The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-09
4ithnlond Dispatth.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY Q, 1876
immigration.

u
grants into the country looks at 1t as does the
large community Of persons who make
money by bringing people to our shores.
They are the agents, who get so much head
for Capturing" immigrants; the trarsporta.
ton companies, who get so much head for
bringing them across the water; and the
railroad lines, which get stipulated price
for taking them to the interior. II Is true
that some railroad companies, which nave
large tracts of land for sale, desire to bring
In people that can buy their land, but save
to such companies it is a matter of DO con.
Germ whatever what sort of people are ban.
died and transported by them.
But to a community whose social peace
a2d order are dependent upon the character
of their neighbors il is vital question as to
who comes to dwell amongst them. They
only wish to have as neighbors such as are
able to support themselves or to be valuable
citizens: good farmers or artisans-the pro-
prietors Of arms or factories, however
small. We have often thought that the best
means OF insuring such new corners only
would be to leave Immigrants to their own
inclinations and means, giving them such
liberia! encouragement IS might be afforded
in fair rates of transportation and humane
hospitable if you will-facilities for speeding
them on their way But we protest, as
liberal American citizens, against that sweep.
ing system OF immigration which has ex-
listed in this country for two decades past,
which has relieved Europe from population
too great to be wholly useful, or for success.
full absorption without dctrmcnt to
our national genius. While in the
immense immigration from the European
S a;cs this Union has acquired masses OF
men who are Invaluable TO Us, 1t is painful
to confess that many have come whose
deperture was relief to Europe, and whose
arrival here has been national misfortune.
1t is not a ciuse of regret, therefore, that this
excessive importation for purely sordid mo-
tiycs-Wiih no earthly consideration for the
moral welfare and peace Of the land-has
received check, and we trust it is perma.
ment-not that we desire immigration to
stop. but that some modification Of the sys-
tenn may follow that will permit the better
classes to continue to come, and restrain
from coming the less desirable.
In the matter of the question Of immigra.
ton in the South we repeat our remark that
it involves great many considerations. We
know that nobody who has appeared in the
field advocating the cause in the South
dreams OF such frauds and corruptions as
have appeared in the immigration schemes
at the North. They want good immigrants
they want them brought in prudently and
economically for the general good and for
nobodv's unreasonable profit. That gentle
man who now takes pllce at the head OF the
enterprise is the representative Of the noble
public spirit and integrity which actuates 1t,
and it is above suspicion. But, nevertheless,
it is an enterprise that bears upon the inter-
ests of all, and directly relates to the whole
domestic economy Of our community.
Mr.. Tucker, in his speech at the immi.
grant meeting in Washington, made the re.
mark that we wanted no more foreign i'm.
migration in Virginia " than we could assim-
ilate." We do not suppose there is danger
that there will be more in Virginia than we
can assinils!e: but the remark is striking,
and based upon sound philosophy. VIII
any one say that we have been able in all Sec
tions to assimilate the inlowing volume as
rapidly as it has come! 1t is matter TO
bear in mind.
But there is a peculiar condition in the
South that we must remember and we must
study with the greatest earnestncss. We
have here vast body of laborers whose
manner of life and labor has been formed
under our control These laborcrs we know
cannot be assimilatcd with the Caucasian
laborers we now seek to bring to this State.
At the same time, the revolution Of the late
war deprived US of all control over them,
before the war. This impcls our people to
seek foreign labor. But these native labOrcrs
being here we cannot displace them except
by force, which we cannot apply. How can
we make room for the white laborer if we
cannot remove the black?
But are we sure that our people are ready
to make compulsory change at this time il
they could: For one, we would 90 for it
without hesitation, but we are not sure the
people would. The last Southern Planter
has several articles taking strong ground in
favor of the negro as the best known ''la-
borer "-digger and deliver. We don't believe
it. If we did We would, in our view of the
law Of creation, and from our knowledge of
the moral devastation caused by minglng so.
cially two distinct races, be opposed irrecon-
cably to any social order by which one race
shall hold in any form wholly distinct one
in its embrace. 1t must be the embrace of
political death.
But'we speak of things as they exist. Time
has to make changes which will assuredly
come-nature will compel them.
But we cannot mix the races OF laborers !;
nor can we accommodate those we wish to
bring amongst us according to the system
we have employed with regard to the
negroes. When we get white laborers they
must be provided with homes, and they must
have that elevation in the scale Of civiliza.
ton which is shown in bed, table, com.
mon board, and book aud light In fact, a
home. The rural population will at once see
that an economy Of two sorts does not ad.
NIT of frugality and peace, and without them
there cannot be success.
Immigration, then, must be carried on
with this difflculty-the hostility of race.