Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-28
IMMIGRATION.

MEL are COuSItlIly llaole W ihIsIah0 q
crotchet for principle. Our hopes and fears
frequently get the better of our judgments.
Just at this time one of the absorbing topics
of the day is immigration. The masses seem
to think that all that is necessary to drive
rascality and villainy from the South, and to
establish, upon firm basis, peace and pros
perity, is to fill up the country with living
human beings. There is no need to argue
the question Of the need of more citizens in
the South. That will be readily admitted by
every one having correct idea of the extent
of territory and number of present popula-
ton. This admitted, the questions to be set
tied are, what must be the character of the
immigrants to take possession of the untitled
land of the South, and engage in developing
her many natural resources; and what must
be done by the present inhabitants to secure
these immigrants? Negatively, we do not
need class of men who are willing to do
dirty work for an indefinite number of years,
for a poor pittance of ofcompensation. In other
words, the country, in order to its growth and
development does not need a class of crea-
lures who are willing to labor life time for
food and raiment, and when they die have
their offspring to take their places Such i'm.
migrants would be ignorant and doomed to ig-
norance for generations In all conscience,
we have enough of ignorance, and to spare in
the country now. Affirmatively, we want
high,toned, moral and intelligent immigrants; ;
individuals who will support our domestic in
stitutious. We want class of individuals
to settle in the South which will give tone and
character to society and support, or assist in
supporting, our schools and churches. We
want, in word, class of immigrants that
will support morality and religion, and make,
in the proper sense of the word, good and
useful citizens.
1t is evident, that in order to secure such
immigrants, an effort must be put forth by the
people of the South. This effort is very
different thing from hiring up hands to work
crop. The thing proposed to be accomplished
in the one case is merely temporary in the
other it is permanency.
To secure immigrants of the proper charac-
ter, the first thing to be done is to provide
home for them. This can be effected most
easily by the large landholders of the South
selling off portions of their plantations to
immigrants on favorable terms. BY tavora-
BILE terms, we do not mean reduced prices or
anything of that kind but at reasonable
prices and on sufficient time to enable the pur-
chasers to pay for them. If ever the South
is settled by immigrants, it will be effected,
some how, in this way. Really, no pecuniary
sacrifice is called for, at the hands of any one.
All that is required is the exercise of spirit
of accommodation. This work cannot be ac-
complished by one or two men. The whole
country must 60 into it. The thing has just
come to a point that some property, or all
property must, in short time, change hands.
The prospects, in some directions are darker.
Good Judgment and correct notions of politi-
cal economy, advise US to sell off, on equitable
terms, portion of the lands of the South to
immigrants, and retain the remainder, which
will, in few years, be more valuable, both
intrinsically and relatively. In its resettling,
the South has to contend with the almost
boundless West. We must work or fail. We
must be generous or we will be discarded