The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-30
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Reasous why Immigrants Give shat
STATE the &C. BY, aud ''Squib" Adds n
few or HIS own which have the solid
King OF Truth.
LOUISVILLE, KY, December %.
sp,cial Correspondence Of the IHtSlligsnesr.
When l finished my letter at MontGo-
merry, Alabama, q few days ago, thought
/ had said all l desired to say about mat
tiers and things in the South; but picking
up a New Orleans paper to-day, I was
struck with the good sense Of an editorial
article, upon which l desire to make
q few comments. The paper referred to
Is the Times, published in New Orleans,
and, am informed edited by Republt-
can. His qualifications as a writer gave
him employment on the paper, and now
he ia its managing editor, although It ia
Democratic 10 the core. It, however, Is
disposed to be somewhat liberal, and very
frequently contains articles void Of prtiu-
dice, and strong y saturated With common
sense, something rather uncommon In
newspapers in the extreme South.
The article to which l have referred Is
headed, "Why Immigrants Avoid US. 7"
After stating that the State has expended
q considerable sum OF money to induce
immigration, and that the newspapers
have done their part in extolling the eli
mate and soil OF the State, it conlesses that
these efforts have thus far mainly proved
truitless, and assigns tho following reas-
ons for the failure:
"Immigrants now pass US by and locate
in Texas and the Western States although
they can not find the same advantages
there that they can find in Louisiana.
Why ia this? Three reasons may be meu-
toned which are, perhaps, the principal
ones. The first is that those who
have land to sell ask too much
for it. They do not seem to
understand thai Immigrants, as a rule, are
not overstocked with money, and want
cheap land. By asking two prices they
drive immigrants away from us. The
landowners stand in their own light.
Their policy makes them poorer. The
taxes on their uncultivated lands absorb
the profits OF that which is productive.
By holding on to that which is unproduc.
tive they check the development OF the
country, and make 1t impossible to dis
pose OF any OF their property ct Temunera-
tive prices.
1.-THE second reason ia that there is q
feeling abroad that there Is great deal Of
lawlessuess throughout the State, and
that there Is not that freedom Of thought
and opinion which ia desirable. There
was time, during q number OF years fol-
lowing the war, when in portions OF the
State lawlessuess and intolerance did exis!
to q very considerable extent Society
has undergone great change, however,
and Northern man will now find home
in this State as pleasant rs in any Western
State. .. .......
"The third reason is that very little is
known about our State outside OF its limits.
Persons in Europe and in the Northern
States who think OF finding new homes
are not furnished with information about
our climate, soil and resources. Our pres
emit Chief OF the Immigration Bureau ia
doing something now to supply this want,
but the means at his command are wholly
inadequate for the work. II he had three
times the money tn use in this direction
that he now has, he could render the State
three times the service he Is now render
ing. What the st. Lonis merchants and
business men are doing for Missouri, the
leading men OF this city ought to do for
this State"
After spending about two weeks in
Louisiana, devoting myself industriously
to a study OF its geographical, physical,
personal and political features and quail.
ties, am prepared to indorse fully every
thing stated by the Ttmes In the above ar.
ticle. It ia sound as far as it goes, but It
does not go far enough. I shall add one or
two more reasons why immigrants pass
that State without ever stopping to consid.
or il as suitable place for future homes.
The first additional reason which shall
give is, the State government is wretched-
", shamefully and corruptly managed,
from the highest to the lowest officers in
It. The Democratic newspapers oil the en-.
tire country, few years ago, teemed with
charges OF corruption on the part OF So
called carpet-bag officials who were ia
charge OF the government OF the State;
and have not the least doubt but that
there was under Republican rule in Louis.
lana almost unlimited corruption and mis-
management on the part Of many OF the
officials; but Democrats, and every
body else down there now admit,
and frankly, too, that the Wells,
the Lynches, the Kelloggs, the War.
mothus and the BirCbes were saints along
side OF the Wilt and his present
gang OF blood seekers. The State has no
credit either at home or abroad land es.
pecially at home). There ia no money in
the treasury. The people are split up into
factions, either for personal sHgrandize.
ment or for pure cussedness. can't say
which. State, parish and city bonds are
dregs on the market. The city school
teachers in New Orleans have not been
paid since last June, and the general i'm
preston is that they never will be paid In
full. All these facts are, to q greater or
less extent, known 10 the country OF large,
and the TimGs might have stated that they
have more less to do With causing people
seeking homes 10 give Louisiana the go By.
II the 7imes will insist on fastening
hooks in the noses OF few OF its Bour.
bon fellow citizens, and snatch them from
their high stools OF Office and put more
conservative element In their places, II
will render q service to Its State which
cannot be estimated in dollars and cents.
There must be let.up in this respect, or
the State will go down lower and lower
until II touches the bottom OF reputation
and disgrace. The fact is, 1t is not far
from that bed rock now.
am not prejudiced against Louisiana.
II numbers among its population very
large element OF a8 noble, honorable and
manly class OF men as can be found in
America. II has more valuable navigable
water courses than any other State in the
Republic. It has a climate which can
scarcely be excelled this side Of Eden, and
TO its soil there Is scarcely any bottom. It's
productive qualities are, therefore, simply
wonderful. Why shouldI be preiudiced
against it? II the people down there will
put their best men in Office; put up their
pistols and their fancy knives; raise more
cotton and cane and less hell las the Mich
igan Congressman expressed IL; insist on
the Government OF the United States con.
structing an impreguable system Of leyees
and dykes along the Mississippi valley,
and invite immigration from every sec
ton OF the globe, they will, within the
next decade, transform Louisiana into
T. L.,