Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-06-01
riIg slENNoNirEs

This religious sect.about which there
has lately been considerable interest.
had Its origin In Germany nearly two
hundred years ago. Being oppressed
By the tyranny Of that Government,
they smigra,sd thcrefrom. some COM
ing TO this country and settling In what
wa. styled the Province Of Pennsyl-
y,nls." Here, In what Is now called
Germantown, they built churches and
school houses. and have since lived,
although branches OF the sect have SET
tied In Virgins, Ohio. Western New
York and the Canadas. They now
number Ia the United States about 37.-
900. At the ,imo Of this hsgira from
Germany by far tho greater number Of
the sect removed TO Russia. Caths-
rlne II, az that time ruling the Em-
plre, offered the M~ennonites, as an In
ducement for leaving their hsmes In
Germany, a tract Of very fertile land
In Southern Russia, near the shores OF
the Black Sea. and the Sea Of Azov,
and perpetual freedom from bearing
arms, the rights Of seifgovernment
and the full enjoyment Of their rslig-
isus principles were guaranteed them.
These terms with other conditions and
details were accepted. aud a gradual
emigration took place until they now
number In Russia seven large and a
hundred or moro small colonies, EN-.
baeing over iifty thousand people.
Recently 4 decree was Issued by the
Russian Government deprivlng. them
Of certain immunlties which Catherine
guaranteed them and which have been
hitherto enjoyed. This new decree
was made to take effect ton years frcm
June. 1871. One Of It's most import.
ant features Il that which makes them
liable to military duty. to which they
ara r~cligiously opposed. Soon after
the issuance OF this decree, they sen,
agents TO this country to select, II pos
sible, one or more large tracts OF land.
to which they propose to emigrate
AFTER having disposed OF their prop
erty In Russia. They will require
about 800, 600 acres OF land, and have
no strong desire to settle all together.
but only In communities which shall
be large enough to support good
schools and churches.
A bill was recently introduced In
Congress, granting certain CONCESSIONS
In tho sale OF public lands to this body
OF emignnts. As we have said before
they are religiously opposed to war,
In tails and many ether respects 70
sembliug Quaksrs,and desire to b. ex
empted FROM all calls for military
duty. This seems to be the question
which has raised discussion OF tho bill
IL Il claimed. and justly, that notwith
sttnui1. bhc iiuustiious SHaiaSAS' "
this people, their wealth, intelligence
and skill, IL Is neither just o right Il
exempt from military duty any sec
or class OF citizens. IL ba principle
Of I;epublicani,m. that In tins OF wa
all citizens must unite for the com
mon defense. aud IL Is neither just no
right that the Government which guar
antses protection to It's people shout,
fail Of their support In time OF need
These people, 10 they cmlgrats Il
America, come hero not only To bu,
our lands. develop them, aud sducat,
their children, they como To be pro
tectsd, and for that protection lock Il
the State and National Governments
II Is net Democratic nor Republican
to force M portion Of n people Il
protect another and exempt the latter
from reciprocal duty.