PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARLY EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT.
HOW THE MENNONITES CAME TO CANADA. (con't)
thing to assist Mr. Hespeler in his mission to the Mennonites. Mr. Hes-
peler was fully aware that the penalties for inducing emigration without
the consent of the authorities were very severe, but as he says in his
report, after a long and tedious voyage he "felt not inclined to give up
and return without having made an effort" so he "felt determined to risk
the consequences." So he got in touch with Mennonites in the town and
was cordially received. Mr. Hespeler reporting to the Hon. J. H. Pope,
Canadian Minister of Agriculture, from Strasbourg on the 28th of August
of the same year (1873) gave the following particulars of his work:-
He said: After having seen all the principal parties (in Berdiansk)
all of whom took the greatest interest in my mission I thought it advisable
to leave town and go to the Colonies where these Mennonites are spread
over hundreds of miles, pursuing agriculture. I was recommended from
place to place and for the greater part accompanied by one or two of
their numbers. In this way I travelled for twelve days until I reached the
last colony. The greatest number I found living on Crown land, about
180 acre lots, and quite a number on their own lands which in many cases
were plantations from 4,000 to 10,000 acres, raising principally sheep,
cattle and horses. As in these extensive colonies police were limited in
numbers, and being careful not to make my cause known outside the lead-
ing parties, I was successful in delivering my mission by bringing before
them the exemption from military service, the advantages offered by the
Canadian Government as regards free grants of land, and in giving all
further information in my power respecting the prosperity awaiting them
in Canada.
It would appear that the Mennonites at this time were asking for cer-
tain privileges from the Czar, and if these were granted they would be
content to remain. This will explain the following. The report continues:
"As soon as the next deputation which is going to be sent to St. Peters-
burg in October next with a petition to the Emperor should return as
expected with a refusal to their prayer they will decide at once and noth-
ing will prevent them from leaving their well established houses. In such
case they will take advantage of the offer made by the Department and
will send a deputation of two of their number to Canada to report upon
the localities and advantages the Dominion offers. They will write to me
at the proper time for me to furnish them letters to your department
and give them all other necessary information. If they return with a
favorable account there will be hundreds of the most wealthy families
ready to leave next summer. The majority are still in hope that the
Government in St. Petersburg will decide in their favor, but the leading
men seem to be fully assured that the decision will be against them; in
the latter case they will get the privilege to emigrate till 1882. They are
a hardy, industrious, orderly and intelligent race and they should prove
a valuable acquisition to Canada. Their villages are patterns of order
and industry; large orchards and gardens spring up where originally could
not be found a tree. Their intention is to obtain contiguous lots of land so
as to form their own communities. I called their attention in particular
to Manitoba which province I am convinced through experience I gained
amongst them would suit them the best, as the country they are now living
in is entirely level and they are not accustomed to the use of the axe."
Such then was the genesis of the Mennonites' emigration from South-
ern Russia to Manitoba, and from Manitoba to Saskatchewan when the
original reservation became too straitened for their increased and increas-
ing numbers.
Bibliography follows:
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