The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-08-30
The Russian MennOnites.

One of Dom Pedro's special objects in
visiting Europe is to prepare the way
for wholesale immigration of the Men-
nonites Of southern Russia to Brazil.
The czar yet allows to these people four
years, after which, if they do not i'm
migrate, they must conform to all the
laws of the land, even to the perform
ance of military duty-a duty that il as
repugnant to them as though they were
Quakers. Whole colonies are, there
fore, meditating general flight. Their
vigor, sobriety, industry and intell-
gence render them valuable as immi-
grants, and the enlightened ruler, Dom
Pedro, naturally envies tho United
States it's good fortune in winning them
as settlers.
Two vessels, one from Bremen and the
other from Hamburg, have lately landed
large parties of Mennonites at Castle
Garden, New York. They bring the in
formation that for months past the
agents of the Brazilian government have
sought them in German territory on their
way to America, and urged them to take
passage for Brazil; but on their apply
ing to the German authorities for ad-
vice they were told that they had better
settle in the United States. They were
informed that ten years ago steady
tide of German immigration set out for
Brazil, and the German government was
obliged to aid the immigrants in getting
back to Germany, the poverty, sickness
and neglect under which they suffered
having decreased their numbers fright
fully. Two years ago the Prussian gov
ernment ordered the exodus stopped.
At the same time the agents OF Brazil
persuaded many English peasants to
visit their country, and Great Britain
had to provide passage fol them back
to her shores.
The Mennonites in Russia have writ
ten to a well known German resident OF
New York city that the emperor of
Brazil will give to every immigrant 100
acres of land for 81 an acre, the pur-
chase price to be paid within ten years
without interest. During the first year
the settlers are to be gratuitously sup
piled with food and the necessaries OF
life. Tho emperor asks that the Rus
sian colonies depute representatives to
visit, at his expense, the prohered lands
in Brazil. Forty colonies have united
and elected four delegates who will,
within short time, start for Brazil.
These colonies are oil anxious to depart
from Russia.
Although one Of the Mennonites'
leading divines is the chief agent of the
Brazilian government, it would seem
that they are not attracted by the en-
peror's offer. They are apprehensive Of
q curtailment of their religious liberty
in that country, and they doubt whether
Dom Pedro's successor will be as liberal
and wise as he is; and, moreover, they
fear that as laborers in country so late
ly worked by slaves their social status
will be unenviable.
Those Mennonites who have immi-
grated are almost all in the United
States, and are happily settled. They
are highly valued as settlers here. In
addition to the government OF l6O acres
free of cost to all who become citizens,
private enterprise is sending out induce
ments to the Mennonites to land here.
In Wisconsin they are offered forty
acres of land apiece near main route
of travel, and in the Southern States o
house and ten acres of cultivated land
at $40 per acre, to be paid in few years,
at six per cent. interest, are theirs for
Tho ouhinn