Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-07-04
immigration.


most uniformly seek the United States
as their future home; why do they not
go to Russia or Mexico or South Amer
ca? These countries are not any more
than, if as much crowded as the United
States; the soil is as rich and as varied,
the climate is as healthful, and the ac-
cess to them is as free as to this coun-
try. The reason for the great influx of
Europeans to our shores must be found
out side and independent of these rea-
sons, otherwise we should not be so
greatly favored with this prodigious
annual addition to our wealth and pro-
ducing capacity. The laws of coun-
try have full as much to do with its
progress and attractiveness, as soil, eli
mate and customs of its people. Emil
grants would not desire to settle, a
while ago, ON the Sandwich Islands, or
now on some other cannibal territory
because of the wretched bad custom the
people had of eating strangers. The
richness of the soil and the salubrity of
the climate failed utterly to draw Eu-
ropeans to those shores, and one would
think, very properly and wisely. The
inharmonious and revolutionary spirit
of the Mexicans has been as potent to
prevent immigration thither, as the
sickly miasma of Central America, or
the inefficient laws of Russia, or South
America, have been to drive emigrants
away from them.
The United States, in addition to the
climate, soil and natural attractiveness,
weeds from its laws all distinctions
which weigh upon the perfect freedom
of its foreign population, as fast as the
genius of its institutions will permit.
Whilst Russia and China and Greece
and Turkey impose heavy personal taxes
upon all foreign residents, and whilst
the swamp-fevers of the tropics, and
the frigid regions of the North in no
less degree prevent the settlement of
Europe's surplus population, our ben
eficent Government, with open arms,
invites the weary and oppressed of all
lands to hospitable climate, soil and
laws. H... .tr
This is the main cause for the tide of
immigration setting in toward our
shores. "Free America" has become
the magic tocsin to oppress Europe
the flaming beacon to the entire world.
The knowledge has gone forth, that so
soon as the careworn and oppressed
immigrant touches the soil of America
he is freeman, protected by all the
laws and the powers of the Republic
free to go wherever he WILTSHIRE to la
Dor at whatsoever pleases him, and the
peer of the best or richest in the land.
Obedience to law is the only thing de-
manded to secure complete protection.
The influence of the Chief Executive
on the policies of the Government is
known to be powerful, and often sue
ceeds in directing the enactment of
laws which otherwise would remain
unthought of. The recommendation of
the President in his annual message for
the passage of general law almost Sc
cures its enactment. The present ad-
ministration has been the first to take
hold of this subject of immigration,
and endeavOr to control and direct it
for the best interests of the country and
those who come among us.
Various treaties have been negotiated
bearing on the rights and privileges of
our naturalized citizens; old interna-
tional laws and precedents denying the
right of the subject to renounce his al
legiance to the land of his birth, have
been eradicated and condemned; better
provisions have been made for the for
eigners arriving OH our shores, and a
general and wise protection has been
thrown around them by the govern
ment, until such times as they find
friends or opportunities to care for
themselves. We venture to say, no ma
ton ON the face of the globe has done
so much for its foreign born population
as the administration of General Grant
has accomplished in the past three
years.
A brief review of some of the most
measures of this administra-
ton in this regard, will not be uninter-
esting and will bear us out in the above
assertion.
lst. The naturalization conventions
with the Austro-Hungarian Empire
have been confirmed and ratified, Sc
curing freedom to the American natur-
allied of that nativity, the right to re-
turn to the land of his birth secure from
arrest and military duty. ......
End. The ratification of the naturali-
cation convention between Great Brit
ain and the United States has been f.
nally secured, on the basis of the the
ories of this country, and in accordance
with the principles always eontended
for by us, and disputed by Great Brit
ain, thus closing up one of the causes of
future as it has been of past wars.
3rd. Invitations have been extended
to the cabinets of London, Florence,
Berlin, Brussels, The Hague, Copenha-
gen and Stockholm to empower their
representatives at Washing
ton to enter into negotiations, and con-
clude treaties similar in form to those
mentioned above, having for their pur-
pose the better protection of emigrant
while on the ocean, and
freedom thereafter. The details of
these treaties cover such matters as the
of emigrant vessels; pre-
scribe how they shall be built in order
to secure greater comfort to the emf
grant; direct the quality and the guam
tity of food to be allowed; enforce prop
er medical treatment to the sick; pre-
scribe rules to be observed on the voy-
age, looking toward ventilation, health
the prevention of intrusion, inn
proper conduct, the protection Of te-
males and children, and establish tri-
bunals In these countries for enforcing
such regulations by summary process.
All this has been done, and much
more, quietly, effectively, by General
Grant, to guard and protect the immi-
grafton to our country. Important rs
this work is IL anDears tn have heen