The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1873-09-16
A Complace:,t Sham.

Wheeling Register that immigration
will come,-is already coming-though
not rapidIy-inio West Virginia; but
we see no reason to assert, as it has
done once or twice, that the States
Legislature can be depended on to give
immigration adequate encouragement.
The Legislature never has done any
thin; in that direction. and never will
till it is composed of different material
from that which has constituted the
majority Of that body thus far in the
history ofthe State. 1t has been the
misfortune of the State that it has
been controlled by a body Of men who
have had no conception Of public en-
tcrprise and who never rose to the
level Of a statesmanlike thought Of
their duty to legiSlate for great public
ends. Session after session has been
absorbed by petty schemes to promote
personal or factional objects; and
though ten wears have passed, not the
first measure has ever been taken Of
sufficient value 20 even show that our
Legislatures attached the least impor-
lance to the speedy settlement and
development. Of the State. Yet, in the
face Of facts so notorious, the Register
complacently said the other day-after
declaring that "immigration is the one
great need Of West Virginia to-day"
-that"The State Legislature many be
relied upon to do its part ia the work
OF inducing immigrants to settle upon
West Virginia soil. Whatever policy
is deemed best will be eagerly adopted
by West Virginia." We would like
the Register to tell US what this Legis.
lature has done-what any Legislature
has done siuce the formation Of the
State; for we do not except Republic.
can Legislatures; they showed about
as little appreciation Of their duty in
this objection IS their political success
sors-to justify the supreme compla-
cency Of this assumption. We judge
this Legislature by what it has done;
and so judging it see no reason to ex-
pect that it will DO anything at the
next sitting that will be ofreal value in
fastening the settlement and develop.
ment OF the State. This State will be
settled and developed in time, in spite
Of our own indifference and unwilling
ness 10 aid the work, because it pos
sesses very great natural advantages,
and in the superabundance Of poPu la
ton steadily flowing from the over
crowded countries ofthe old .Torld and
the eastern States Of our own country,
some will be continually discovering
these advantages by accident and
crowding in and making their homes
in West Virginia in spite Of US. But
this talk about the "eagerness" Of our
Legislature, or Of our population. as
ma. :, III he interior OF the State, 10
make any serious effort or incur any
adequate expense to bring in strangers
and disturb the present repose Of West
Virginia Solitudes, has no foundation
in fact. West Virginia will be invad-
ed in time by the steady march OF the
great army looking for promised lands;
but the Invaders will come rather Of
their own irresistible impulse than
from invitation. in time they will
oyerrun our hills and valleys, and take
possession of the State. The old TO-
gyism Of these times will be crowded
to the wall, and finally disappear; but
we see no evidence that this generation
Of fogies, now in control OF the govern
ment Of the State, will ever do much
to hasten their own extinction. Per.
haps it is their instinct that warns
them against their ultimate fate; and
where the higher intelligence is wait.
ing instinct is mighty and all control
ling.-INtelHTrH"cr.