The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-17
PUBLIC COMMON SCHOOLS AND
IMMIGRATION.

To the Editor:-One can ma many
reasons why immigration has been turn
ed aside from North Carolina where 80
many wonderful resources ought, it
seems, to attract it. For instance, the fact
flat labor is cheaper here than in the
North is not in favor Of an influx of la
borers. The fact, also, that we have n
great deal to say about hard times con-
vinces outsiders that we are not pros
porous and nobody wants to settle in q
State that is not prosperous. But n
stronger reason than either of these is an
absence Of adequate public schools.
We hear great deal in these days
about immigration, and justly so. 1t
is assuredy one of our most pressing
needs. But in some respects we have
not gone about getting it in the wisest
manner. We have set ourselves to go
out and to bring in the immigrants, rather
than to make our State so prosperous
and so happy that immigrants will see
of themselves that it is the best place for
them to go. Accordingly, our newspapers
have been telling us of the establishing
of concerns whose purposes are to induce
immigration. We have heard of vast
piles Of letters received by immigration
agencies In regard to homes in the South.
We have, indeed, seen our Southern
Governors meet in two annual conyen-
tons to consider this question. Perhaps
it would be we'll to change our methods
Of procedure, and to take the other way
for awhile. 1t may be of value to ask
ourselves what is there in our State that
ought to attract an intelligent home-seek-
or? Are wages better here than else
where? Is farming more profitable?
Are educational advantages any better,
or as good? Is sanitation as good? Are
general public intelligence and comforts
any better? lie we cannot answer these
question in the affirmative, we had bet
Ter set about correcting some things at
home before we waste another dollar
seeking for immigrants, 1t never pays
to advertise poor wares.
/ desire to speak here with reference
to but one OF these subjects-public
schools. We offer no considerable cduca-
tional facilities to the incomer. We who
as q people, have not been accustomed
to efficient public schools may not be
able to understand how much store is
put in them by one who has had advan-
tage Of either the public schOls of Europe
or Of the North and West 1t may be
questioned if we could call any man
from these sections a desirable immi-
grant who did not so appreciate education
for his children that school opportunities
woul be of prime importance in the selec-
ton OF a home. If we ever draw such
people to our State, we must offer them a
better school system than we now offer.
Inefficient schools also keep out immi-
grants in an indirect way way. This is
trina fr1 ROT m wa Tho 90
Of ignorant workers are always low, and
for at least two reasons. ~ Such labor is
not so valuable to the employer as intelli-
gent labor; it has lower standard OF
comfort, and will underbid other labor
in regard to wages. Now desirable inn
migrants will not want to go where wages
are low. Cheap labor may have ten
dency to bring in capital; but it will cer-
tainly drive away labor. Again, ineffi-
Gent schols keep away immigrants by
lowering general social conditions. An
ignorant people will have no appreciation
of literature, no appreciation OF good sani-
tation, slight appreciation of good or
der, and they viii not have the quick |
sagacity that insures progressive COM |
munity. To the extent that we have
these advantages, to that extent we may
expect to have immigration. In other |
words, q State without an intelligent |
population will be "slow" State, and /
sensible people wall turn aside from it's
These are unpleasant facts. It is no |
pleasure to write them down here. [ do |
not believe the people have understood /
them. / cannot believe that understands |
ing them they would so long have neg
lected to remedy them. We have been |
signalIy blind in some of our ways of |
dealing with this matter. A gentleman |
Of my acquaintance recently printed in a /
North Carolina paper an article in which I
he called attention to the fact that the !
death rate from diseases due to poor |
sanitation is very high in this Stae. His .
only object was to awaken public interest /
so that the defect might be remedied I
The communication fell into the hands I
Of a Northern immigration agent. He |
wrote at once to the editor asking how !
on earth it was expected to get immi-
grants while he was publishing such arti- /
cles? 1t may asked in reply, how on
earth does the immigration agent expect /
to get this very damaging fact off the I
unless the people are told about ,
it? A prospective immigrant always +
consults the educational health and bus
mess statistics, and there is but one way |
to suppress those, and that is to reform /
the abuses for which they stand. More /
over, it is not fair or honest for us to in /
duce person to come among us if we !
know our sanitary conditions are such /
that he will be likely to be attacked by /
diseases.
This much is said with no intention
Of personal criticism. have it not in my /
heart to reflect on the course of any man. |
| plead simply for a policy OF immigra |
ton that will make us turn the glass in !.
on ourselves. Ii we do that, some of US !
will be surprised that we have not seen /
before the real obstacles of immigration, /
and a policy viii be inaugurated which /
in less than decade will make our hill |
sides blossom and our railroad owners |
our artisans, our writers, and our immi- |
grafton agents grow fat. viii not the !
people take up the matter and urge it be- |
fore the Legislature?
A CCyy1uv4