The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-05

+ our mennonite 1rleDQS, VINO is now lOCatoC
near Hutchinson, that brother-in- law o
his, whom he expects in Kansas next year
owns about $4,000 acres of land and shear.
upon an average 33, 600 sheep of improved
breed. While nearly every Mennonite il
Russia is land holder and farmer, many
of them are skilled mechanics besides
such as carpenters, wagon makers, machin
lists, etc.
The village schools are of high elemen
tary standard and exclusively German
which accounts for the fact that that Ian
guage is so well preserved among them
Their preachers are usually men Of deer
thought and fair culture. They are chosen
from among the members of the church
for life. When 4 preacher is needed, a
season of prayer and meditation is ordered,
lasting sometimes for weeks. During this
season the man most fit for the position is
selected. and it is held that God himself
through the manifestation of His Spirit,
points out the proper person.
Among the special privileges granted
them by the government was that of perfect
religious liberty, exemption from civil and
military service for themselves and theil
children for all time, maintenance of their
own local government and of their own
German schools. These privileges have
been as faithfully honored by all succeeding
monarchs to this time, as they have been
jealousy guarded by the Mennonites, and
many are the conjectures as to the reason
why the present enlightened and humane (?)
government of Alexander should adopt
measures that must result in the complete
abandonment of the colonies, if the religi.
GUS principles of the colonists can not be
demoralizeG. Is it because the government
has suddenly resolved to be alike Just to all
citizens? or does it calculate that less
scrupulous people will readily settle the
highly cultivated steppes, which the Men
nenites have no right to sell, unless it is to
their own flesh and blood? Be that as it
may, the Russian policy rebounds to the
profit of our country. The late changes
in the military organization of the empire
compel all subjects alike to do their share
of military duty: but the Mennonites OF
Russia are of the most orthodox class, and
will never submit to have their sons in
structed in the use of the sword, nor will
they consent TO do military service of any
kind, whether as combatants, nurses. team
sters or mechanics. Before they renounce
the essential article of their faith, they
abandon their magnificent homes with
heroic self denial, and begin anew in new
country, as their fathers and forefathers
have done many times before. Previous to
the departure of the last two great parties
of emigrants, offers of compromise were
made by the Gar, through Gen. Won Tod
lebep, to the effect that Mennontes should
be allowed to serve as surgeons, nurses or
mechanics, that they should do duty only
in the imperial workshops and forests,
instead of taking the field; but these offers
were looked upon by the bishops and elders
as being calculated to gradually corrupt
the conscience Of the rising generation,
and have not been generally accepted.
One of the most powerful inducements
to bring the Mennonites to Kansas has been
the passage of an act during last Winter
session of the Legislature. amending the
militia law of 1868 so that all persons who,
on or before the first day of May, in each
year, file with the clerk of their county an
affidavit that they are members of a religi-
Gus organization whose articles of faith
prohibit the bearing of arms, shall be
exempt from militia duty. A translation
of this amendment has been published by
the A, 7. & S. f. Railroad Company, with
a pamphlet descriptive of Kansas lands,
which has been sent to Russia by that COM
pany, and was we'll circulated in the colo
MES. The fact that a good portion of the
most influential of the different colonies
have now settled in Kansas and are well
satisfied here, will go far to induce the
bulk of the immigration, which is expected
during the next year, to come direct to
Kansas, as it is the chief aim of these peo-
pie to re establish their former relations,
and most of the late corners have left near
relatives behind.
Next Summer will show wonderful
changes in the region between the Cotton
wood and Little Arkansas rivers. till now
almost devoid of habtations. Even now
the busy hum has begun. Long lines of
wagons with lumber, household goods and
farm implements, are passing out from the
railroad stations. The carpenters arc busy
putting mp the first temporary shelter
The A., T. & S. F. Railroad Company is
erecting five immense emigrant houses at
convenient places for the reception of new
corners. The mowers that had been laid
by for the season are brought into requisi-
ton again to cut the waving grass for the
thousands of work horses, oxen and mich
COWS to subsist on during the short Winter
season; car load after car load of breaking
plowS and other implements are sent down
the road, and it seems as if the working
season for the farmer had but just begun.
The wild prairie is to be broken doubly
doep in October, yet to receive dressing
of wheat and rye. No one thinks of drouth
and grasshoppers-ev is hopeful
and energetic, and hope and energy will
find their reward.-From " The Common
1oealth, Topeka, Kansas, October, Is, 1874.