The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-03-29
IMPOSING on IMMIGRANTS.
The Frauds Used to Iuduee Immigration to
DrnzIl.-A Warning.

The Frauds Used TO Induce Immigration Il
Drnzll--A Warning.
An official notice las been issued b,
the immigration commissioners Of Grea
Britain, acting under immediate order
from tho Secretary Of State for thu
colonies, says the New York Times
warning intending immigrants from pro
ceeding to Brazil. The reasons for thil
almost exceptional action on the part oi
tho English government are such rs may
at any time occur in the case Of other
countries besides Brazil, aud although
we do not apprehend frequent repeti.
tion of them, the incident Is one which
should not pass unnoticel. The govern
ments OF Brazil and some Of the South
American republics have, for two or
three years past, been making strenuous
efforts to obtain q supply Of labor either
from Europe or the United States. To
that end they have represented tue nd
vantages Of their respective countries in
glowing colors, and they have made
promises which, il genuine, ought TO
have proved strong attraction. To
some extent the purpose was served.
Families and single men and women
migrated from here and from across the
Atlantic to Rio Janeiro, Buenos Ayres,
and in less numbers to other places in
South America, but only to find oil their
expectations disappointed. Their an.
ticipations Gs to soil, climate, andl the
demand for labor were not realized. The
promises that had sounded 80 well were
not fulfilled, and, in place OF the hearty
welcome that they had been told to look
forward to, they found themselves sur.
rounded with o popalace preiudicel
against their nationalities, and n state Of
public opinion which WIS neither liberal
nor tolerant. In this predicament rs
many rs were able returned home.
Many died of disease or starvation, and
the few who wero compelled to remain
have sincerely deplored tho day when
thcy left their native land.
In the case of Brazil, the government
OF TINT country promised free grants ot
lind to immigrants who would settle up
on them, together with assistance in cul.
tiyation. Il induced some two thousand
persons to go to Rio. But no grants
were ever made, and although three
years have elapsed since the offer wns
first put forward, and Notwithstanding
tho efforts Of some Of the foreign
ministers in Brazil, not any assistance
hNs yet been given by the government III
any wny to relieve tho few families that
were obliged to stay in the country. Yet,
in faco Of this breach Of faith, q new
scheme for drawing u foreign population
has been devised. A now settlement is
proposed. It is described as in ono Of
tho richest districts where, in few
months, crops eau be gathered from
virgin soil, and where there is q conyc-
nient market for All tho produce that call
bc grown. Besides which, tramway i
to DO constructed Immediately" to ef'
feet ready communication with the
capital. Such is the induccment offered.
But on investigation it turns out tliat the
place chosen for the settlement Is sixty.
two miles from tho provincial town, md
not less than ono hundred and fourteen
miles from the port, from which tho city
OF Rio can be reached only after voyage
OF forty hours more by steamboat
There is ut present no means Of com
munication from the place Of the settle
ment to either town, and experience has
shown that the immediate" construc-
tion OF hundred miles Of railroad in
South America is rather vague project.
Under all these circumstances, it seems
that the British government is perfectly
justified in the coursoit has pursued, and
tho warning is ono which others besides
British subjects may, perhaps, lisetulIy
take into consideration.
But their is something more to BIO de-
rived from all this. II Brazil and the
Argentine Republic had kept good faith
with their immigrants, it is tolerably
certain that they would hayesuccceded in
attracting n very useful stream ofpopilla-
ton. There is no reason why they
should not. South America is wanting
in many Of the advantages which take
immigrants to other places, but this
could be counterbalanced by artificial
conditions Of q favorable character.
Where, however, those conditions come
short Of fulAllment, moro harm is done
than il they had never existed. II IL
TINT very danger which this country has
to fear. We owe very much to immi.
grafton. II has been to tho United
States q source Of population and Of
wealth. But last year witnessed q great
falling of in the number Of immigrants,
and tho fact was undoubtedly due to the
condition Of the labor market, and to the
statements made by persons who had re-
turned, disappointed, to Europe. Agents
arc now busy striving to induce laborers
aud others In Great Britain and elsewhere
to come to America. What may wo not
suffer from their too great zeali Hthey
arc successful, and the. persons they send
out to us arc disappointed, We shall find
the mnin stream Of immigration turned
elsewhere, so that when We want II we
may not be able to get 1t. The labor
market here is, for tho moment, well
supplied in most branches. Everywhere
we hear Of people ont Of employment
and anxious to do anything that will
bring thom n livelihood. While this
state OF things lasts is ii wise to try and
force n current Of more labor into tho
countryi We think not. II would be
better to leave immigration for n time to
take It's own course, rninauenced in any
way, and then, when employment be.
comes more general, which we hope will
not be long, tho country may reasonably
expect to receive all the foreign popula-
tion that ii needs.
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