The weekly clarion., 1881-06-02
IMMIGRATION.


EDITORS CLARION: In the month Of Feb
ruary, 1881 there hnded at Castle Garden,
New York 43 900 Immigrants. 1t was as
certained upon careful investigation, that
they averaged $50 per capita thus aggre-
eating s., 10000 and at the same time an
/ improved class, those previously arriving,
being for the most part penniless. In the
month of April of the present year there
landed at the same place $4,000 immigrants,
I a very large increase within the period OF IA
months Let US assume that they had the
same amount of money per capita, TINS
would aggregate 100000, magnificent
codsend if distributed within the limits of
our impoverished State. Had commits
sioner of our State, armed with the proper
documents been sent to New York, and
through his Efforts have secured from its
commissioner one-fourth of this number
I5,O00, with $9OO,000 in their pockets, this
of itself would have infused new life and
energy among our people. With such
nucleus. they could soon not only laugh TO
scorn all future exodus movements, but
readily encourage them. Every lover of
his race would rejoice at the removal OF the
perpetual menace of the color line prejudice,
50 inGustriously wrought up periodically by
selfish and unfeeling demagogues and adj
venturers Sectional agitation would soon
die for want Of fu ell upon which to feed.
in the absence of any appropriations on
the part of our past legislators, and conse-
quent remissness, in the introduction Of these
immigrants, tits but natural that you should
ask the question. Why revert to the matter?
Being left without a remedy, cUi bono
With all due Difference we think there is one
that lies in a great measure with land own
ers to make it effective As an initial point,
the movement might be inaugurated in
your own county, Kinds. 1t will not neces-
sarily involve a great amount of time or
labor for the citizens of each beat TO ascer-
tain the quantity and quality of lands with
in their respective limits that could be solj |
or given away as the case might be, to inn
migrants in tracts varying from so to 100
acres, their proximity to Railroad or River
transportation, the manner in which they (
will be treated in the way OF protection tn
life and property, school and church facii- /
ties comparative heathfulness as gathered /
from the records of physicians, the lowest /
scale of prices of these lands, with the low
est rate of interest and the largest possible /
time of payments, with every other item /
with which they should be made familiar. /
Then let these beats meet in mass Conven-
tion in your city for the purpose of consoli-
dating and ratifying these items, aggregating
the quantity, and extending n cordial well
come to these immigrants, through one or
more agents to be sent to New York to con
fer with its commissioner with certified
copy of their proceedings. These proceed
ings should be published in the papers Of the
State, and an urgent invitation extended to
counties for the purpose of tax
ing like action, SO as 10 furnish as many
settlements as possible. 1t would render the
movement mere available. before such agent
or agents are sent on, to await the action of
these adjoining counties. The greater the
number of counties that sake similar action
the stronger will be the pressure upon our
next Legislature to take the matter in hand !
and make appropriations commensurate .
with the interest Of the State There should :
be no laggards in this vital matter '
If there be .uy truth in the old adaoe q
that 'where there is will, there is a way.'' /
ibis question can be solved and it is certain
y the part Of wisdom to solve it withnpt v
any delay, for various reasons. politicaI a
moral and material. The present great in b
lux of foreigners to our shores may subside =
sooner than any of us now anticipates. The =
'ulers of different European nationalities. =
With the view of this stoppage, may wisely m
conclude to curtail their great standing ~
Irmles, that are rapidly draining awav -
heir very hearts blood-and all to preserve !.
the balance q power" that huge aud hid "A
Gus monster that has for centuries bap-
ised their vallies and mountain sides i'm
ivers of blood. Following in the wake of
Uoh action, bloated landlords will relax
heir cruel extortions of their halEfamished SO
nd ill-starred tenants. Qoldsmith's pathet- th
c lines may yet be brought home TO their ca
osoms and their business. l.,
II fares the land, to Fastening ills prev. Of
When wealth accumulates and men decay. u
But the subject is running away with our
en-. 1t Is source of pleasure to note that
Ou are devoting a liberal share of vonr OF
olumns to the discussion Of this important of
lbject to the people of thia state. Cor =
nue. your appeals ghtii the entire press of al
le state win press the matter upon the sa
eopie, that will result in action. direct fri
Decltc, practical action. Continuous drops a.
water will eventually cleave the hardest
)ck asunder g. w a 10
WEST POTNT NIgS ~ 81