The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-18
HOi FOR INDIANA.


The proposed concerted action looking to the
encouragement of immigration to Indiana is
one that should receive the encouragement of
every citizen of the State. There is no good
reason why this State should not receive an
influx of population from the Eastern and
moro densely-populated States, where land is
much dearer and makes less rich returns for
the labor bestowed upon it. Tens Of thou
sands each year leave homes in the East to
found new ones further West where the con-
ditions are better. There are very many who
feel impelled to change their residence who
do not feel like facing the rigors
of the Northwestern winters nor the
inconvenience and deprivation incident to life
on the frontier, where many of the advantages
Of older settlements are wanting. There are
the mountain regions Of Pennsylvania, or
squeezed for want of land in New Jersey and
other Eastern States, that are looking to bet
tering their conditions. With the same school
and social advantages with which they are now
surrounded, they would like better opportuni-
ties to acquire competency, either for them
selves or for their children. The vast reaches
of unoccupied territory in the far West would
afford plenty of land at cheap rates,
but the other advantages would be wanting.
Indiana can come as near as any State
in supplying every needed convenience and
advantage. Land is comparatively cheap here
to what it is East while the social and edu-
cational advantages of the State are unsur-
passed. Nor are the inducements offered i'm
migrants confined to such as may wish to en-
gage in farming. The coaldeposits of Indiana
are among the richest in the country, and
there is a vast amount Of timber suitable for
manufacturing Iron mills of every descrip-
ton can be started in this State and furni-
ture and implement factories. Already some
of the largest manufactures of their kind have
been built up. from small beginnings,
and there is no reason why others
should not succeed as we'll here
as elsewhere. The railway shipping
facilities of the State are unsurpassed. All
the leading lines to the great West must pass
through Indiana. The topography Of the
country compels it, so that this State must
ever be the gateway to the greater half of
the Union. Indiana is the nerve center of
the Nation. The advantage Of manufacture
ing on this highway of commerce is meal
culable, and will grow greater as time passes.
With unlimited supplies of coal, with plenty
Of hard wood Immediately at hand, and ia
cilities for bringing in anything that may be
needed, Indiana must become one of the
greatest manufacturing States of the Union.
Socially and educationally the State occu-
pies the highest plane. The most admirable
school system Of the State, backed by one of
the largest funds in the country, has at
tracted attention everywhere. Our school
facilities are unsurpassed. The moral status
of the people is high. The outbreaks of law
lessness, in the way of lynchings, that have
occasionally compromised the States fair
fame, have been as great shock to the peo-
pie here as elsewhere. 1t may be said in ex-
tenuation that such outbreaks have been the
result of most grievous provocation. The
sentiment of the people as mass is as
strongly in favor of law and order
as those of any other State and life
and property is as safe here to
the honest citizen as anywhere else
1t behooves the people of Indiana to assert
their respect for the law, and to discounte-
nance illegal proceedings on all occasions. A
fair presentation Of the advantage of living in
Indiana and high reputation for sobriety,
thrift and respect for the law, will do much
to win thousands of the tens of thousands
passing through to find homes further West
to stop and find Judgment here. The enter
prise of advertising the claims of the State
cannot be too highly commended.
If, as indicated in one Of the Journals
Washington specials yesterday, the veto habit