The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-27


rHURsDAY I. JUsSEs %. 1875 81
immigration. his Country and Europe
The ttisturhihg causes Of the time have e
extendsa over she Whole ely 'isea world 'ls
DasponaSag aud gss, ablins people IN this I'M
country should feel chat sort oil relief sa f'-sl
posed te he natural in thinking Of the DE-
preston which exists in Europe. . Misery
loves company, pa and they fad it in the
condition OF ipiasiness and industry in Eu-
rome. The. Now York Journal Of Com
,,asycs presents the following facts relating
to Europe:
Bad as is the business depression here, 1t
is worse on the other side. Some months
ago there was q foolish exodus OF mechanics
from this country to England. Two or
three companies OF stone. nlasons went over
with the deillsive idea that wages were
higher and work steadier there than here.
The last We heard Of these unfortunates they
were reduced to starvation and begging
bread from American consulS. Never du.
rig our darkest hours has. there been
better opening for American skilled
labor in England. or any part of Eu-
rome than at home. Our State depart
ment. through its agents abroad, has thor
oughly exploded an absurd notion to the
contrary. Mr.. Evarts is daily receiving
from European cities news OF the increased
demands for certain classes OF American
cyports--one OF the latest and oldest being
anthracite coal for Italy--and also OF the
further decline in wages. In one section
n rar,, hon 10 rnf
day. In another carpenters, plumbers, and
nachinists are glad TO take 81 cents for a
days work, while the pay oil saddlers and
shoemakers scales down to d cents. The
decline in wages from the good times runs
through all kinds OF labor, and amounts in
some districts OF Germany, 1t Is said, to 81
: per cent, while the neceSsaries OF life cost
nearly as much there as they did five years
ago when business was far livelier. From
all over Europe comes the complaint OF lit
Iework and money.
This condition abroad is the cause OF the
increased volume OF emigration tending to
this country. The inducements held out
by this country are strong when presente u
to the working population OF Europe: such
as virgin lands t'cheap as drt,' civil equal
ity and freedom from military thral dom.
The tide OF emigration must therefore be
expected for some time to flow steadily to-
wards this country. The pressure upon the
means OF occupation and subsistence in the
States Of Europe must be in this way smart
~ relieved.
The increased Immigration is shown in
the sales OF nearly 900, 900 acres OF land by
western railroads in the first third OF 1878,
compared with $4,000 acres for the same
period last year. 1t would be we'll for the
South il she could command larger share
OF this immigration. A more equal diyi-
sion OF the incoming population would
better maintain q fair equilibrium in the
representative power OF the central govern
ment, and that is important to adegree bet
ter understood now than at any previous
time.
It was in view Of the Importance OF fair
distribution OF population that we have adj
vocated with somewhat remarkable zeal the
Texas-Paciic railway. At present the
South has no conduit through which in
flowing population can be carried off south
wardly and enthusiastically to the open
lands that are in time to be carved out into
"a. any States, and thus secure that harmony
OF sections which can only come from a
Just distribution. Of theweight OF represen-
tatou amongst the sections. As time passes
we hope to SIC all people, and especially
those OF, the South, fully impressed with
this great consideration in our political
condition.
It is certainly gain to this continent as
much as it is 4 loss to Europe that trans
fers so many thousands in the year to our
shores. The productive power Of the coun-
try is increased. and the wealth and de-
fensiye power OF the nation enhanced. The
tendency to increase OF our expectation OF
the fabrics OF The manufacturer rs well as
OF the rro.iucts OF the soil must be assisted
by The. accessions OF population, and the
new Corners will TO some extent III TINS way
derive compensation for their industry from
the lands they have left.
as was said in the commencement OF this
article, ali civilization suffers from the dls-
turbing causes that are depressing the IA
Dor OF this country. We cannot better
ourselves in any other land. Industry ana
frugality, and a return to- steady finances
and specie. payments viii in 1 snort tlue
bring to the proper level the cost OF iivinS
and the remuneration 'SoSsa all kinds OF SER
vice. That Isl the great point. Occnpa-
ton, with n proper relative standard OF
compensation and the cest Of living, and
all will be smooth again. All the ques-
tons that now produce so much
complaint and so much inconvenience
will right themselves. 1t is 1mpos-
sibIe that country so rich in, all respects
as this is can for any long period be dis
.urbed as it has sbeen for years since the
war. The economy OF life must, like the
economy OF nature, restore. order and Sc
cure thatereguarity that viii produce health
and contentment.
The City Railway.