The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-27
Immigration the Paramount Need Of the
South.

The address of Rev. O. W. Howard on
the subject of Immigration, delivered before
the Agricultural Convention in Augusta, Ga,
and to which allusion was made in our edito-
rial remarks last week, is too lengthy for our
columns, but we cannot omit the publication
of the document entirely, and herewith present
an extract which embodies the conclusions of
Mr.. Howard on the subject under considera-
ton: ,.4H .E
1t is asked, "How can we invite foreigners
to come into the State when SO many of our
own people are leaving it7" Much depends
upon the class of persons who are going out,
and the class of persons whom we invite to
come in. The exodus of our white population
from the upper counties is fearfully great.
The en,igrants are almost entirely of the ten
ant and Iaboring class. To those men the en-
countesing of the rough life of a new country
is rather pleasure than hardship. They are
bornsas it were, with an axe in their hands
The lands upon which they have been living
are worn; the third of the crop will not sup
port them and the owner of the soil cannot
afford to pay them remunerative wages under
the present system of farming. Having saved
little money they prefer to buy cheap lands
in the West, and clear it for themselves.
They leave the old lands precisely in condition
to be used to advantage by the foreigner of
small MEANS who understands perfectly how to
understand how to reclaim rich acre from the
woods. We would invite the attention of small
European farmers to these lands. Where the
owners are unwilling to sell, they can we'll af-
ford to pay higher wages than they have been
in the habit of paying, to laborers who under
stand grass growing and stock raising, because
under this system so little labor comparative
ly, is required In short, &c is the pioneers the
frontiersmen, who are going out; it Is skillful,
intelligent European farmers that we wish to
come in their place. Although the first cost
of these lands would be greater than that of
wild Government lands, the actual cost at the
end of the year would be less, as can be made
to appear by an intelligent agent Although a
portion of our people are leaving US, there is
nothing inconsistent in inviting another and
different class of persons from abroad to take
their places. -. eo . g. -
Reference is sometimes made to the failures
in the recent importations Of Swedes. These
have been owing to several causes. The sub
agents employed, were Indifferent as to the
character Of the immigrants. The unreasona-
bleness on our part of expecting that ignorant
people should be contented to receive no wa
ges, whatever may have been the advance in
their behalf while other laborers were receiv-
ing wages: A MIR. Grant, philanthropic
English gentleman, who has lately bought 6s,-
600 acres of land in Kansas, says that those
people who must leave their own country, and
who cannot afford to pay their own passage,
are not the people to build up new country,
He therefore sold his lands to Englishmen of
moderate means, who can buy small farms.
This is sound sense sustained by our own ex-
perience If foreigner who has arrived at
mature years has not saved money enough to
pay his cheap passage to this country, he is not
likely to be of use to US, if we have to pay his
passage. The failure in this case of the ma
iorty of the Swedes proves only that we have
made mistake as to the mode, and not as to
the facts of immigration.
The objection to immigration which appears
10 have most weight is based upon the fear
that a larger influx of foreigners would so in
crease the cotton crop as to diminish its value
per pound. This fear is groundless, for the
following reasons: Foreign farm laborers will
not work for the wages which the cotton plant
er according to the present system can afford to
nav. when he knows what wages he can get
in the Northwest. He will not live in ordinary
negro houses, nor will he submit to plantation
fare. Every attempt to substitute the foreign
laborer for the negro on cotton plantation has
been and will continue to be afailure. We do
not desire or design ordinary farm laborers.
| From the very nature. of things the cotton
planters fears are groundless. .,..r.,a
/ : But he should remember there are other
| things to be done besides planting cotton.
There are four crops which may be made to
equal in value the cotton crop without dmu-
nftion of that crop. The hay crop, the live
stock crop, the wool crop and the corn crop.
These several branches of industry the for
! eigner understands, and in conducting them he
can receive as good wages rs are given in the
Northwest. Besides, we want foreign capital
and skiliggflaBor to make use of our water
mower in thoimanufacture of cotton, thus CIV
ing to the cotton planter the benefit OF cotton
market at his own door, | could wish to see
the day when not bale of raw unmanufac-
.tured cotton was exported from the South.
II has been possible only to glance at the OBJ
iections to immigration. But l, trust that the
points of reply are sufficiently distinct.
In regard to direct trade through line Of
ocean steamers, must be very much governed
by the opinions of others better informed than
myself To determine the practicability of es-
tablishing such line requires ! knowledge OF
commercial and maritime affairs which l DO
not possess. Gentlemen who are we'll Informed,
and whose opinions are worthy. Of all weight,
assure us that such line would be remunera-
tive. But that as we must use foreign steam
ers, and as capital is limited, it will be neces-
sary for the State to give guarantee against
loss for a given period
One thing is certain: Such line is almost
indispensable to an immigration which would
be really valuable. The immigrant who lands
at Castle Garden is almost certainly lost to us,
in consequence of the Misrepresentation of our
condition to which he will be subjected If we
desire the introduction of foreign capital and
skilled labor, direct communication with Eu-
rope seems to be an indispensable condition
It is with regret that have heard that the
remark has been snceringly made that this is
scheme of Savannah to obtain a line of
steamers at the public expense. This is un-
kind, and more foolish than unkind. Savan-
II <, :, n oapan the month, of the State The