The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-22
Treatment Of Immigrants.

Every thinking man is satisfied that immi-
grafton is one of the most important subjects
that can engage the attention of South Caroli-
mans. The people are becoming alive to it's
Importance, and are beginning to put forth
efforts to induce an influx of foreign labor.
We need 1t in the town, in the country, in our
workshops, and at the plow. The efforts to
induce immigration are now being crowned
with success and no one who has the good of
his country at heart will fail to assist or know
ingly do anything to impede the work. But
there is something different from the course
heretofore pursued that is necessary to retain
foreigners after they have come, and through
their representations, to make others eager to
come and that is change, a radical change,
in the manner of treating them. They must
not be expected to be satisfied with coarse fare
and poor accommodations They must have
they have been used to. They should be paid
promptly and literally. They should be treat
ed kindly and courteously, and not in harsh
and unreasonably dictatorial manner. Those
who were once accustomed to command must
learn to give their order as to equals. Pa
tience, too, must be brought into requisition.
They are not to be expected to adapt them
selves Immediately to our manners and customs.
They must be instructed in our modes of culti
waiting the soil when their own is different and
inferior. They are not to be made the subjects
of insulting remarks, nor the laughing stock
of senseless idlers. They must not be inter-
rupted in the observance of their peculiar Gus
toms when not illegal If any are desirous of
purchasing land it should be sold to them on
reasonable and easy terms. 1t is the habit of
some farmers to look upon these foreigners as
mean hirelings who deserve no better treatment
than one of their favorite dogs. They should
not be expected to stand such. Being far from
home and friends, while they are doubly sensi-
tive to kindness, such treatment is highly irri-
tatng. No wonder we hear of dissatisfaction.
No wonder they go from one place 70 another,
hoping by change to better their surroundings.
IF honest, and they should be supposed so until
their honest employer, and superior to their
dishonest employer and therefore should be
treated with consideration.
If our people will thus deport themselves to
the stranger immigrant when he comes, he will
feel that he has found home, and he woald
not be human, if he did not desire and encour-
age the friends he left over the water to come
and labor among people so just and liberal to
himself In addition to the dictate of human
ity and honesty, policy requires US to act to-
ward the immigrant in an equitable manner.
Honesty" in this instance, lis the best poll
cy."
1t is very true the immigration movement is
no work of benevolence to foreigners. Self is
the most prominent figure in this, as in every.
thing else. But the very best way to serve self
is to extend the hand of friendship to the
strangers, and not to withdraw it as soon as
they accepted it and come here on the faith of
it. We give the land owners of South Caroli-
ma the credit of having sufficient shrewdness
to seize upon the advantage now in their pow
er. We hope soon to see an immigration
society in every county of the State, and de-
termination to make friend of every foreigner
who sees fit to cast his lot in South Carolina.
Let not this movement be bubble of caprice,
mushroom notion, thin whim, TO be bursted,
smashed and dispersed at the first blow of diff
Guilty, but resolute determination, the Off
spring of necessity, unalterable and indefatiga-
Herald