The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-23

IMMIGRATION.

since the war We nave idu SUING
convictions upon tins subject. and
they become clearer each day. We
think quite a number Of our lead
inc men have given themselves
much unnecessary uneaslness and
anxiety about immigration 70 North
Carolina. We are all too prone TO
look for Immediate relief" and
aroue to ourselves it Is best, when
sometimes we know it is paying
too dear for the whistle. Now
there are no laws forbidding any
one to come into u State. On
the other hand, the press have been
lavish in their invitations, and the
mass of our people are universally
kind and considerate to the stran-
GER, it matters not from whence he
comes, if he but deports himself as
a good citizen. 4 slow, moderate
influx of enterprising people would
do our State good ; it would have
a wholesome effect IN the way OF
example. For men with large
bodies of real estate, and IN debt,
immigration might bring some i'm
mediate relief, but eventually 1t
would do them no good. lmml-
grants generally want cheap land,
and those who are willing to sell
low have found plenty OF purcha-
sers amongst our own people. The
seller, in this instance, stands some
showing to recover his property /;
but let it pass into the hands OF a
foreigner brought up in the most
rigid schools of economy, and he
may well say "gone from me and
my heirs forever.
With one it is something like a
fair fight to recover; with the other
it is very unequal. The truth IS,
our people have not recovered from
the terrible shock of the wal and
all its long list of after expressions,
and we submit that they are IN no
condition to receive and compete
with the hard handed, buoyant,
hopeful masses any organized effort
would be likely to bring. This IS
especially the case with the farm
ers. They, as is naturally to be
expected, have learnt and recov-
cred much more slowly than any
other class; and to-day they are
filled with old prejudices and Gus
toms that belong to the days of
slavery,-all Of which are to be
mastered and overcome before they
can be put upon Il far footing.
1t seems TO us the wonderful,
startling inventions in the way of
agricultural implements, machine
~. &C., should have great weight
with our people in dealing with
this question. That class legisla-
ton has had a great deal to do
with our troubles, is true but that
improved machinery has played an
active part In unhinging the coun-
try and producing disorder, no one
will deny. Look at the leather
business of Massachusetts,. In 1868
when there was only 206 shoe and
boot factories in the State, 1891
factories were employed in these
establishments. Now there are 1900
establishments, and only 51,2S0
persons employed! Is not here food
for the philanthropist and a prob
lem for the statesman? Out of
employment, and the cry has been,
600 West" At first the swelling
tide rolled in, and the country de-
veloped and "blossomed as the
rose" Now there is an ebbing and
surging Of the mixed, motley ele-
ments, and we hear the startling
crv of the Commune"
There is more real happiness IN
quiet, staid, undeveloped old North
Carolina, than amongst all the
teeming millions of the West. We
would have u people believe this,
and go slow in what they do upon
the subject of immigration.
\ T.