Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-06-19
From the Columbia Phoenix.
IMMIGRATION-A FEW REFLECTIONS.

1MMIGRATlON-A FEW REFLECIlONS.
Mr.. EDITOR: Please publish the following
extracts from letter received from the up
country on the subject of immigration. They
are interesting, and may assist US in our pres
ent move, and in opening our eyes to the mis-.
takes we have made in our efforts at immigra-
tion:
A FARMER-Dear Sir: Your article, "Re-
demption of South Carolina" in the Phenir
of June 3, fell into my hand and read it
very carefully. I am German, and have
lived in South Carolina since 1859, and am,
therefore, interested in immigration. You
say that the whole matter is in our hands, and
if we fail, the fault is, as always has been, our
own. This is true, as also your statement in
regard to climate and other advantages, which
South Carolina possesses over many other
States. Now comes the question, What must
be adopted to gain portion of that immigra-
tion? 1t has been tried often, and as often
failed. Now why has it failed9 There must
be some cause. Let me try, in my poor way,
to explain why the immigrant Cat least the
Germany does not like to live in the South.
The Southerner, who is able to hire, has been
educated to slavery; the black man was his
subject, over whom he could rule, almost, as
he desired-in word, he was his slave. But
now he is free, and the black man, ignorant
as he is, wishes to become master, too; at
least, he cannot understand the real diferecce
between employer and employe. He only
sees the difference of color. He has to be
trained; but that is task the present. genera
ton will not succeed in. On the other hand,
the white man, for reasons above stated, being
used to absolute control, does not really un-
derstand the difference between employer and
employe-the reci procal duties and benefits,
and you will pardon me when say courtesies.
Now comes hedificulty. Let us take, first,
a case: A man and wife seek employment
Germans-and find it in family-he as gen.
eral servant, she as cook. They labor, first,
under q great difficulty, by not understanding
nor being understood, and are often the OBJ
jects of laughter, which hurts poor man as
we'll as rich one; however, he works faith
fully in the yard, the stable, the garden, &C.;
in fact, is handy wherever he is put, and does
his work we'll. His wife is model cook,
clean, &C., and both very honest, and receive
together SIS per month and board. Should
it happen that few black persons are en-
ployed about the house, they are permitted to
domineer over and make fun Of our honest
white immigrants. Another case A planter
wishes ten good stout German laborers, and
succeeds in getting them, (for they come over
to work. Does your planter enquire before
they arrive about their habits, customs, &c. :?
Oh, no! They are hirelings; pay and feed
them, and there is an end. People who hire
out have no business, except to obey my will
and pleasure. Well, they arrive. Dirty out
houses are shown them, containing bundle
of straw; then comes man along, and gives
each one peck Of meal, and perhaps some
thing fat and dirty looking, called bacon.
This is to last you for week. None Of them
ever saw corn meal before, nor bacon in such
form. Then they must worry themselves
with cooking that mess, and 60 to work. Now
comes your plan Of giving away lands. am
sure the gentlemen who originated the plan
mean we'll, and are we'll wishers to the State
and to the immigrant, and if carried out prop
erly, will work we'll and become benefit to
the State, the landowner and the immigrant.
How the plan is to work, ] am uniformed; ;
whether these lots should be in certain neigh.
borhoods, close enough together for the immi.
grants to build themselves church, school
house, form societies or whether it is to be a
scattered affair, to please this landowner or
the other, to have one family here, the other
two miles away, half dozen in this county,
and another in another. Ifthe last, then the
scheme will not work. When the German
immigrant comes over, be is at first very home
sick. He hears different language, sees diff
ferent manners, and has to change his habits