The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-09
German Emierant Legislation.

The German Reichstag has recently
passed measure the object Of which is
to turn emigration from that country into
certain channels From a recent report Of
Commercial Agent Stern, representing this
government at Bamberg, it seems to have
been frankly admitted that one of the
prime objects Of the bill is TO keep Ger
man emigration, chiefly emigrants of the
agricultural class. away from the United
States and 10 direct It to South America.
The representatives of the government iu
furthering this measure insisted that
North America is not fitted for German
emigration because here "GermanIsm is
lost by way of assimilation" because the
relations Of the emigrant with the mother
country are dissolved and because he pro-
notes competition with the agriculture
and industry of his own native country On
the other hand it was claimed that in
South America the German nationality is
preserved, the conditions for the prosper
Gus existence of German settlers from all
points Of view are given and that the Ger
man there becomes consumer Of German
products Of industry, and In this way an
Intermediary of commercial and political
relations between his new home and his
mother country
Since Germany cannot force emigration
into particular channel,or in other words
compel the emigrant to go where the gov
ernment dictates, it is not likely that the
foregoing argument, together with any
Inducements that might be offered, will
have any material effect upon the German
emigration to the United States at least
50 FAR as The desirable part of the emigra-
ton is concerned. There are no argu-
ments that will stand against the al
mighty dollar" The Germans are not as
many think, the most migratory class
nor are they quick to change their circum-
stances unless there is a chance of bet
terng them. Then the German is going
TO do just what any other foreigner would
10. go where he can get the greatest
amount of money for his labor or for the
products of his skin. The statistics indi-
cate clearly that the United States is the
country for the industrious German; he
has proven it so by practical test Out of
3 40375O Germans who left their native soil
between 1871 and 1896, about Sc per cent
Of them have selected the United States
for their permanent abode. Results tell
he story, and against such results as are
shown, no German legis alton, unless it
is prohibtory. will prevail
Il is true the German in America usu-
ally becomes a citizen of this country, but
his "Germanism" is not lost. He lives
among a people who descended from the
same stock, the Teutonc In South Ameri-
can countries he finds himself among the
Portuguese and Spanish, an entirely diff
ferent stock between which and himself
there is nothing in common. He may to
certain extent put himself into cohnpeti-
ton here with the agriculture of his own
country. but such an argument amounts
to little when it is considered that his
country cannot produce what its needs de-
mand. If anyone is to be benefited by the
surplus demand for agricultural products
which Germany makes upon foreign coun-
tries every year, why should it not be a
German? and why should he not locate
where the products of his labor and in
dustry will command the highest price?