The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-11-18

hands may once more be joined with
the South in preserving those prin-
ciples, which once were considered
our most glorious birthright.
HEALTH AND IMMIGRATION.
The South has had no great immi-
grafton depot as the North has had.
Its ports have not only been neg
lected by the general government,
but Northern influences have been
most active IN leading foreigners
looking to settlement in the United
States to believe that the Southern
states are the beds Of pestilence and
disease, and that to settle here is to
meet certain and immediate death.
The development OF the great
Southwest and the favorable re-
ports finding their way back
to foreign lands from reliable
quarters are doing away with much
of this false impression, and with
the vast railroad building now
going on in this section. it is reason
able TO suppose these damaging in
tlucnces will not much longer pre-
vail, and that the South, and espe-
cially Texas, may now look forward
TO a great influx of foreigners. But TO
secure and maintain this movement
it becomes important that the South
west should have some great entire
pot where immigrants may be prop
erly provided for on their arrival.and
whence they may be forwarded with
dispatch 10 chosen destinations. II
is claimed by those best informed,
that yellow fever i moi indigcous
to this Southern coast country. but
that it must hc imported from the
West Indies, or tbs Mexican coast,
or from other tronicul countries.
The history Of yellow fever cpidem-
les in the last three years has about
demonstrated that the dread disease
has been quarantincd out OF Texas,
and, if this theory be true, it is un-
questionable that il can be quaran-
tined out of the South and kept i'll
its native haunts. Prior to 1858
there was considerable business in
immigration conducted at New Or
leans, but repeated epidemics since
then and the activeness of epidemics
have combined to effect its discon-
tinuance as an immigration depot,
and New York City is really receiv-
ing and distributing immigration
Tor the United States. The terri
BILE ravages of epidemic yellow fever
since 1858, and the periodical suspen-
sion of trade with great portion of
the South, and we may hope some
sentiment of humanity. induced the
federal government TO establish a
national board of health, which, it
is admitted, will, if properly con-
Quoted, connected with such efficient
health departments as this one IN
Texas, eflectually in the future pre-
vent the Introduction of yellow fe-
yer into our ports. Were there smfii-
cirnt water at Galveston, VIC might
urge the organization Of an immi-
grafton depot there, but the limited
number of foreign ships seeking that
port precludes an efficient establish
ment for the purposes considered,
and naturally we turn to New Or
leans as the port through which the
Southwest must open the way for
easy and cheap transportation for
hundreds of thousands of people
from Germany. England and other
European nations, destined 10 settle
up and people the rich alluvial belt
and the fertile plains of Louisiana
and Texas. These states should do
all in their power 10 further the
healthlul condition OF the South
west. Communities should not wait
like Memphis did, and as Austin is
doing. until violation of the laws of
health decimates populations and
make our climate terror to other
people. but they should encourage a
good work begun in a small way,
and by The enforcement of sanitary
measures, not only in our coast
towns. bat in those OF the interior,
labor until epidemics. fed by tliso5c-
dicnce 10 the laws of nature, cannot
live in our midst. Our statutes
should make it as much penal Of
fensc for officers, empowered 10 aet.
to permit filtb TO ill the air we breath
with poisons ss for the cook TO mix
poison in your food. This thing of
government looking after the public
health is new departure in this
country, but in Europe it is old. and
has long been recognized as indis-
pensable. The powers of national
and state boards of health can be
safely strengthened with vast profit
10 the South. The business oreani-
cations of the Mississippi valley re-
cognizs tho fact that they arc adding
10 the immunities from disease, and
the Memphis cotton exchange
and other such organizations
are preparing 10 memorable
Congress upon the subject. III
yellow fever can be kept cut of the
South by them for the next ten
years it can be kept ont for all time
TO come, and instead of New York