1862. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMRE. 



175 



From the Chicago Telegraph. 



Present Status of the Immigration 

 Question. 



Mr. Edward P^'lz, from New York, is visiting 

 at present the Northwe tera States with a view 

 to revive, if pos«ible, the spirit of ioimigration. 

 The subject is of so great an importance for the 

 whole Northwest that we think it our duty to 

 direct the atteniioo of the people to the plans of 

 Mr. Pelz. 



For the information of those who do not know 

 this venerable gentleman, we give the following 

 information about him. Mr. Pelz is well known 

 in both the old and new country as a popular 

 author, having acquired as such,, a brilliant rep- 

 utation He is one of those noble cbaraoters 

 that had to turn the back to the father^land for 

 having served it too faithfully in defending the 

 people's cause of freedom. But when he arrived 

 on our sa'e shores, ne was at liberty to work for 

 his frieuds and countrymen. Mr. Pelz soon be- 

 gun to se« that many of these would be happier 

 here. Through letters, pamphlets, etc., he in- 

 formed them of the true conditions of this coun- 

 try the echoes of hU vo'ce sounded through the 

 whole of Germania, Sweden and Norway, and 

 there wus opening that menxoriable flood of emi- 

 gration of the yeirs 1850-54 that has built up 

 the West. Mr. Pelz enjoys the unconditional 

 confidence ot his countrymen here as well as 

 abroad, which he has mainly gained by Ms hon- 

 esty and disinterestedness, being ever foigetful 

 of self, and having only the welfare of his 

 adopted country and its people in vew. The 

 characteristical name of "old Papa Pelz," be- 

 stowed on him by the people, gi^eS the best evi- 

 dence of his praise — worthy qualities. Though 

 now sixty-two years of age, his mind and body 

 are still as fresh and vigorous as those of a yoatb 

 and once more he will try to >tir up a new move" 

 ment in behalf of immigration so much needed 

 at the present to promote the prosperity of our 

 country. We wish him the best success and suc- 

 cor for our Western men. knowing that no man 

 on this contin nt combines so many favorable 

 qualifications for carrying sucessfully through 

 such a movement ; for Mr. Pelz is not only an 

 author, but also an experienced farmer and a 

 business man, beeides being acquainted with all 

 the secrect resources in Europe and America, of 

 which wo must avail ourselves in ihis agitation. 

 Mr. Pelz speaks on this subje^ as follows: 



"It is often pretended by^Well informed per- 

 sons that it is not the time at this present mo* 

 ment to promote emigration/ because there was 

 no inclination fqr emigration prev»iling in Eu 

 rope, and nobody would come from hence to our 

 country involved in a war. But by letters which 

 I have received from old friends in Germany, I 

 can conclude that there prevails at this very mo- 

 ment a strong inc'ination for emigration. They 

 mention as one of the principal reasons the fear 

 of an extensive war that is regarded as inevita- 

 ble. Ye . at the same time, my correspondents 

 remark that a much greater mass of people would 

 emigrate to the United Slates, toward which they 



are turned, were it not that our secession distur- 

 bances keep them back ; that everybody thought 

 the whole territory of the United States over- 

 flowed with this war, and that antagonists of em- 

 igration did not fail to make capital out of this 

 error. As a proof, I received a number ( f popu- 

 lar songs, which were composed in order tofright** 

 en the people of this land where 'bloodshed, 

 want of employment, hunge- and disease rage.' 

 The fact that such efforts are taking place gives 

 the best testimony of the existence of a great 

 inclination to emigrate, which certainly ought to 

 be used by us in the proper way to increase our 

 emigration which has sunk so low during the last 

 few years. 



"The mentioned drawbacks of eiiigration 

 operate together with efforts from other sides to 

 attract the German emigration. Brazil has al- 

 lowed one million dollars for purposes of emi- 

 gration ; Buenos Ayres seems likewise to have 

 made stipulation for this purpose, as I recognize 

 by certa'n signs ; Australia offers to emigrants 

 free passage and other facilities. One hundred 

 thousand pounds sterling are, as I am assured, 

 set out to entice German emigrants to Canada. 

 This is a masked system of recruiting, and John 

 Bull has learned something of our Yankees, who 

 withdrew labor from the Germans in order to get 

 them among the 'free-will volunteers.' On their 

 arrival in Canada it is very difficult for them to 

 find employment, even at the wages of twenty, 

 five cents per day for the hardest work, and John 

 Bull thinks in this way to catch about 100,000 

 men for his army. The celebra'ed Mich. Cheva- 

 lier, the great national economist, has lately 

 shown in the Senate of Franee that there was 

 now a favorable time to draw Gerojan emigrants 

 to Algeria. Different facts make me presume 

 that he has not spoken in vain, and French Jboun- 

 y has already token effect in G«rmania. 



"While Europe operates in so many different 

 ways against emigration in general, and particu- 

 larly against that to the States ; while named 

 countries are spending at the same time large 

 amounts of money to the press, establishments 

 of emigration, and in other directions, in order to 

 draw the stream of emiaration toward themselves 

 we remain idle ; and for years I have begged in 

 vain at the most influential places, that at least 

 the most necessary steps might be taken to for- 

 ward this cause. To hide the inclination of do- 

 ing nothing, this last time, they raised ibe laugh- 

 able objection : 'l^he war must first be brought 

 to an end !' A farmer would show himself just 

 as stupid in saying : It must be summer before I 

 can move to cultivate the fie'd. If asked how 

 immigration can be promoted, I woul i recom- 

 mend the following systematical proceeding; : 



"1. There must be estabished a Department 

 of Immigration for the Union, whose duty it is 

 to effect, through honorable means, an increase 

 of immigration in general. 



"2. In all the States that are yet needing im- 

 migration, funds should be raised which shall 

 be disposed of by the Governor in such ways as 

 he deems suitable. 



•'3. It is for the interest of all places and 

 counties needing immigration, to make tpecial 



