The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22

gence, clothing, and lodgings, is an error
OF which no thoroughly informed mind is
capable, and is equalled only by the DIR. s
other statement that Universal primary
schools have as yet done nothing to edu-
cate the lower class of German laborers. :"
1t is certainly true that poverty and
overcrowding must necessarily stunt the
normal development and growth of a peo-
pie, yet | doubt that were DIR. Dabney's
ideas of government carried out in Ger
many he could show not half the results,
the German system, Notwithstanding the
most unfavorable circumstances can boast
OF. Give these people room and chance, as
they have here in the United States, and
you will soon see what they really are,
and what are the fruits of general COM
mon school education. The great ma
Jorlty of Germans coming to the shores
recruit from the two above mentioned
lower classes. They, as a rule, bring lit
tie more of visible means than few
pieces of clothing and bedding, but they
bring with them the education which
their much abused government gives
them, and the frugal, industrious habits
of their fatherland. Let me invite DR..
Dabney to go with me to Illinois, Wis
consln, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kan
sas, and visit those immigrants after they
have lived there ten or fifteen wears. He
will find no wretched dog carts, scarcely
South-side Virginia vehicle, but the best
agricultural implements, not very preten-
tious mansions, but comfortable houses,
very large barns filled with grain, and
long rows of stables full of sleek and fat
cattle. Then let the Doctor compare with
these the condition of his South-side freed
men, who have enjoyed up to 1860 or "a
all the blessings and educational advan-
tages of the patriarchal system of slavery
which seems to be DR.. Dabney's ideal
These negroes from the start have had in
every point the advantage over those poor
immigrants. If anywhere, DIR. Dabney
ought to see here some of the fruits of
public schools, against which he seems to
be SO bitterly opposed.
The poor people of Germany, and in
fact OF all Europe, have to.live on very
poor and scanty food, and would be glad
to have only what is wasted in this coun-
try. But when Dr. Dabney writes:
Even the little land -owners live on far
inferior food than we gave to our slaves"
years | have met quite number of Ger
man laborers who have sought employ
ment on southern farms; have even
tried to induce some to come here; but in
almost every case these people went away
after short time, bitterly complaining
about the fare offered to them. I have
also made inquiries of many intelligent
German workmen and mechanics of this
city, who tried Virginia farm life as la
borers, and they invariably tell me that
1T was impossible for them to live on the
fare which their employers furnished to
their negroes. In a country like this,
where there is room for every one, and
thousands more, and where no paupers
ought to be found, still you find great
many cases of wretched poverty.
DR.. Dabney finds no books, no papers
among the poorer classes, nothing but
stolid, brute indifference. l was born
and educated in the house of one of the
little peasant landowners. In the little
hamlet of twelve houses there were at
least six secular papers, besides the reli-
gous-some of them dailies. These pa
pers were common property, and were
circulated from house to house. Also the
books In the long winter evenings half
dozen families would gather together in
one large family room TO economic light
and fueD the mothers and daughters with
their spinning wheels, the men with books
and papers, and everything read was also
well discussed and digested. My grand
father, an humble shoemaker, who had to
60 to the homes of his customers to work
there, possessed quite considerable law
library, and as much legal lore as the
average American lawyer and Judge.
DR.. Dabney does not find one redeem
ing feature in the whole German system
of government. 1t is in his eyes a Jug
gernauth, crushing everything. Before
making such sweeping statements he
ought to acquaint himself first with the
country's history and language. Bis
marck has accomplished what the revo-
luton of 1848 could not, and what has
been the longing and the ardent desire
of the noblest of the nation, its political
unity, so as to be no longer the prey of
the greediness of it's ruffian latin
neighbors Let DIR. Dabney study the
history Of the beautiful and unfortunate
palatinate, let the ruins Of the Heidel-
berg castle remind him of that hypocrite
monster and royal robber and plunderer,
7 e.-.- WV L