The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-28
Immigration AND QUARANTINE
. Great Gathering Called Fol the Gen.
sideration Of Live Topics.

sideration Of Live Topics.
In the development of the South, vi
tai questions are involved aside from
| these which tend solely to its material
growth and progress. It's matchless cli-
mate, generous soil, riches in minerals,
| fields and forests; its beauty in hills,
valleys, fruits and flowers; its wealth
in fountains, streams and rivers are
indeed priceless gifts from Natures
treasury, yet they are only some of the
| factors that contribute to the advance
! ment and welfare of people.
The possession of health, the culti-
vation of mind and morals, the estab-
lishment of right rather than might
and the reign of truth and Justice
these are the things more to be priced
than all others @or which mankind
should strive. for .hese are the founda-
! tions on which the ages of Christian
civilization must ever rest
From time immemorial these are the
standards by which the people of the
South have sought to be measured, and
there is no stronger obligation resting
on its citizens today than to earnestly
desire and honestly endeavor to uphold
these standards for the benefit Of the
present and future generations.
To the thoughtful observer Of passing
events this proud heritage is being me-
naced from two sources at til 3 time,
and it is to emphasize this "a It and
concentrate public sentiment thereon,
that this call for a Southern Immigra-
tion and Quarantine Conference is sent
out.
In the attempt that has been made
by various cities, towns and communi-
ties in the South to protect themselves
from the dread ravages Of yellow fever,
the most strenuous and at times unrea-
sonable, unnecessary and burdensome
measures have been adopted, measures
that not only tended to cripple and de-
stroy business and commerce, but
which reflected on the very instincts Of
our common humanity, and became a
reproach to civilization itself. 1t Is evil
dent, therefore, that some uniform syS-
tenn of quarantine should be adopted
that will allay the apprehensions Of the
people. and minimize the dangers re-
sulting from an outbreak Of this dis
ease. This is necessary II we should
save our land from the demoralizing
and brutalizing tendencies Of a panic
inspired quarantine.
Again. there are coming into the
United States at the present time, lar
ger numbers of foreign immigrants
than ever before in our country's his
tory. Among these are great masses,
who are wholly undesirable and whom
it will be impossible to assimilate with
our institutions. There is apparently a
desire or tendency to bring many Of
these undesirable immigrants to South
ern ports, and also to distribute ihem
from Northern centers, into the SOUTH.
Unless proper safeguards are institut-
ed now. these classes will come among
us in such numbers as will inevitably
lowe. our standard of citizenship, de-
sttoy our present peaceful labor condi-
tions. and mongrelize our population.
The South will welcome desirable i'm
migrants from any and all lands, but
it has already racial problems of such
gravity that no others should be in
vited until proper safeguards are pro-
vided in advance Of their coming.
For the foregoing reason, therefore,
this call for a Southern Conference on
immigration and Quarantine, to be
held in the city OF Chattanooga, Ten
nessee, on November and 10, 1905, and
we DESIGNATE the following persons as
those expected to compose and partlci-
nate in this conference: Governors OF
Southern States; members OF Con-
gress; Commissioners OF Agriculture;
MAYORS of cities: one Representative
from National, State, County or City
Boards of Health; one Representative
from each Railroad System. preferably
the immigration Agent; the Editor,
Publisher, or Proprietor of Newspapers
and not more than five representatives
from each Commercial Organizations In
the South.
All parties thus designated may con-
slider themselves fully authorized under
this call to aid in furthering its object,
and are requested to cooperate with us
IN making the same what 1t should be
for the South.