The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-05
TIE GERMANsIN AMERICA.
The Growth OF tho German Element
Among Us-Its Causes and Sources
Relations OF the Germans to the Conn
nerce, Industry, Society and Politics
OF tho Country.

/
/ OF tho Country. :,
The New York Herald, in recent issue
gives an interesting account Of the growth o
the German element in America, it's causes
| and sources, and of the relations the Germans
have sustained, and the influence they have
gain ed in regard to the commercial, financial
industrial, social and political life OF the coun'
! try. As very many of our readers will be in
| ta-ested in the review Of these topics; We
! transfer to our columns the greater portion Of
the Heralds article:
1.-THR GROWTH OF THE aBRMAN ELEMRNT-rTs
CAUSES AND SOURCES.
Fifty years ago there was not any German
| immigration into this country worth The name
There were isolated arrivals with GermanH
intending to settle here, but o systematic NIL
| grafton Of lare portion Of tho German peo-
| Die to the Republic Of the West was not known;
Similar arrivals occurred even In colonial
times. as far back as the first half Of the last
century. They we're generally poor laborers,
| who, on landing, were sold Tor the passage
| money and profit to whomsooyer needed
their labor. By such the James hves Canai, @
| ous and Industrious part Of that State, hook
| ipgham County, for instance, and what 10
known as the "Tenth Legion" and also many
districts OF North Carolina and portions OF our
own State we're settled by them. A more con-
Gel ted movement was induced by religious per,
| secution, and large tracts in Middle and
northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Mohawk
Valley. In New York, were peopled by jealous
relleionlsts, prohibited by local prejudice IN
| Germany from worshipping God according to
the dictates of their own con: :ctences. During
tho Revolutionary war the auxiliary troops un-
der Knyphausen, sold to King George by the
Eleclor OF Hesse, furnished also many oerman-
ent settlers to the country, and in after ears
q poodly number OF the descendants OF these
"Heasiansn rose to prominence and distinction.
During this century and before the year 1880.
these occasional arrivals Of Germans continued
generally In small numbers. but at times in
whole communities, like the Baptists, who set
tledin Penn ,ylvania; the Stephenites, South
arm Missouri, and others. But, Is has Deeu 70.
marked, no such ByBtematlzed immigration OF
Germans, pouring In upon our shores IN un-
broken stream, 40 ut present, was thsn known.
The first impulse 1of this was given by the
failure uf therevoluLionaIy movement IN Ger
many IN 1892, which followed the revolution
In France, the expulsion OF Charles Z, and the
installation Of LOUIS Philippe ? KING in July,
1880. II was then. particularly after the year
1882, that thousands of wsll-to do families, OF
educated Young men, OF professional men, OF
men who bad been IN the civil service OF their
native county, and who had become objects
O hatred and persecution by their government
on account Of their participation in the popu-
lar movement for more liberal institutions, fed
to America as the safest retreat. These men
were 1mbued with an enlarged love OF liberty
and firmly attached TO republican principles
and no mere mercenary motlves-no mere de.
sire for material improvement led them hith-
er. New Orleans. Baltimore, Philadelphia and
New York received Q portion OF them, but by
tar the largest m jority OF thsiT number wend-
ed their NAY Westward. and draw!ng line
nom Pittsburg lPa.) 10 81. LOUIS lNo'J SIses
the centre OF the district, probably not much
over four hundred miles In extent, north and
south, within which these new arrivals selected
their homes.
native soil on the old continent to the new
wrought tao very important consequences. IN
the first place it insured the continuation ana
increase Of German immlgratlon; Tor the
friends of those who were already here either
followed them voluntarily or we're called upon
to come, and the letters written home from
here 10 the old country giving alurlng descrip-
'tions Of the conditions Of life in America, the
perfect freedom Of action guaranteed to each
individual, and Tho true republican eq'tahly OF
an men before the law, with no king; primo .
or nobility TO extort the earnings OF the poor,
were copied by the hundred and carried about
stealthiiy from village TO village and from ham
let TO hamlet and secretly read, anil thousands
we're induced to follow those who had preceded
them. Another result was 80 increased activity
In the Geld Of German periodical literature m
this country. Before this new era in immgra-.
ton there existed but very few, perhaps not
over two or three German newspapers lu Amer
ics. and these were localized in their circula-
tion as well as influence, and confined e1cln-
siyely, like the Readmger Adler, in Pennsylva-
MIA. to the German stock Of the last century.
Now, however,. there came q change. linn
Idly at frst and cautiously, here and there
m the larger cities, newspapers were 9 arted
by the youDg men Of that period devoted t.
though many failed success crowned others:
Very nearly . majority OF the most successful
German journals now existing IN the Uuited
States originated In the yeers between 1882
and 1840. These papers were again powerful
az ,ncies In stimulating immigration. Tor they
we're much more effective than the prl7age let
ters mentioned had been before. II was dur.
inc ING this time that the Monarchlal Government
Of Germany became aware OF the maentude
and Increasing dimensions Of this effiux OF
their dissatisfied people to America. DEGREES
we're issued and regulations PROMULGATED. sll
with the purpose Of hinderinR and delaying the
emigrant by restrictions and chicanery, and OF
bringing about diminution OF emigration.
But all these DEGREES and promulgatlons were
SSNAN
not STOP 1T. The hope Of living in free
country" had too many attractions for the op-
pressed and down-trodden artisan, mechanic
or farmer, and. many even sacrificed large
part aud some all Of their property 10 reach
the "1ee country" here to start out anew,
with no prejulices Of past centuries to thwart
their Efforts, no chains 20 bind them, no clogs
10 In ,errupL the1r onward course TO SUCCESS.
Ihus il continued in steadily increasing pro-
portions until the last great revolutionary up
hea>l in 1S4S. The West was being rapidly
settled by an industrious and thrifty agricul-
tural population. OHIO Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Michigan and Wisconsin, grew up to be COM
paratiyeIy populous and important States; old
cities, such as NAV be termed ''Old" in this
country, like Buffalo, Fittsburg, Cincinnati,
Louisville, st. LOUIS an Milwaukee, were rap
idly expanding in size. increasing in numbers
and absorbing the skilled labor OF Germany,
aud mechanical and industrial pursuits began
to flourish as never before. New cities were
foundt d, as Chicago; former villages, liks Co
lumbus, IN Ohio, Indianapolis, in Indian |,
Davenport. in Iowa. and many others, grew to
tue proportion of important centers, and the
whole West, rided by the liberal policy OF the
Federal Government in regard to the pubic
lands and the naturalization OF foreigners, by
the absence OF burdensome taxation,. was
Changed, as il bS the wald OF the magician
from q wilderness to blooming garden, yield
ing en-fold returns 10 the labor OF man.
During the latter years OF this period (l846-
1848) occurred the Mexican war. Those VINO
r. collect or participated in the memorable con,
quest can testify to the extent OF useful AID
lcudercd to the country OF :heir ADOPTION by
the Germans, and on the battle fields OF tha
4 - ~ ~ In IA,