New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-05
communicated
The German Emigration Laws.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
Allow me TO call your attention to some
very important events which shave lately
TRANSFERRED, and are now transplring IN
Germany, which may prove eventually OF
great benefit to this State. The American
press has severely censured the German
government for some laws passed, supposed
to restrict emigration. The press has been
misinformed. Laws restricting emigration
are of military character, and have ex-
sited as long as | can remember; no new
laws touching emigration have been passed,
merely ministerial order has been given
to railroad companies to charge to emf
grants in future full fare instead of half
fare charged heretofore. The government
has control of almost all the railroads, and
this ministerial order was only a financial
measure; no emigrant would be prevented
by it to leave Germany. 1t should be borne
in mind that any law actually restricting or
prohibiting emigration would surely create
a revolution in Germany, and Bismarck is
the last man to advocate such q measure.
But, it is true, this ministerial order has
created much dissatisfaction in Germany.
and will contribute to increase emigration
from Germany. Another impulse to an IN.
precedented emigration is given by the dis
cord lately arisen between the German gov
eminent and the Pope and the Roman Cath
Ole clergy. Religious troubles and restric-
tons have always caused III Germany and
Europe more dissatisfaction, and an exc
dus ofmalcOntents, than political influences.
But still another most important move has
been recently made In Europe which will
contribute very largely to an increased
emigration. A colonization society has
been started in Germany which already
counts $1,000 members, with a capital
Of SI50.000 in their treasury. In
England exists society called the
National Agricultural Laborers Union, with
100000 members-these two companies
have combined with the German Coloniza-
ton Society of Washington, tor the pur-
pose of carrying on the emigration from
Europe systematically, and it is their inten
ton to bring over to this country, even this
year, 100000 emigrants. A commission is
leaving Europe shortly to gather full in
formation, to buy large tracts of land, and
to take the initial steps for organizing colo
MES in States where fair opportunities are
given to them. In view of all these facts,
that an unprecedented large immigration
can be expected this year and hereafter,
and considering that large influx of immi-
grants is the surest guarantee of the future
prosperity of this State, should not the
greatest eXertions be made to secure to this
State a portion of the expected immigra-
ton? Should it not be the duty of the
Legislature to pass such laws as will en-
courage immigration to this State Should
not the planters and land owners 60 to work
and divide their lands, cor part of them, in
small lots and offer them to Immigrants and
actual settlers at fair prices, long credit
and convenient conditions! Germans,
Swedes and Norwegians leave Europe to
build up homes in this country, and not to
work for wages. The greatest inducements
and facilities are given to immigrants in
the Western States and Texas. When our
planters and land owners can not be per-
suaded to offer to immigrants such induce
ments to settle here as other States do,
then of course the hope must be abandoned
that this State shall receive fair share of
the expected increased immigration to this
country. T. FERNOW.