fortune in
comparatively unknown regions,
where their language is not under
stood, and where they cannot count
on the advice or the helping hand of
their countrymcn. Still, it might be
expected tAAst, were we to make the
superior advantages Of climate and
soil which We can offer to tho foreign
Immigrant sufficiently known in Ger
many, we might induce many, who
are not attracted to the North Invest
by the ties of friendship or kindred,
to settle among us. but here an
almost insurmountal'ic difficulty
insurmountablc, ut least, for the
prcsent-would oppose our efforts.
The prcjudiccs whicl, exist in Ger
many against the South, both with
regard to the salubrity OF it's climate
and its social condition, are rs deep
ly rooted as they arc unfonnded.
The belief prevails that tho foreigner
falls IN easy prey to malignant fevcrs,
which attack him in every portion of
tho South, and against which no
prudence or caution can protect him;
that the heat of the climate prevents
tho success of white field labor; and,
what is still more absurd, but ut the
Sumo time worse, that the planters of
the South, now that African slavery
has been abolished, will cndcavor TO
make the white immigrants slaves,
Ill the place of the negro. This
Ignorance and dislrust OF the people
OF Germany is purposcly and con
stantly kept alive by the most shame
less lies, with which the red RGpubli-
can correspondents from tho North
and Northwest rcgalr the German
newspapers, while all, with hardly
one exception, arc bitterly hostile to
the Sonth, and do all in their power
to warn cmigrants against directing
their steps towards the former slave
States OF the American Union. Du-
ring my recent residence mt Berlin,
| had III opportunity of reading all
the lcaIing German papers. Never
l.,.n I .>>,A ..,:ll