The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-28
A GERMAN EXODUS.
wholesale Emigration to America.
correspondence Mancheste, Guardian

Correspondence Manchester Guardlan.I
BERLIN, May 4.
It is rather curious fact that just at this
present moment, when the fortunes Of Ger
many appear to have reached the top of the
wheel, the number Of her sons who are de-
sirous of leaving her and of seeking q home
In the far West Is greater than 1t has ever
been at any former period. rho emisrallon
Question ia assumIpg very serious dimensions
for some parts of the kingdom OF Rrussla, out
more especially the provinces OF Poneraula,
West Prussia, and the more northerly disrlcls
of Posen. In most of the villages In the first
mentioned province many uf the peasants'
houses are either empty or being pulled down,
and the small proprietors are selling Tor
twenty, five per cent. under recent values
In order TO realize quickly and reach
the land of promise with The least possible de-
lay Ltile holdings which only short time
ago were very much In demand ara now
mere drug In thu market, anu 1t is difficult to
find purchasers at any price. A Pomeranian
landowner writes that his own village, which
Is only q very little one. had lost thirty OF its
most able latorers on the 1st april, and that
nnother village in his n-ighborhood had al
ready lost all its Inhabitants except three fami-
lies; but these Intended TO follow the lead IN
few weeks. The place would then become
''deserted village" In the strlctpst sense,
though not at all like that of Goljsmth's
''Sweet Auburn" as the deserlion is not occa-
stoned by the rich mans vanity OF q park. but
Is directly against his wishes and interests.
He would gladly keep his poorer nelghbors
with him If he could, for with them his wealth
will emigrste LOO. 1t Is easy to obtain ocular
denomination OF the height OF the present
emigration fever bv paying an evening visit
10 the Putsdsm or Hamburg Railway station.
At the former I have of,en seen hun
dreds of emigrants encamping on the bare
boards. sitting on their luggage; surrounded
by the wreck of their household gods. and
-kt H. ftrns 6. Oh.
next train for Bremen, where they will en-
bark for America, Tne first instructive feel
ing at such a sight is one of pity; but II is GER
taipl7 very much misplaced, as the emigrants
ara for the most part extremely happy In the
hopes that have prompted their step, and
which in most cases are fulfilled. This ever
increasing exodus Is great misfortune for
the counIry-at least Tor those who stay be-
hind In tt-as itinvolves great loss of national
wealth; but Tor the emigrants themselves the
gain Is not inconeldera0le. This Is proved by
tne fact that the emigration fever generally
exhibits itself rs an epiuemic. One man caught
by the agent and sent out becomes dccOS
BIRD for a whole village, and perhaps o
whole district, and the accounts and money
which hs sends home In q couple of years
will draw his family and half mis- acquain-
taEces after him. The argument whioh will
first suggest Itself to the political economist is
that ii the landowner wi>h-s 10 keep his la
Ing them better wages. Facts, however, are
directly opposed to this theory, as II Is pre-
cisey from those paris Of tho country in
which the laborers are the most libe.a,ly paid
that the tide of emigratioa seIs in the
strongest. The rrason Ia that the higher the
wages the sooner hds iAe laborer saved tn"
sum required for hia passage and first settle
ment in mis-. new home; and when that Is ac-
complshed he % off at once. In this manner
It has actually become the land-nolder's private
interest not to treat his men too well, lest he
shond furnish them with the wlngs tor their
IL, of course, a very low aud Immoral one; but
it cannot fail to exert some force.
On the other hand, 1t outs two ways, as 1t
makes the contrast greater between
the laborer's own position and the
pictures sent back to him Of that OF his
lsntlc. It. again, the political economist
should urge that there must be certain limit,
or rather amount Of Improvement In the Ia
borers posllion which would induce him to
remain at nome. The answer is that to reach
him that limit would involve the payment of
such wages ~ would completely rIiR the land
holder. This brings us 10 the real seat Of the
evil, In as far as It can be considered as one.
The price of land In Germsny-aC least in
some paris of it-lately has been too high. A
very large number Of estates have changed
hands, and the sums paid were such as not to
leave Su6 ldIuSE d SuIuCkc0G mdtRiu tUT WOEh-
ing capital. This Is all the more unfortunate,
because ny far the greater part OF the land is
hrmed by Its prop1etors, lltle and great, and
not leased to tenants. In order to find the
original purchase money and retain
enough capital for working expenses,
many have been Obliged to mort.
gage heavily in the first Instance; and thus
Comparatively slight depreciation In the value
Of landed property Involves for them the LOSS
Of their al. Unless, however, some nnfore-
seen circumstance should check the present
Westward current, land must tail In The de-
populated districts, aud then perhaps the new
comers, who will have bought chedpy, NAV
be aole TO pay the next generation wages
sufficiently attractive to keepit it at home; out
IL the meantime the small landed proprie-
tors Will have suffered severely Some, in
deed, are already following the example of
their men, and emigraling 100. The PomIra,
niau Agricultural Society ut recent meetinp
held at Stettln, passed Two resolutions from
which 1t hopes TOR some relief In the first
place. to petition the chancellor TO instsuoL
the German cOn5uls at American porls
TO Inquire how mauy able-bodled emf.
graHts were staying at the same and
willing to return 10 their native country, on
tne cOndlllon OF free passage; and secondly,
to recommend that emigration be placed un-
der more stringent police regulations than it
is at present. II would be incorrect, however.
10 snppaae that the enTire loss OF population
to the P0meranian villages Is due entirely to
the fascination vi Dackwuod hfe in Ameri.
ca; very different sort Of lite in the towns Is
also great temptation. The peasant's
takes huusemaids place In Bres-
lau Or Berlin, and writes home flaming &C.
counts of concerts and theatres. The brother |
reads them, and straightway throws down his |
spade or leaves his pongh TO try his fortunes |
In the same great world that has made his
sister such fine lady. Railways and the uni
versatility Of a certain amount of education reu-
der such an ambitions steA far easier now |