The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-02
Wednesday, May 2, 1883.
immigration.

Immigration.
The subject of immigration is attracting the
attention OF the Southern railroads and
Southern people just now, and important
steps are being taken with a view to turning
the tide Of immigration Southwark. Every
man who tills the soil, and buys ton Of gu.
the prosperity Of the railroads, and we can
readily see why they will seek to settle the
country with people from whatever source.
The people of the South themselves seem tc
be fckle and uncertain as to their views o
immigration. If we are not in error it has not
been long since great cry went up for the
passage Of law restricting immigration, and
now 1t seems that our energies are TO be ex'
pended doing exactly what some Of as
thought little while ago should be suppress
ed by law.
On the subject Of immigration we stand
thus: Ready at all times to welcome any who
come amongst us, but opposed to flooding this
country with strangers, and foes to our forms
Of religion. We are opposed to surrenderins
these lands to aliens and enemies who may al
no distant day seek to repeat for our children
the history in which our forefathers were
made to bear bloody part
We are inclined to think that the present
scheme has something like religious move
ment at its back. Only recently the President
OF the United States has been coquetting with
the Pope Of Rome, and the Pope Of Rome
seems not averse to making political declara-
tions for the guidance Of his loyal subjects un
der the British government. Now we find an
organization at Hot Springs, N. c., favorins
immigration, the delegates to which erganiza-
tion being largely composed of Catholic
preachers Of various degrees Of dignity or
standing In the Romish church. AS matter
of fact, we presume that four-ffths Of all the
immigrants who come to this country are
either Catholics, or other persons opposed to
the Protestant form of Christianity, and the
presence OF so many Catholics in the immi-
grafton organization would lead us to believe
that while peopling this country with foreign
ers, the idea Of building up the Roman Cath
Ollie church Is not to be neglected or forgotten.
This Is regarded as the home of all religions,
where freedom OF conscience is exercised, and
We would not abridge that freedom, but we
would not expend our energies to bring
among q Protestant people great numbers Of
people who are opposed to their form of reli-
sion.
Protestants everywhere treat Catholics with
tho greatest kindness and consideration, and
we presume there has never been Catholic
church built in any rural district of the
South, in which there was not put many
Protestant dollars.
On the other hand, the Catholics, as far as
we are informed, never contribute dollar to
the erection of Protestant church. Do they
not regard our sacred temples with about the
same sanctity as they do our barns and de-
pots? Do they recognize our preachers as
ministers of the Lord our God? Will
they allow their children to be contaminated
by association with our children at school?
While, we believe, the members OF the Cath
Ollie church may 60 to theatres and circuses
with perfect impunity, we are under the I'M
preston II a good Catholic should enter the
doors Of any Of our churches he must do pen
nance, seek the intercession Of the Bishop 10
secure forgiveness from tho Almighty-or do
some other religious act whereby he may get
pardon for the sin Of having heard sermon
by q Protestant preacher.
If we are rightly informed some Of our fore.
fathers came to this country where they
might have religious liberty and political
freedom. Shall we now import foreigners in
such numbers as to overthrow the blessings
which we inherited from them?
This land Of freedom and this land Of reli-
gious liberty Is q glorious Inheritance, which
should belong to us and to our children for
ever.
We do not want to surrender either our
homes or our religious liberty to any unfriend-
ly people who may be brought to our shores
O. fhpu ulo cflo ho Gpnth CarnIinQ del
egation last week at Hot Springs, North Car
olina, to have the scheme hurrahed through
with whoop that they held meeting on the
cars az they returned home and passed res
olution, and sent it by telegraph, asking
johnson Hagood, Chairman Of the Board OF
Agriculture. to subscribe 81 900 to the immi-
grafton fund, in the name Of South Carolina
When the history of the past is remember
ed. the State officers Of Protestant people
have no right to appropriate their money to
any such purpose.
If any man shall deny that the main pur-
pose Of this convention was not to build up
the railroads. and to establish the Catholic
church in this Southern country, we would
ask him, why it is that so many Catholic
priests are taking part in the movement. Do
they propose to take their church into poll
tics7 Has the Catholic church been in the
habit Of joining with us in discussing matters
or State?
Just such acts as this. which is proposed for
the Board Of Agriculture, furnish one more
proof that our officers should be chosen in the
primary.
As matter Of fact, If Protestants do not
watch their interests, we will have here the
same elements of oppression as those from