Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-26
SCOTCH AND ENGLIS III Emu
GRANTS.

es in England, Wales, Scotland and Ire.
land, whether laboring on farms, in mines
or factories, has given such an impulse TO
emigration from the British Island to this
country as to alarm the aristocracy and
capitalists. To reduce the population of
the kingdom is to weaken its means of de-
fence in the presence of strong nations,
like Russia, which has desire for Constan-
tinople, ard perhaps little envy of the
British power in Asia. Combinations in
Germany and Ialy, with recuperated life
aud ambition in France, suggest the value
of tie material out of which large
armies are formed when needed.
British subjects by the hundred Thousand
cross the Atlantic and change their allegi-
ance every year. This process depletes one
nation to increase the numbers, wealth aBd
strength of another. The Marquis of Lorne
(son-in-laW to the Queen Of England) ex-
pressed his regret at this state of things in
late speech at a meeting of West County
Highlanders in Glasgow. But it has served
only to draw attention to the fact that OF
1,S77 emigrsnts from Scotland within a
short time, no less than 1859 came to the
United States. Probably no other people in
Europe are so well Informed as the Scotch,
and their good sense tells them where
they can find the most desirable homes.
They are always welcome immigrants in
the New World. But capital in Great
Britain cannot find profitable employment
in agriculture, mining, and manufactures,
with laborers in the far off United States.
1t must follow the bone, muscle and mind,
which alone create wealth to pay five, ten,
or twenty per cent interest on money.
Gold produces nothing for its owner with
out labor. 1t comes where capital is most
wanted to develop coal, iron, copper and
millions of acres of wild land. The holders
of large estates and hereditary Legislators,
may dislike TO see their subjects leave,
never to return, but to become themselves
sovereigns in a republic that stretches
across continent 5000 miles in width.
Considering the facts as they exist in this
country, with all its acknowledged advan-
tsges of climate, soil and staples for feed
ing and clothing very comfortably popu-
lation at least equal to that of all Europe;
and considering the privstions of the masses
on the other side of the Atlantic, the in
creasing facilities to visit this land of prom
Use and see for themselves, and the millions |
who have been successful, and are already |
here, often writing to their friends to come
and join them, it would be presumption to |
attempt to fix limit to the apparently end
less swarming of the great European hive.
Beyond all comparison, it is the most re-
markable phenomenon of the age. So long
SIS our nation and condition are better than
those of Europe, Europeans must come.
A farmer ties up his stock, or incloses
it in a yard or field, with high fence, when
it troubles him by running away. But can
a queen, or king, or emperor pen his or her
bipeds when they see fit to
emigrate TO another country? Such an at
tempt would add ten fold to the desire to
leave a soil cursed By such government.
The agitation of the subject by the press
and nobility of England, Scotland, Wales
aud Ireland, will double the inquiry about
the advantages attainable by emigrating to
he United States. The very effort to con-
zeal these, and divert public attention wiz
have an effect contrary to such wishes.
1t is too late to ''put out the light" of the
western horizon. For ages empire has
steadily travelled westward. Babylon, Nine
Yah and Palmyra were old cities when
France, England and Germany had not
advanced to the pastoral age and develop
nent. a nation with breadth enough to
support a thousand million freemen, and
vim enough to make that number selfgov.
erned and happy, must become the centre
If political, industrial and moral power.
Of course, old dynasties and fossil aristoc-
,acies see a handwriting on the wall; but
hey need no Daniel to interpret the mean
ng of the unpleasant vision.