The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-26
A PROBABLE COLONY.
Agent Of the Wealthy Memo
mites Examining the Land.
THRIFTY. INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE.


Mr.. Julius Siemens, Of Gretna, Manitoba.
- IN the city. the guest of Mr.. l. w. Entx.
his mission here 10 one OF great import
ance to this section. lie Is banker. and
Tor several years has been connected with
the immigration 10 this country Of Men,
MONTE families from Russia and Germany,
and Is here for the purpose OF selecting
large tracts OF land on which to locate
colonies Of Mennonite immigrants. In
explainining has mission he said:
During the reign Of Catherine III. in
Russia IN 1870 large colonies Of our people
were induced 20 emigrate from Holland
and the German states 10 Southern Russia
for the purpose Of civilixing and cuitivat-
ing those then barren sieppes. They were
the more easily induced to do this because
OF the prosecutions they we're enduring a.
the hands of the governments on account
OF their peculiar faith. Among their
tenets was that of non-resistanee
TO persecution and refusal to bear
arms, or take oaths, bsing initiated in
these respects by the Quskers. As an in
ducement 70 emigrate 10 Russia they were
given perpetual privileges ia regard to
these doctrines OF their faith and also sew
erai communal privileges. Several thou
sand families accepted the Invitation and
they and their descendants have made
Southern Russis the granary Of Europe.
prospecting enormously. increasing rapidly
In numbers and gradually extending their
possessions until they are now extremely
wealthy. They have always preserved
their language and customs. and have
never mingled or intermarried with the
native Russians. About the same time
or little later another large section of the
German Mennonites emigrated to this
country and settled in Pennsylvania,
where they now constitute part OF the
population called the Pennsylvania Dutch.
The prosperity of the Russian Memo
mites continued steadily and uninterrupted
until about 1s70, when the Russian gov
eminent commenced to practice policy
at variance with the ancient agreement
with our forefathers. All foreign nation
aiities residing in the country were
brought under the operation OF the same
laws, and an effort was made TO amaiga-
mate and to nationaiize them into q
homogeneous race. The Mennonites were
not forced to bear arms, IS are ali other
natives, bat they were made to do other
things tor the government in lieu of this
duty. and the residents began to be appre.
hensive that an effort would be made to
force them into the Greek Catholic church.
Anticipating this, they commenced vast
exodus. and within few years some
Sc. 600 of them came to America In great
ship loads and settled in Minnesota. Kan
sas, Nebraska. South Dakota and Mani
toba. where they have again become ex.
tremely prosperous and have again made
the desert blossom. They are not the
Populists. who complain Of hard times
but have thrived aud prospered while
their American neighbors have failed and
abandoned their farms. The Manitobs
colony at Gretna, where / live, number.
about 10000. covering fifteen townships
Owing to the harsh climate Of Manitoba
of the others TO get into prosperous con
dition, but it Is now fourishing.
Gradually these colonies have grown
too large for their lands. and every yea
swarms of the younger generation hav'
| pushed out into new communities, ant
thus some have gone to Oklahoma. som,
| to Colorado. some to Oregon and q few
came here. These young communitie
| are rapidly growing through accessions
| from the older communities, as the people
marry young and have large families.
"But recently there have been indica
tons that another great exodus will sooi
take place from Russia. rivaling. il no
exceeding. that of 1870. and in ansicipa
ton Of this and four other men promi
| nent in the church have been out hef,
looking up the resources. advantages ant
prospects of the different sections with
view of finding good places for planting
communities. They are represented II
| all lines of industry. but are chiefly farm
ers and fruit growers. and If any person
| in this section Of country control larg
! sections Of land would like 10 hear from
| them"