New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-28

sense reconcilable with the rights Of men
to decide their own social status.
The immense area of land occupied by
the roaming savage or the migratory but.
falo will be covered with civilized people
and cut up into States. Each of these
States having sufficient people within its
boundaries will be the political equal of
any other State having no larger number
of people upon its surface. It matters not
how new and rude this people may be
within this parallelogram of townships
and sections, they rank in the elements Of
political power with the oldest and most
honored State, even if its boundaries had
been entrenched against King George or
its frontiers chopped with the tomahawk.
It is time for all mell to know that the
power Of State depends upon its people.
and not upon its pretensions. 4 knowl-
edge Of this fac. will incline statesmen 70
seek rather the attraction Of people and
the association Of interests than to secure
influence by pleading the services Of the
past. or assuming especial merit in the
present. For it is not merely the people
included within State boundaries that give
strength to a State. It is the combination
Of their interests with that Of other States.
1t is the adoption of such State policy
as will unite the interests of others
with our own. It is thus that New York
has planted colonies. and erected States
upon the territory of the interior. and
bound those States to her in peace and
war. The great element Of which States
are formed is brought in by immigration.
Of this New York imported last year
1896 people. Properly distributed
those people would make about three new
States and six Senators. Very few Of
them. comparatively, remain in New York,
but whatever they e1pend or produce in
the new land to which they go comes back
to New York. Whatever they import OF
consume comes 10 them through her mer.
chants. It may be added that their vote
is apt to be with New York in peace and
their .rmy in wa-.
When We turn 70 tho Southern ports.
however. we find but snail proportion
Of foreign immigrants. If we mistake
not. New Orleans imported last year about
one pes cent Of the number received at
New York. say three thousand five hun.
dredo OF course the system Of care be.
slowed upon immigrants at Hew York
inclines them TO prefer that port. but it is
plain that for those very immigrants which
do not stop in New York but go to Wis.
consir or Dakota. New Orleans offers the
safest. cheapes: and most comfortable
winter route.
We have seen no annual report from
our board Of immigration, but we fear !
they aim too much to arrest immigrants
in Louisiana. The true policy is to i'm
port them here, no matter what their in.
terror destination and prove that this is
the best route to the interior. If
this tide of people can be turned through |
New Orleans, we shall derive much direct |
and great incidental advantage. Those
who remain here will become citizens If |
they rest here but one winter We shall |
have the benefit of their labor If they |
pass on to the interior West they will have
knowledge of our city and people. 1t |
may be that in all political and CONNER
cial combinations these immigrants may
unite with Louisiana in measures of the |
utmost importance to the common good.
Let our board of immigration study, imi-
tate and emulate the New York system,
and valuable results may follow.