The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-23
immigration.

The constitutional convention should
make some provision for department
of immigration, or should require the
legislature to promote immigration
No better service can be done for the
cause of white supremacy-so freely de-
clared by the dominant element" 10 be
in danger-than to secure additional
white population.
We once had a department Of the
State government which was charged
with the promotion of immigration
and made some progress 10 that direc-
tion although the times were not aus
picions for bringing settlers into South
Carolina-but Tillman had that depart
meot abolished, and since then We have
had no State agency by which TO fos.
ter immigration.
The conditions have changed. Ten
years ago there was felt throughout
the nor.b a profound dissrust Of the
south, and sectional feeling was the
bandmaiden Of great political party.
The great west was in the 6ush of its
highest prosperity and to it streamed
not only the foreign immigrants, by
hundreds of thousands yearly, but the
adventurous and the dissatisfied of the
east. Io the face of such migration
it was almost impossible. strive as We
might. to attract my considerable in
migration to the south.
Since that time. however. the west
has been peopled by millions and its
best public lands have been exhausted.
its development has been pushed to a
point in advance of its resources; it 20
longer offers homesteads for the taking
and it's demand for labor has been
glutted; inflated values have been pune
tured aud drought and panic have set
it backward; tens of thousands Of it's
people are anxious to get away and
make a new start under better condi-
tions. Sentiment north and west in
regard to the south has changed The
Republican party has practically aband-
oned secticnalism as an issue. The
feeling of amity between the sections is
growing apace. Instead of being de-
Douuced as the citadel Of barbarism the
south is gaining respect and praise and
its great resources are being exploited
by formely hostile press. A move
meot of population from the west to
the south has already set in, aud nearly
all the southern States are receiving
immigrants, singly and in colonies, of
the best class.
South Carolina is perhaps the mosa
backward of all the Southern States in
taking advantage of this tendency, yet
even South Carolina has made begin
piug, as witness Col Mike Browns
western colony in Barnwell county. If
we can but secure election reform,
break through the isolatiug Chinese
wall which is sought to be built around
us for political ends, and promote a
broader spirit Of toleratiou, there is no
reason Why this State should not rival
auv Of her southern sisters in attract
ing large and wholesome immigra-
ton.
The convention should provide for
this contingency. 1t should put the
State in position to take the fullest ad,
vantage Of this new migration south
ward. We do not need to empbasze
the value of an increase of our white
population on. political. industrial,
financial and social grounds. lmmlgra-
tion Of the right sort means increased
wealth. new industries, more economic
methods, greater !eavening of intelii-
genco and education, fortified white
majority. higher values for lands,
larger consumption Of agricultural pro-
duets and dozen other blessings. But
it is not going to come to this State
without our seeking it, and we should
make up our minds to seek it and Sc
cure it.
We earnestly urge the convention to
make provision Of some sort for this
-o1, Tho (F1fo.