Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-02


The tide of immigration that is set
ting to our shores is begetting alarm in
Europe. 1t is stated that entire COM
munities In Norway and Sweden have
been deprived of the greater part Of
their able-bodied men. So great is the
exodus from the German Empire that
the government is causing inquiries to be
made as to its causes. 1t would appear
that the information could be readily
found. To the casual observer the
sources of discomfort in Germany are
obvious.
The idea of German unity was long
cherished ere it was realized. The
shrewdness Of Bismarck enabled him to
extend the influence of Prussia, which
the genius and sagacity of Frederick the
Great had largely created. The war
with France enabled the Chancellor to
play upon the chord of German race
sympathy, and the crushing defeat of
their ancient foes made the Germans
feel proud of the Empire, which made
Teutonic influence so powerful in Eu-
rope. But however hattering to German
pride were the triumphs of arms the
maintenance of the prestige acquired has
proved burden that the most patriotic
find too heavy to be borne.
The vast indemnity paid by France
has been lavished and squandered, and
the tax rate levied to support the gigantic
military establishment is appalling. The
government, too, is tolerant of but little
criticism of its aims and methods, and
the enforced military service grinds upon
the young men of the Empire with a
pressure that is CALLING and degrading.
The policy of "blood and iron" has
reared vast military engine in Europe,
that moves in all its parts with the
utmost precision. but, as an agent for
the spread of happiness and the promo
ton of the welfare of the citizen, the
Empire is failure. The tide has gone
too far to be checked, and it is not likely
that the regime in Germany will be
altered, since departures from it would
be taken as evidences of weakness.
Hitherto the tide from England has
been slow and fluctuatlng, but influences
are at work there that are likely to cause
a movement from that country to our
shores, hardly less striking than the exo-
dus from Germany. The rentals of
lands in England have fallen of late
years, in some instances to the extent of
so per cent, and thousands of acres are
lying idle. The British farmer is en-
gagged in losing race. competing with
the grain fields of America. In
deed, it appears that the glory
of the English Squires has departed,
and the stubborn fight they are making
to defeat the Irish land bill, knowing,
as they do, that far more sweeping con-
cessions will be demanded for English
tenants, should it pass, shows that they
are aware of the peril that besets them.
Look where we will in Europe content
is rarely to be found save in simple rural
communities, where the spirit of pro-
gress has not entered.
Enough Europeans have landed on
our shores within the past six months to
people State or to found irst-class
city, and yet their presence is scarcely
felt. Our progress was great in the past
decade. 1t promises to be far more sur
prising in the coming ten years.
Our neighbor over the Rio Grande,
should theprojects afoOt for her devel-
opment not miscarry or disappoint their
promoters, bids fair to witness an era of
development. Southern Europe of late
years has been swelling the outward
tide, and as Italy is fired with the ambi-
ton of becoming a great power and can
only do so by copying the Bismarck
programme, it will not be long ere the
charm of Italian unity grows as power.
less as has that of German
unity to hold the people to the sup
port of a government that achieves
its strength by crushing their hopes and
impulses. 1t is not.improbable, there
fore. that Mexico and the southern por-
tions of our own country may receive
additions from Southern Europe that
will make many of the waste places
bloom and add new industries to those
from which our wealth is now de-
rived.
And why should the tide be checked
Every vacant place made in Europe,
crowded as it is. is benefit to those
that are filed. Every fresh acre added
to the aggregate of our cultivated lands
is >benefit to the republic and the
world.