The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-17
THE UNFRU1rFUL YANKEES.

Discussion relative to the deserted
farms of Vermont and New Hampshire
has incidentally called attention to the
childlessness OF the Yam
KEGS. In many sections schemes to settle
these farms with immigrants are stoutly
resisted. The prejudice against foreign
ers is still very active in the vicinity Of
these fruitless farms. 1t is claimed that
there is not an average Of two children
each among Yankee families. A corre-
spondent of the Manchester Mirror, In
referring to the matter says:
1t is folly to talk about repopulating
our country districts with Yankees until
Yankee fathers and mothers raise more
children than they do now. There was
a grange meeting up north the other day
at which this subject of deserted farms
was discussed, and unless we are much
mistaken a majority of those who took
part are as chlldless as the Old Man OF
the Mountain, and yet most of them
insisted that it would never do to settle
foreigners in their neighborhood. Per-
haps they are rich, but one thing is GER
tain, that before our lands are occupied
and titled we have got to find a race OF
men who are not afraid of large famil-
les. The great lack of our farming dis
trict is lack of babies.
And the Burlington Free Press with a
philosophic wisdom which would do
credit to Horace Greeley, who said the
way to resume was to resume, sagely
says: "You can never Tepeople New
England with Yankees II the Yankees
are not to be had" There is no getting
away from such invincible logic.
Habits OF life govern the normal IN
crease of population. The rich and re,
fined, accustomed. to the luxuries OF
life, are never so prolific as the poor and
struggling, familiar with privation and
poverty.
Independent of artificial or criminal
methods to prevent a natural increase Of
population, it is a physiological fact that
luxury diminishes the reproductive
powers of a people. The great.grand'
fathers of the Yankees, who lived in log
cabins and made hunting redskins theil
recreation, were far more hardy and pro
life. They raised large families, ano
the sons and daughters Of these brave
pioneers became the fruit and flower o.
New England-rugged both in body anc
brain, 1t was such stock that made mer
like Daniel Webster, Stephen A. Doug
las and Horace Greeley possible.
So far as the agricultural aspect OF TN
question is concerned, it is noteworthy
that as farmers become prosperous, ane
afford their sons liberal education, th'
latter prefer professional lives and CITY
residences. All efforts to induce tn
destitute people of our large cities to be
come grangers and go into the country
where they can at least earn decen
livelihood without begging for it, havlr
failed, it is pretty clear that the deserted
farms of New England must remail
desolate, or be cultivated by immigrants
The latter policy is certainly preferable
There is no better place in which to edu
cate foreigners into the functions o
American citizenship than on the grant
hills of Vermont and New Hampshire
With millions of people wanting homes
there should be no deserted farms II
New England or elsewhere. And hon
est immigrants who are willing to worl
should be cordially invited to populat
the waste places, and make the farm
fruitful. -Trou Pres.