Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-05-12
IMMIGRATION.

Ing JIG tHlnR LIlaC mas cOntrlDu-
ted most to the unprecedented
growth of the United States, has
been immigration. Under its mag
teal influence the wilderness has
been made to blossom as the rose,
and the desolate places have been
changed into smiling fields and
hourishing cities. 1t was the tails
manic touch of immigration that
made that greatest phenomenon,
Chicago, possible, and the same
lnlracle-working power has stretch
ed railroads and dotted towns all
over the great West, across the
wide plains, through the sierras and
even unto the golden gate of San
Francisco.
While all other sections of the
Union have thus been made to pros
per by an influx of population, the
South has suffered for the want of
it. Not that the South has no in
ducements to offer, not that her soil
is poor or that her climate and other
advantages are not greater than
those of other sections, but prInci-
pally because there has been no or
ganiZed effort to turn the tide OF
immigration this way. Before the
war the slave holding South desired
no immigration, and the prospect of
competition with slave labor offered
no attractions TO the industrious
and thrifty European. The aboli-
ton of slavery made great change
in this state OF affairs, and for the
last eighteen years the South has
much needed and desired immigra-
ton. The rich soil, salubrious eli
mate and undeveloped resources of
the South, together with her great
staple products, make this section
the richest field for the immigrant
Of any portion of this vast country.
The South is greatly in need Of hon.
est, careful and industrious tillers of
the soil. The negroes, who are
mainly relied on in the South for
farm labor, unhappily, do not, as
race, possess these qualities, and the
country will never prosper until the
farming class is thoroughly thrifty.
One reason that the South has not
received more migration since the
war is, because this section has been
advertised in a very uufav0ra BILE
way by the hostile northern press,
but the main cause is, as we stated
above, because there has been no |
organized effort to secure it. Every |
body admits that we want immi- |
grafton, but there has been too much |
talk and not enough acting. All of
the Southern States should act in |
concert and put forward their best |
efforts in this important matter. A |
well organized immigration league,
supported by all of the Southern |
States, would be powerful and could
no doubt turn the attention Of the |
hundreds and thousands of immi-
grants that arrive daily at Castle
Garden, to the rich fields and pas
lures green of this sunny section.
The railroads in the Western
States have aided greatly in the
cause of immigration in the country
through which they run, and it is
gratifying to know that some South
ern roads contemplate undertaking
similar enterprises. The Illinois
Central railroad, which passes
through the South from Cairo to
New Orleans, will run excursion
trains and endeavOr to "bOom" the
lands along its line from their pres
ent deprecated value up to con-
siderable price. We believe the ex-
pertinent will prove successful, and
we would be glad to learn that the
Louisville & Nashville road had
determined to engage in like I'M
dertaking. Commissioner McWhir-
ter is also making an effort to secure
immigration for Tennessee, by
well devised scheme which we hope
will prove effectual. But to secure
any benefit for a specific locality,
exertion is required on the part of
that locality. This immediate sec
ton would probably be as much
benefited by a wholesome immi-
grafton as any other section, and
can offer as fiattering inducements
to the immigrant. The Jackson Tri-
bune and Sun, which has shown a
commendable spirit in encouraging
immigration, suggests the plan Of
holding immigration conventions,
and by that means effecting local
We think the idea
is excellent, and would like to get
up an immigration convention to
meet in GAINESVILLE on a given day.
The counties of Montgomery, Stew
art, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham
and Robertson, ought to be repre-
sented, and could together form an
that ought to prove
effective for the purpose desired.
Can't some enterprising citizen take
the lead in this matter and get up
a convention?