The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-13
EMIGRATION.

"Our American life is distinguish
ed from that of most other countries
by the unsettled character Of the peo-
pic. In the old countries Of Europe
the homes Of families, like the thrones
of governments, are fixtures. From
generation TO generation they are the
dwclling-place Of the same lineage,
aud around them cluster the memory
of ancestors of a former age. In
America, permanence, which gives to
home its chief value, is rot the rule,
but the exception. The sacredness as
ISOLATED with the permanent home
our own birthplace, the birthplace OF
father and grandfather, the place where
has been made the history Of the an
cestral line for centuries-is unknown
to this young country. We are truly
a migratory people, and the tendency
seems to set more and more in tina.
matter of population. If it be for the
interest of the new state TO draw the
people within its borders, it is equally
for the interest of the old state to re-
tain them in their old homes-and the
personal interest of the individual man
must decide the conflict.
'We in Washington Territory (and
the same is true in other new states)
understand our interests in this regard.
We have a country full of great varie-
ty of natural resources we have a
congenial climate, and the world is
our market; but with all our natural
advantages we are poor without popu-
lation. Our timber, our coal, our fish,
our mines, our rich lands, without
population, will give us neither COM
merce nor society, neither schools nor
churches, roads or bridges, towns or
cities. We want just what Vermont
wants, viz: hardy, industrious,
thriving people. If we can deplete
Vermont of the blood, bone and mus
Gle that has reduced her rough noun
tain forests to productive farms, then
we can be rich in all that makes
Vermont good state to live in. In
other words. If we can make you
poor by seducing your people to eyac-
uate your state and fill up ours, then
direction. New states open out upon
the vast domain of unoccupied terrific
~, and send abroad their invitation to
the people Of the older states to be-
come their denizens, and share the
bounties of virgin soil and the hopes
and inspirations Of new social and po-
litical life, amid new surroundings, in
a new country. SO prevalent is our
migratory habit that comparatively few
stop to consider the question of its ex-
pediency and wisdom, but only the
question Of its possibility. If it were
possible for every man to cut loose
from his present relations to property
and businesses and disentangle himself,
none can tell the proportions to which
the tide Of emigration would swell.
81 will venture the inquiry, albeitmy
words may seem like breath against a
swelling wind, as to the expediency
of breaking up New England homes
and seeking new ones in new territory.
When man proposes to sell out and
move West, he proposes to do a thing
in which himself is not the only inter-
ested party. The state and commu-
nifty he leaves has an interest in this
matter, as well as the state or terrific
~ to which he emigrates. The East
and the West are rival suitors in this
Washington Territory will be good
country to live in. have half mind
to join your side of this debate, and at
least allow the advantages on your
side and the disadvantages on ours to
have due weight.
"There is no debate about the pub
lie interests on either side. Vermont
cannot afford to spare her people. We
of the West cannot afford to fail of ac-
quiring them. The individual interest
of each man must determine the ques-
ton? Here is a man with one hun
dred acres of land. He has lived on
it twenty years. BY dint of constant
labor and good management he has
lived kept out of debt, made all neces-
sary improvements, sent his children
to school, and taken a good so, ial po-
sition among his neighbors, but be-
You'd this, he has not laid up much
money. He says: Il am tired Of hard
work. | have grubbed my rocky fields
these twen4y years for bare living.
want to go where can live easier,
and have better prospect for the flu
ture of my family
81 want to tell you, my friend,
have lived on the western frontiers for
a long time. The income from farm
there, as here and everywhere, is the
reward of work. There is no release
from toll with the successful farmer
anywhere. You have worked here
twenty years. AS tho reward of that
work you have good home-house,
barns, sheds, well, cistern, wall, fences,
gates, everything that makes your
home and business comfortable. You
will not find the same comforts YOU en-
JOY here III new country. Ifyou do
not find them, they will costmor mon
ey than you will be willing to pay. Your
policy will probably be to begin again
at the stumps-to move into a cabin,
and reproduce the buildings and i'm
provements which you now have by
years of labor. You will realize the
sacrifice better after experiencingit.
''Then, again, let it be remembered
that it is not all of life to acquire land
and enlarge your farming operations.
What we in the West want, and what
we do not expect generally to acquire