The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-06-07
THE EXODUS FROM EUROPE.

The unprecedented exodus of people from
the several countries in Europe is alarming
the princes and potentates on the other side
of the great waters. They stand aghast at
the wholesale emigration of their subjects to
the United States, and are seriously consld-
ering the propriety of applying legislative
action to arrest it.. Late advices from Den
mark state that whole counties are being de-
populated, and that the people appear to be
crazy to reach America. Germany is intense
ly excited with the "emigration craze" and
thousands are leaving the empire monthly.
Norway and Sweden are similarly affected.
But a short time ago a contract was entered
into by certain parties there with a steamship
company to furnish transportation for $4,000
Scandinavians to this country. This batch
promises to be the advance guard only OF
those to follow. Russia is taking the fever,
and we may expect to see soon countless
hordes from that far-off empire vending their
way to free America. England, Scotland,
Ireland and France are parting with unusual
numbers of their people at the present time.
In fact it appears that nearly every one, out
side Of the aristocratic class, who can raise
the means to pay passage money is settling
his face toward America-the Mecca of his
hopes.
There are two reasons that have prompted
this outward flow Of people from the old
countries. The prime one is the desire of
the people to relieve themselves from the
great burden of taxation that has been and
still is imposed upon them for the mainten.
ance of costly governments, for the support
in idle luxuriance of the non-producing arts
tocracies and for the keeping on a war foot
ing huge standing armies. They have
struggled long under oppressive taxation and
during the time have been casting about them
for means of escape. They have heard of
America through the thousands of their
countrymen who have found homes on its
soil, but It's immense resources were forced
upon their attention during the past two or
three years. Short crops in Europe called
for Americas surplus. That surplus shipped
to the needy millions was the most effective
advertisement for our country that could
have been made. The oppressed poor saw
their long sought avenue for escape from
the hardshlps they endured in seeking homes
in a country that could supply the world
with bread.
Oppression at home and the hope of relief
abroad are the powerful factors that have in
duced all emigration to our shores that bids
fair to cripple the industries Of foreign ma
ions and build up those of America to over
shadowing proportions. No one can wonder
at the feeling of alarm that has taken possess
sion of the minds of foreign rulers. We are
only surprised that they have not sooner ia
ken steps to arrest the outflow of the best
class of their population. 1t is too late now.
No law can make " hewers of wood and
drawers of water " of men who are deter
mined to free themselves of tyranny and tax
alton. No human being wants to leave home
when home is tolerable, but as long as their
rulers will not make it so just so long will
the people sacrifice all its ties and ~associa-
ions and make one in the wilderness. The
spirit of the age develops itself in free speech
and free action, and the peasants of Europe
are being imbued with it. They long for a
home where neither is shackled. America
offers one, hence the exodus.