Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-03
QUALITY OF FOREIGNERS.
Teutonic immigrants Desirable-oth-
ers More Questionable.

Teutonic immigrants Desirable-oth-
ers More Questionable.
For six years past in charge OF st.
Helen's Fresh Air Home at Interlaken,
Mass, Mr.. John w. Mcconnell of Nc
Connellsville, is peculiarly well quail
fled to give the people of York county
some needed information on the i'm
migration question, and he has kind
ly consented to do so. His first
contribution Is given today, and
others will follow. For the infor-
nation of those who may not un-
derstand, ii Is perhaps proper to ex-
plain that the fresh air home referred
to is maintained at the expense OF the
charitably inclined of the big northern
cities for the especial benefit OF the
children of the very poor. The children
are gathered up in systematic man
ner and sent to the home to enjoy the
open air for two weeks, after which
time they must give place to others.
In his capacity as superintendent OF
one Of the most important of these
homes, Mr.. Mcconnell comes in con-
tact with all kinds of foreigners, and
by reason of his long experience and
other qualifications what he has to
say is Of particular interest. The COM
munication follows:
Editor Yorkville Enquirer:
1t was my intention to give you a
detailed account of the examination OF
immigrants at Ellis Island in New
York harbor and of the requirements
for their admission into this country,
but my steamer was late in reaching
the city and l didn't have much time
TO give to the matter.
The question of encouraging immi-
grafton into South Carolina has given
rise to much discussion and nearly all
of us who hold views on the subject
are inconsistent in a great many
points. All of us would like to see
large number of thrifty German farm
ers come into York county, buy small
farms, cultivate them well, and add to
the number of good citizens. We
have seen what they have done for the
Shenandoah Valley In Virginia and
Lancaster county, Pa. These two sec
tions are among the most beautiful and
wealthy in the United States. We do
need the Teutonic people in South
Carolina the Germans, Danes and the
English and Scotch, but unless we
can be very selective, we must keep
Calabreza Italians, for amalgamation
with the latter people will weaken us.
1t is quite true, that the American is
of composite character. is a general
mixture, but l am positive that the
purest Americans in America today are
found in the Piedmont section of the
two Carolinas. We are people Of no
BILE traditions, our forefathers from
England and Scotland have passed
down to us all the cardinal principles
of a great civilization, reverence for
womanhood, fear of no man, but an
abiding faith in the Almighty.
There are bad people in South Car
olina, there are undesirable citizens In
York county, but taking the whites as
a whole and comparing them with the
grand chaotic mixture of races, l come
in contact with in this section and
you will thank your stars for your
beloved southland. I have spent six
summers here and have employed la
Dor from practically all European
countries, Germans, Swedes, Danes.
Firms, Italians, ETC., and the more OF
them / work with the better opinion
have of the southern negro. The ne
gro has his faults but York county
people don't appreciate how much bet
ter they are than most Of the foreign
element. Understand l am speaking
of the low class foreigner, not the In
tel!igent, skilled workmen.
II the low class European comes TO
South Carolina he will mix freely with
the negro. Some will question this
statement, l know, but I've seen 1t
here in Massachusetts,. ! have had
negro girls and white girls working
together in our kitchen here. and the
negro women went out driving with
girls received attention from negroes
This is a fact, and l must say In JUS
tice to the native Yankee that they
were not in favor of it, but it was the
immigrant and foreign element that
tolerated 1t.
The New England Yankee has
enough Of the negro now, rest assured
of that, for he has seen the kind that
believes in social equality. Two well
educated farmers told me yesterday
that they considered the granting OF
franchise to the negro the greatest
mistake the government ever MADE,
though they, in ignorance, supported
it at the time. / have mentioned TINS
to show that the low class immigrant
Is chiefly responsible for the mixing OF
the races in this section, and will even
tually cause the same trouble in Soutn
Carolina On an adjoining farm there
Is negro man with white wife and
white man with a negro wife. am sure
we don't want that in York county so
such things must be considered when
we are seeking immigration. South
Carolina needs more labor and must
have 1t but great care must be eXer-
cised in the selection of the same.
During my work here l have had
charge Of nearly three thousand of the
poor children of New York city and
as most of them are foreign born,
have gained a fair idea of the different
nationalities. l will touch on the same
in another letter if my York county
friends are interested in the matter.
JOHN w. MCCoNNELL.
Interlaken. Mass, June %.