Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-04-27
THE YANKEE IN EUROPE.
How American Ideas are RevolutiOnizin
the Continent.

the Continent.
3ensya Letter.
For good or for evil, railways, steamboats,,
and the United States are revolutioniZing
Europe. By the mere force of attraction,
America is acting on the populations Of the
old world as the moon acts ON the water of
the earth. agitating them and drawing them
thitherward. the human tide is moving
westward, and every new railway that is
laid down. every new steamboat that is
built, facilitates and intensi6es the move
ment. The effects Of the enormous emi-
grafton which is now in progress, as we'll
on the social as OH the political condition
of Europe, can hardly fail to be both mo-
mentous and lasting. Whole districts
are losing more tina half their popu-
lation. Last year about 10000 per-
sons emigmted from Wnrtemburg, equal to
nine per thousand, nearly per cent. of the
population. From the grand duehy of Bad
en- the emigration was eleven thousand. be-
ing rather more thin per cent. Of the pop
ulation. At this rate, even if the exodus
does not increase, and it is increasing, Ger
many will lose one-tenth of the power of
its people during the next ten years. But
this statement gives only an inadequate idea
of the significance Of the movement. The
emigrants are not drawn in equal measure
from all parts Of the country. There are
local causes that tend to make the move
ment much brisker in certain districts than
in others. In a speech made few days
ago by Herr Pfuger, in the chamber Of depu-
ties, he said that, during the last three
years, two. thirds Of the population of the
Baden Ooerland had emigrated. At this rate
in two more years the Baden Oberland will
have lost the whole of its population. The
emf gra' ion from Switzerland, though less
in proportion than from South Germany,
is still On an extensive scale. The num-
Der who left the confederation last year in
the character Of emigrants reached total
Of l0,990, against z 500 in 1880, and 4, 400
in 1879. If the increase should continue
at this rate for the next eight years, the en-
igrants Of 1880 will number something like
200, 600. But this is hardly possible.
migration is one Of those tides in the
affairs of men which ebb and flow,
and it is now on the flow. It should
be remembered on the other hand
that, in the opinion of the most competent
observers, the flow is far from having
reached its height, and that either war or
revolution, contingencies which are always
in the cards, would vastly swell its volume.
The last two years in which &c many was
engaged were followed by great increase
in emigration. For the present exodus sew
eral reasons may be assigned; but the
main causes are doubtless o desire on the
part of those who emigrats to bet
ter their condition and escape from
the blood tax, which, in Germany, espe-
cally, is exacted with such merclless sever
ity. On this side of the Atlantic there are
hard work, and not too much of it, little
pay, scant freedom, and the CONSUMPTION
with the contingent liability of being called
out for service in the field and MANNED or
killed. On the other side of the Atlantic,
for all but the idle, there are careers with
untold possibilities, good wages, unrestrict-
ed freedom, no enforced military service,
and a chance of war SO remote as to be
hardly appreciable. The wonder, after all.
is less that so many 60 to America as that
so many remain in Europe. If the Unitod
States continues prosperous it is hardly
possible that emigration should not in
crease; for the destination of nine -tenths uf
those who cross the ocean in search of for
tune is the great republic Of the west.