The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-13
GERMAN IMMIGRATION.

The Advertiser heartily endorses the proposed movement to promote German immigration, and hopes there will be good attendance at the Birmingham meet ing on the 23d inst. While 1t may be true that this country, without any special effort. can get all the immigrants 1t needs or can find room for, 1t is equally true that much of the material which comes to our shores is of a kind neither needed nor desired. Under the strictest enforce ment of our laws the United States con- tinues to be made the dumping ground for thousands of people who are an in- jury to any civilized country, and who, In many instances. are gladly encour- aged to shake the dust of their own coun- try from their feet. They are not a de- | sirable class of citizens for any govern ment to have in its borders, and the | United States are looked on by the coun- tries of the Old World as the proper re- cipient of all the undesirable citizens who are not wanted at home.
 | Without designing to make any invidi- ous comparison, or of casting the slight est reflection on any other people or nationality it is but fair and just to say that no better class of immigrants. espe- cialIy as agriculturists or Horticultural ists, can be found in the world than the Germans as has been proven in almost every section of the Union. Wherever they have settled in Alabama and have devoted themselves to farming and to fruit and vegetable growing, they have shown themselves a quiet. temperate and industrious people. They are law-abiding, self-sustaining citizens, is the almost universal rule.
 The County of Cullman Is a notable H. lustration of the desirability of German citizenship. When, almost thirty years ago, the late John G. Cullman became agent for large tracts of land belonging to the present Louisville and Nashville Railroad system and induced small colony of Germans to settle there. that section was looked on as one of the most undesirable portions of the State. When it was proposed to organize new county there in 1877, one of the arguments used to defeat it was that the county was so poor ana unueSlTdDle tIdI tHc hSW Souhty would never be able to support itself. How fallacious these predictions were Is shown by the fact that now, less than quarter of century since the county was formed, it has a population of 1S,0O0 white citizens, not including the territory lately acquired from Blount, and it Is strictly within bounds to say that there is not more prosperous, contented. self-sustain- | ing citizenship in Alabama.
 The town of Cullman, too is largely German, and certainly owes its, existence and much of its prosperity to that race. A late writer we'll says:
 To have glanced over the sand-coored district where the bustling little city of Cullman now is, prior to Its settlement by the German colony, one would have
 thought it's lands too thin and barren to respond to the most irkSome toll, and the most careful fertilization. But under the direction of skilled owners, 1t has
 proved to be one of the most desirable sections. of Alabama. The population Is contented and prosperous, and is being,
 from time to time. increased by new ac- uuisitions, both from America and Flu rope.
 Much more could be said in this connec- tion, but it is hardly necessary. The peo- ple of Alabama know the value of, Ger man citizens, and the Birmingham meet ing will doubtless take the steps neces- sary to bring them here.