The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-05
ARE, NORTHERN SETTLERS WEI.
A 4 COME IN VIRGINIA? fa

of themselves and others, to know the truth
about this matter. There are numerous
people all over the North who would
seek homes in mider climate or where
lands are cheaper and opportunities are
better. These people have more OF less
means, are often wealthy, and as class
are energetic, enterprsing and intelligent.
The West has hitherto monopolized their
attention.
Now, however that region has become
filled up with great flood of population.
Its eligible sites for cities have been occu.
pied. Its best lands have fallen into the
hands of corporations and private owners,
and its trades and professions are full. There
is even strong tendency among Western
men, who have realized a competence,
to 60 East and South themselves. Many
persons, aware that "the West" is getting
too far oft, and less inviting than formerly
to capital and enterprise, are looking
Southwark.
Virginia, of all the states, is the most at
tractive to Northern men if they come
here to see for themselves. Its climate,
soil and productions harmonic with their
ideas and tastes, But the report has gone
abroad that they are not welcome here.
1t has been circulated by parties interested
in decrying her lands and dIverting pop
ulation and capital elsewhere Is it true
II 1t were true, we would warn North
ern people not to come.
There are other places where they can
find good homes and opportunities. No
one should 60 among people who will
not welcome him, unless from necessity
or duty. We shall frankly state our
views upon this matter. To Virginia, as
elsewhere, there are various classes.
There are very ignorant and bigoted
poor people and very ignorant and bigoted
rich people. On the other hand there
are liberal, enlightened men and women
in all conditions. The former class
are liable to extreme and unreasonable
proclivities. Among them will be found
those who believe that Virginia is the only
place in the world "ft to be born in" and
that all the world outside are barbarians.
to be cordially hated and despised, or at
hest pitied. These deluded and benighted
people constitute an Insignificant portion
OF the whole population. They are found
mostly in few fossilized and antiouated |
towns and in the most obscure and i'm
poverished regions of the state. They en-
Joy the good-natured tolerance and con-
tempt of the sensible and enlightened por-
ton OF our population. 1t contains some de-
cayed politicians, sour and embittered. It
also includes some genteel families, often
grown shabby, but still very proud, who,
VIII lie nobodies themselves, boast of great
pedigree. Some fire-eating fellows. who
saved up their yalor till the war was over,
are also prominent in this class. They are
rapldly declining, and time will soon con-
'ign them to oblivion. Meantime, from
heir bewildered ignorance and helpless.
hess they make harmless faces and snarl
It all new ideas and new people who come
o Virginia. 1 Is
Every day diminishes the power Of
his absurd and sleepy crowd in this
tate. The poor portion are getting ed
lcatlon and enlightenment, the Weather /
re losing their holl. The policy Of
xcluslyeness is fast becoming odiuus to !
II decent people. An overwhelming :
Majority of Virginians want immigration b
ON the North. They are aware Of its t
ital Importance 70 the state. They will !
'elcome Northern men heartily who v
lay come here 10 settle, and will ex- G
md to them the courtesies and Inequalities a.
sual among neighbors. This is our own 81
sperlence and observation. We admit
lere are exceptions in some neighbour
'ods where the class first described are
'mnant. Northern men would not feel =,
home with their families. Immigrants 70
ould sh,in such regions as they would
ague.stricken city. Poverty and degra- 60
tion will mark them in due time, while siv
rift, prosperity and progress will smile r. Fl
ION those communities who welcome all
cd men. We ask for the people of Vir- So
MA the same discrimination that we OF
lin for our Northern friends. n ne
Let every community be judged by diit'
ell and give every man the benefit OF his fai
N character as he has made it, If there loo
} regions where Northern man of good 6i'
nding at home would be sighted on S a.,
cunt Of birth or opinions, such commu. bel
les should be published and all immi. an
4ns warned to keep away from them. enc
the contrary, those portions of the wo
te which are free from this baleful in CO.
'nce should be noted. and commended in
those who wish to find homes among NH
In the latter class we are ia 81,
will be found far the larger doe
Of Virginia, and the great ma yea
ty Of her population. Upon this point the
invite information of specific char ny w.
n. We will be glad to hear from ne -
them men and others as to their recep. are,
and experience here. We do not hell
h to whitewash anybody. Let us have go.
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