The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-01-17

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Emigrants-AgricuItural Settlements
Those who read Mr.. Maguire's late work on
America, win remember with what evident
satisfaction he dwells ON that portion of his
travels where his countrymen were prosperous
tillers of the soil. The whole drift of his
volume, and the gist of his advice to Irish
emigrants, is comprised in q few wortis-avoid
liquor and cultivate the soil. While this is
sound advice, it will be only candid to confess
that it is not easy of realization. 1t is no re-
Election ON the Irish to say that they are gre
garious in their habits, and that, landing as
strangers ON our shore, they should seek the
society of their countrymen; and as their i'm
poverished condition when they leave home
does not permit of choice in locality, their
first associates, unfortunately, are not well cal
culated to give the best example. Thus habits
are formed alien to their antecedents and
principles, which every subsequent day only
renders harder to cast off or abandon. 1t
costs little to sit in judgment and condemn-to
point in derision at the poor man, who, friend
less and alone,. yields to temptations which
are as novel as insidious. But it would be far
more in accordance with Christian fellowship
to seek out a remedy and apply it. And first,
to begin with ourselves in New Orleans. Two
Associations have recently been formed in this
city, benevolent in their designs, which might
Just here find ample scope for exercise. If COM
mittees of these societies were to meet emf
grants on their arrival, and guide their uncer-
tain steps in the right direction, much after
evil might be avoided. The inclination to re-
main in the cities, and accept positions for
Il o1, mott bair
habits qualify them, and which too often are
mental and degrading in themselves, should be
combated, and kindly advice to seek the en-
Payments to which they were accustomed at
home strenuously urged. In the former case
the chances are that they will remain as they
commenced-hewers of wood and drawers of
water to persons who deride their nationality
and scott at their faith. But this is not true
merely of those who just land on our shores
it applies equally to many whose years of city
residence find them hopelessly abandoned to
toll and penury.
Can this state of things be remediedf Ger
tainly, with resolution and the physical strength
which God has endowed most men. A method
can be devised which will place those in an in
dependent position who have q little means,
and afford healthy and remunerative employ
ment to others at the moment and leads ultim-
ately to Independence. 1t is very true he who
goes into the prairie or wilderness with little
but an axe, must work, and save, and undergo
some hardships; but herein lies the discipline
which unerringly leads to success. He works
hard but the fruits will be realized years hence.
| The drawback to many is that they wish to
enjoy the fruits of each weeks labor every
Saturday night, and spend it the week follow
70 cd
and our cities are crowded while fields wait to
be titled.
There are many besides emigrants just ar
rived who would find it advantageous to go
into the country. These are persons with more
| OF less means, who, by combining together,
could make them more available than by ven
turing singly. The present is an opportune
! moment to invest in Southern lands, and for
tune awaits those who will avail themselves of
it. The plan which we would recommend j
as follows Let body of land be bought aeor-
responding to the means of the projectors, in a
healthy Southern locality, adjoining railroad
or navigable stream. Survey the purchase into
lots-setting apart site for a village, with a
church plat-sell the lots to the highest bidder,
whether he belong to the company or not.
1 Allow each person who shall have contributed
to the purchase money a premium for his adj
vance, and let certificates for the money thus
advanced be received cash in payment for
lots purchased, whether by members or not
Such a company, buying or dividing tract on
this plan, into homesteads, in n short time
would be worth double their cost. There are
thousands of places in the South, where such
settlements might be made tomorrow; and
| thousands of families who would improve theil
circumstances by helping TO make them. Emf
grants coming, or intending to come, would
thus find homes free from the communicating
influences inseparable from congregating il
large cities and the benefits to the origina