Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-05-26
The Tide Of Immigration.

The period following the successful termination
Of our war is characterized, as might have been
expected, by an enormous tide Of immigration
and the prospect now is that the present year will
he far more remarkable in this particular than
any Of its predecessors Not only the pcasantry,
but skilled mechanics and artisans, from the old
countries, particularly from Great Britain and
Germany, are preparing to emgntc to our shores
in numbers Unprecedented great indeed that
the steamships and packets cannot accommodate
them. For several months the influx Of Cana
dians over our Northern border has been beyond
anything ever known before Every train South
is literally packed with these emigrants from the
Dominons to the States.
Ofcourse there are causes operating TO produce
this result. One Of the most apparent is the hct
that, the integrity Of our government being fully
yindinted, and its perpctuity, humanity speak
ing, placed beyond any contingency, no country
upon the face of the earth offers such security for
life, liberty and property as this. Another prom-
nent reason is that, recovering from the disorder
into which we were necessarily thrown by the
war, business is resumng good and healthy ac-
tivity. New factories and workshops are start
ing up all over the country, more particularly in
the South and West, where heretofore the people
have followed mainly the pursuit Of agriculture.
The demand for labor is great, and contractors
and employers send their agents abroad to induce
foreigners to emigrute. Mining, too, is receiving
fresh impulse as the new lines of railroad to the
West are bringing to our doors those untold treas
ures which have hitherto been beyond our reach
In this connection We cannot lorbear an allu-
sion to the ayortc doctrine Of the Democratic
party Of few years since, that the abolition Of
slavery would prove a curse to lnborcrs and me
chnncs all over the country Even our day la
borcrs and the servant girls in our families were
almost lrenzied by the apprehension that the
" naygurs' would flock TO the North and crowd
them out Of employment Free the slaves, -
said they, "ond we shall be flooded with black
men and women, who will work for little or moth
ing, and we shall be thrown out Of employment
and pauperism will be the sure result" The
principal reason why the lrishman has had such
a relentless hatred Of the negro-why he has al
ways voted the Democratic ticket, and stuck
blndy to that party has been because he was
taught to believe that the negro, if freed, would
cheat him out Of employment.
But how utterly iallacous has experience prov
ed this theory to have been. So far from crowd
ing out the laborers of the North, the abolition Of
slavery has opened TO them fields of industry be-
fore unknown, and never before was there 81
great demand for unsked labor in all portions
Of the country as there exists to-day nor was
there ever time when the laboring classes o.
the country were 80 well remunemted as now
There is not an Irish nborer TO be found who
would not feel insulted if he was not Offered
double the price for his labor that he receyeC
years ago when slavery was in full power.
We welcome the people of every name and ma
give tnem1nta~nomJ, REJopd.i is broad. enough I!
employment. Our Government has demonstrated
its ability to defend itself, and we invite the OBJ
pressed Of every land 10 come and dwell beneath
the protecting folds Of its proud ensign.