The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-23
ANOTHER LIE NAILED.
NO PERSECUTION OF GERMANS IN LOUISIANA

NO PERSECUTION OF GERMANS IN LOUISIANA.
Translated from the American Weekly (aerman) of
st. Louis
The following communication, dated Feb
ruary 23rd, has been sent to us from Louisiana:
In one of your recent mum bers you published
a cable telegram stating that the German AM
bsssador in Washington had been applied to to
interfere in behalf of some Germans residing in
Louisiana, and no, it said, had been per-
secuted by the Ku-Klux. 1t having however,
been asserted that these Germans had become
naturalized citizens the Ambassador could do
nothing for them. Your informer concludes by
saying that the whole affair had been used by
the Pruss ian ca eminent as means for deter
ring it's subjects from emigrating.
1t is possible and very likely thnt the
thorties of the Capital of Prussia, to brighten
their sub ects ard to deter them from emigrat-
ing, avail, themselves gladly of every oppor-
tuuity offered by the publication of such dread
full news. TIE question is, whore 10 such news
originated In my opinion their origin is to be
traced to the lies published by certain New
Orleans paper, which has been, repeatedly,
failing of a persecution of the Germans in
Louisiana; so much SO that many influential
citizens have consulted me upon the propriety
of Publishing above our signatures protest
setting forth and proving the fslsehood OF
these charges. 1 shall briefly state the fact
upon which this whole structure of misrepre-
sensations was based.
A German family which for long time had
knowingly purchased stolen cotton seed from q
GRO wd of theving negroes were driven out of
eddy to desst from such proceedings by the
sufferers as we'll as by the whole neg hborhood.
The Ku-Klux had as much to do with this
affair as with the Babcock trial in your city.
I am a resident of this State for the last thirty
years and Am well acquainted with the country
and With the people. have in late years take en-
special interest in ascerta ming the status of
the German population, and can assure you
that in reality it is just the reverse of the
picture drawn by your correspondent. The
Germans are respects d everywhe ere in Louisiana
-,.Sutrinliy hy the better r. of the a
Thry considered by AL the most indus
trjons, perseverng and reliable laborors.
If a German has worked for any length of
slime upon IL plantation, and has given proof of
his sDesty, the planter Will show no anxiety
to dispense with his services. II, finally, he
dn-Ies to become independent, he will receive
assistance from every quarter, and every one
q i'll he glad 10 see him settle in the neighbo
hood. This accounts for the presence in the
interior of the State, IN towns aS well as in the
county, OF respectable German families who
AFT in thriving condition.
People that care little or nothing at all
to the means by which they obtain their
money, whether honestly or dishonesty, are.
a matter of course, not. treated kindly in
Louisiana, be they Germans, Creoles or Ne
groes.
The bad government with which we are sf-
hicted ia q great wback, but We hope to
overcome this some time or other, and, if pos
sible, by peaceable means. This end once at
tanned, Louisiana is bound to become one of
| the most Aourishing, one of the richest States
in the Union. Even now, with all her disad-
vantsges, she offers very favorable chances to
industrious immigrants. Fertile lands, for in
stance, can be bought at from s. to $40 per
acre, in the parish of st. Mary, on the Bayou
Teche, also in the parishes of Iberia, ST. Mar
tin and Lafayette.
This land is in part very high, and therefore
| not subject to overfows. The farmer farther
more is not troubled with the clearing of his
| land, the greater portion of which had been in
cultivation before the war. The climate is
| healthy everywhere except in the bottoms, the
| int m ha of "a AM m ar
not near SO oppressive as in many of the West
ern States. An industrious, economical lsborer
can make his fortune in any of the parishes
| have named. Is be once the owner of some
property, nothing on earth will induce him to
| leave our State.
You would like to know, no doubt, if we
| have aao churches and schools. Certainly we
have. You can find Catholic churches in nearly
| all the most important towns, and where
| there are German Catholic churches there are
also German Catholic schools. The girls
schools are usually under the supervision OF
nuns. There are also Protestant churches and
public schools.
The railroad now in course of construction
| of the State. The New Orleans Pacific Rail
road will give access to some of the richest
districts of Louisiana.
I'VE learn, upon the best authority, that the
above article was written by one of the mos
respected and influential German merchants o
this city--a man who has resided either in New
Orleans or tho country districts of Louisiana
l fOE thirty yeara.-Ed. staT.l