The Opelousas courier., 1888-10-06
Some Very Practical Sug-
gestions.
n. .. City Item, Sep. 81.

Mr. Il. w. Poole, State Com
missioner of Immigrations, has
prepared and had sent to the
several police juries a very ex-
cellent circular calling attention
of both officials and people to
the duty devolving upon them
all i'll the matter of inviting i'm
migration. Also, in sending CO.
pies to the press he has accom-
Epanied them by a smaller circu-
ilr urging the general co-opera-
tlon in the great work which he
has sincerely at heart.
The Commissioner offers some
very valuable suggestions in
these circulars. In the one he
informs us that a lack Of effort
to obtain immigrants of a de-
sirable class will be construed
by them as an intimation that
they are not desired by the peo-
pie of the parish. The result
will be in some measure % check
to the increase in population
and wealth, while more enter
prising and thoughtful commu-
mites which employ the proper
means will outstrip them. Says
the Commissioner:
1t is a certainty, other things
being equal, that the communi-
ties will attract immigration in
proportion to the welcome they
accord to it, and to the wise, en-
ergetic and liberal movements
to secure it.
The first requirement laid
doMn is of transcendent import
ance. The manner in which
strangers are received and treat
ed in a new place is of controll-
lug influence in settling the
question of permanent residence
or mere temporary abode. The
class of people which it is desir-
able to invite, expect something
more than the formal liberation
that permits them to make a liv-
ing SO long as they do not run
against local interest or predju-
dice. Such immigrants as are
worth having and striving to
get, want homes for their fami-
lies in the true sense of the word.
If they find the people with
whom they propose to cast their
lot kindly disposed toward them,
sociable and neighborly, instead
of exclusive, suspicious and too
formal, there will be Il strong in
centive to stay. Then there will
be the matter of schools for
children and churches for divine
service. No true woman will
stay long in a community where
she is not .received into the
houses of at least IL reasonable
number of her fair neighbors on
;. terms of easy equality.
The welcome which Louisiana
people accord to immigrants
should, therefore, include Other
than mutual material advanta-
ges. Maj does not live by bread
alone. Unless too sordid to be
taken into account here, he vii
have spiritual and Mntellectua
aspirations which must be real
ized. and social requirements
which must be fulfilled. There
are many very good people il
the world who do not take these
things sufficiently into account
While they may have all they
desire, they do not bethink them
selves in time of the less favor
ed stranger who has recent,
made the experiment to become
their neighbor. The pecuniar!
! advantages must be immense t,
. induce a man to isolate himself
and above all his wife and chill
dren, from all society, to live il
a community i'll which they ar
! regarded as not social equals.
while we may trust to tn
Commissioners of Immigratio1
TO spread far aud wide, by. al
! of the State Immigration Asso
citation presided over SO Ell
GENTLY by Col. George Mool
man, the police juries aud othe
!, local agencies, Il knowledge {
the material advantages OF LOT
: islana. we must depend upo
: the people for the proper treat
ment Of those who may com
: This is more important than th
incentive that draws them D
: Their. For every family that r.
= mains contented, we may e.
7 pect 4 fair percentage of othel
: through their good report, VIII
! one driven away, for any fan
! of our own people, will have Il
~ .aotlr onnnsita influence, ar