New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-11
Why Immigration Halts.


Thirty or forty prominent citizens Of
Georgia have lately issued an address, in.
viting immigrants to settle in that State.
Some weeks ago a number of Southern rail-
road gentlemen gathered in PHILADELPHIA
and while there took pains to urge that an
abundance of land in their section was wait.
ing settlement. We occasionally see in some
of the New York city papers the long circu
lar of great transportation company, set
ting forth the manifold advantages Of soil
and climate and the splendid Opportunities
for investment in the South. These letters
and circulars and addresses are hopeful
signs of coming day, and to a certain ex
tent are indications that the South begins 70
understand its needs and the ends to which,
il should labor. But against all this
wherein there is promise, must be set
thousand facts showing that the lower half
of the Union can not yet reasonably expect
any great immediate influx OF settlers.
The utmost plausibility of argument and
statement will not induce men and women,
to undertake the making of homes in :.
section where property and life itself are
in constant danger. We shall doubtless be-
told that this is no answer to the cry of the
South for immigration. But it is a very
conclusive answer nevertheless. Life and
property are not safe down there except on,
conditions to which few settlers will as
sent Every citizen of value TO any COM
munity is thinking man, with opinions
that he does not choose to hide or suppress
Each days record of Southern action il
proof that persons holding views different
from those of the resident white majority
are not wanted and will not be tolerated.
The society and newspapers of the South
practically say this to those who contem-
plate settlement: We are glad TO have You
come here, but you must not set up as re-
formers. must not attempt to interfere with
our affairs, must not preach or advocate
YOUR Northern notions. If the new settler
fails to heed this counsel and command he
speedily disappears from the earth, or is
forced to leave the Southern country. We,
do not speak of particular localities. Our
view is of the South generally. and we re-
peat that there property and life are not Sc
cure to anything near such degree as they
are in the North and West.
Even if this state of things were rene
died, there is a still further reason WHY the
South fails to get the immigration it needs
and for which it is adapted. The North.
erner and the intelligent foreigner are per-
sons who radically believe in education and
the common school system as means there
to. If they look out for themselves on
the one hand, ON the other they sharply
look out for their sons and daughters. The
South as community knows little of COM
mon schools, and what is far worse and
most 0eplorable, as vet shows little dispo-
sition to establish and sustain them. Ten
nessee has already overthrow the school
system set up at the close of the war; North
Carolina gives but two hundred thousand
dollars the present year for the edu-
cation of nearly three hundred and
fifty thousand children; South Caro-
lima is niggardly as to her school taxes,
and payment of these is resisted in some
quarters of the State in Georgia progress is
reported, but at many points the public
school system encounters GOODNESS or oppo-
sition; in Alabama the law of two or three
years ago meets such inertia or hostility
that Its results are hardly worth mention
ing; in Mississippi it is certified by the
Governor that a considerable proportion Of
the existing trouble comes from efforts to
collect the school tax; while Texas. sir
years after the close of the war. is vet with
out common school system in operatiOl
We wish it were possible to make a bette
showing on this head in the facts as they
ire is prime cause why immigration moves
put slowly to the southwark.
We do not doubt that there are cemmu-
Mites IN each Southern State wherein life
md property are entirely safe, and where
yood educational privileges are open for
Enjoyment. These are the exceptions,
While the general rule is otherwise. Men
content TO be mere workers, machines for
he production of wealth, can probably
ettle anywhere and be secure in their
ZONES and possessions. But the average
Yankee or continental emigrant will not be
/ mere grubber. He knows some things
md is eager TO know deal more; where
'ver he goes it is inevitable that he will be-
'ome part of the community: he is a
eacher, retOrmer, progressive, in the
cry grain of his being. He, and not your
mere digger of the soil, your mere swinger
II the AK, is the man who builds States
md sets them all aglow with the blood Of
lealthy and vigorous life. And, however
!eplorable the fact, this man the South
l0es not yet welcome to her borders
srery Saturday.