The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-17

IT. McCaula, candidates Tor congress
smoke in the Court House last FRIDAY
morning. This editor was busy ~itt
the most important problem now DE-
fore the American people, that Is V'
say, the preparation of hall for the
knights of Pythias, and he did not al
tend the meeting. For this reason oul
mind is not we'll stored with the latest
and best information on the subject OF
the immigration of foreigners to this
land of cotton.
But we presume the decision of the
old question of immigration stands or
falls on the merits or the demerits, as
presented in solid facts or as may be
pictured in the fanciful imagination.
We understand from other sources
than the speakers that small tempest
has been raised in small tea pot oy
this recent proposition to induce i'm
migrants to come South Carolina.
AS the stars, or other heavenly bod
les fly off into space, so foreigner
who has lost his way, may land IN
South Carolina, where be always finds
a hearty welcome to the country and
to the homes which we all love so
well. There is, for instance, Max
Below, Nicholas Schram, E. G. Mes
chine, Ed Keiser, J. w. Breihahn, ID.
Poliakoff, and many others who flew
out into space, and by some accident,
landed with us. They are as good
people as we. could find. Mr.. Mes
chine was we'll off in this worlds
goods when he came amongst u.s., but
the others came without money.
Like brave and worthy men, they set
to work in their adopted country to
carve out their own fortunes, and they
are succeeding. All are prosperipg,
Some are already rich. And if you
will trace your own record back
you will find that immigrants are a
valuable accession. So we welcome
immigrants. They do good for US and
the country, while they themselves
grow rich and prosperous. The Lord
told Abram to get himself out of
the land of his nativity, and he went
to new country, and in his new
home he prospered. The advice
which the Lord gave to Abram stands
good for the people of today. And all
who come this way will learn to love
US and they will become loyal to the
country which offers superior advan-
tages, or better opportunities for the
educated mind and the trained hand.
AS We understand the situation,
there is diversity of opinion on this
immigration business. The senti-
ment in favor of shipping car loads OF
assorted lots of foreigners to till our
fields, like the measels, breaks out
about every ten years. And, as in
case of the measles, the same person
seldom suffers from second attack
of the immigration fever. While the
immigration fever is seldom or never
attended with serious results, yet it is
a good thing with which to entertain
the inexperienced. The peculiarity
of the immigration fever is the differ
ent effect it has Oh the patient from
that exercised over the citizen who
stands in fear and trembling at the
mighty results that may follow. The
timid citizen sees in immigration the
destruction of his best interests, while
the hopeful citizen pictures in vivid
imagination the most glorious re-
suits.
But the immigration fever-agair
like measles-proves to be neither
glorious nor disastrous. The fonc
mother who saw in her gloom and ke
dependency half dozen little graves
all filled with children which the grin
monster had gathered from her owl
fireside, finds that measles is not fata
and that those who escape the malad.
are no better nor any worse than thos
who had an accute attack of the dread
ed disease.
So it is with immigration. Thi
immigration business is positivel,
nothing and will amount to nothing
If our Commissioner were anxious t,
have immigrants come to South Caro-
lima, he could not get them, and shoult
not get them. While there may b
individual instances where he coul,
honestly and in good faith ask immi
grants to come to South Carolina, We
when he tells working people that tn
farmers in South Carolina can hir
an able bodied man to work thei
farms for SIS month, will tha
foreigner come here when he can ge
$25 month for his labor in anothe
State?
The idea of shipping farm laborel
to this country by car load lots is nc
to he seriously entertained.
Any idea that foreigners are comm
he re to take the place of farm hands
or that they may possibly come for th
purpose of taking the place of cotto
mill operatives is too preposterous
be seriously considered by anybody.
So certain are we that no mill ope