Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-10
TIE COMMUNISTS.

1AE (OMHCNfo1O
1t is known that American emigration
agents have been active in endeavoring
to secure as colonists for this country, the
Paris Communists who were arrested for
their crimes. There were about forty
thousand of them in all. The French gov
eminent concluding after second thought
that it could not afford to part with SO
many Of its citizens, divided them into
three classes. only one of which is en-
couraged to emigrate to America. This
class is the worst, the absolute criminals,
caught in acts of violence and lawlessness.
These the agent of the territory of Arizona
secured, and thither they will go. The
French government furnishes the trans
portation, pays all the expenses, gives
them six months outfit and provisions, and
Mr.. Posnett, the American agent, guaran-
tees them lands and homes.
The coming of such mass of turbulent
and lawless people into our country would
excite more remark aud opposition, were
it not that we have long been accustomed
to receive the dregs of European countries,
and out of it have managed to gather more
good than evil, more strength than weak
ness. This cannot continue always, but
probably in the present circumstances of
Arizona this colony will furnish no excep-
ton to the general result thus far. There
they will find new and wild country, in
which they will be obliged to labor for
support, but where they will also get am
pie returns for their exertion. Each of
these will furnish healthy stimulus for
the growth of better habits and ideas,
while the absence of the calling despotism
of the parent country and the temptations
so frequent there to vice and crime, will
be beneficial upon the character. One of
our exchanges has the following remarks
upon the matter, in which the advantages,
the probabilities and the dangers of such
emigration are briefly considered.
'In all present probability, then, we shall
have another French colony. We have this
race already in Michigan, Maine, Missouri
Louisiana, Illinois and other States, and in
Louisiana they still retain their language,
customs and national peculiarities. In Ari-
iona they will be harmless, for there they will
find no palaces. temples or monuments to des-
troy, no capitalists to threaten. But if they
give any trouble to the rude American settlers
they will find sharp and quick response. 1t
can scarcely be said that religion will be any
cause of difference, since i'm Paris they de-
nounced and attacked religion, and destroyed
religious houses, and assailed priests and nuns.
Hence they are not more likely to affiliate with
the Spanish American Catholics than with the
Protestant pioneers.
Our Republic has so long been a convenient
reservoir for all the troublesome classes of the
old world, that it is surprising how we have
managed to construct from this confused mass
SO splendid national fabric in which it is no
exaggeration to say that intelligence, religion,
morality and habits OF industry and regard for
law and the rights of others are more gener-
ally diffused than anywhere else in the
world. But the violent acts of the coal
miners in Pennsylvania, and the gold miners
IN Amador county, California, and the desper-
ate character of New York mobs, admonish
us that there may be serious danger in too
great an aggregation of this sort of popula-
ton from Europe. There need be no hesita-
ton in saying that it is really so in New York
and that Americans of all classes are pro-
ioundly Inundated by the spectacle presented
ny the chief city Of the Republic.
TOT the purposes Of ABSORPTION and assimi-
iauon time mast be allowed, and for this end a
siackening Of the tide of immigration at inte-
walls Is useful. And yet there can be no dis
pute that IN the erection OF public works, the
ni!ing up OF new industries with labor, the oc-
cupation Of waste landslide foreign indux Is
and has been ofimmense value. The enormous
spread of railways, free schools and newsna-
pers diGuses the influence of our institutions
very rapidly, and the NOV ements of population
trade and travel intermingle and modify ali
classes of foreigners. The one danger to he
guarded against is that it may modify iniuri
ously American institutions But thus far the
prodigious power and tremendous sweep of all
our societary organizations, religious, reform
arory, benevolent, literary &C., have rendered
American civilization dominant.
The memorable law of our national progress
seems to overcome all barriers and bear down
all obstacles. Hence we state these problems
merely to arouse public opinion aud awaken
discussion, withoutpresenting any ready made
plans or measures. Long experience has sat
isfied us that in the great national alembic the
elements will in the due course of collision
and affinity generate organizations and give
birth to the requisite measures American
socie is a mighty machine, producing its