The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-10


In another column will be found a report of
the Conference Of the German Societies for the
promotion Of the interests of emigrants II will
be seen that the charges preferred against the
captains and officers of emigrant ships OF the sys-
tematic seduction and decentralization Of their
female passengers have been made the subject
of substantive resolution for the sep sratiol Of
the two sexes. Whilst we cordially approve Of
this regulation, we wish to be understood a, dis
sehting from the sweeping arguments Oh which
il is founded Although we are ready to admit
that there may be instances in which the officers
of cmigrant ships forget their duties and respon-
sblitios in this connection, we cannot assent to
the general condemnation passed hy Mr.. Telling
haus and others on the conduct Of our marcan-
tile marine. 1t is difficult to believe that men
who add 10 their obligations to their employers
the feelings and sentiments Of husbands and IA
to them There may be exceptions,
but as rule we should Judge that the officers
Of emigrant ships are not worse, if they are not
better, than the generality OF persons occupying
similar positions of trust.
five are correct in this opinion the question
arises, to what causes are to be traced the COM
plants prefer ! against this useful class of men!
One would 81 ose that the evidence on which
they are founded would 1n7ma .facie be sufficient
to disproye all such charges 1t is the custom
for instance, when female emigrants arrive here
e3cei,ae for them to attribute their condition to
the loose discipline prevailing on board the YES
sci in which they have come. A moments re-
Election would show that this statement ia physi-
cally impossible, but ii nevertheless obtains
credence with persons like Mr.. Jellinghaus, who
are accustomed to accept their facts without ex
animation, and to take upon trust whatever may
chime in with their prcjudices.
The truth of the matter is that large majority
of the female emigrants who are sent to us from
the European continent. are persons who have
lost their moral status at home, and who are
compelled to seek new and wider field for their
operations. Women Of this class never hesitate
to saddle with their responsibilities the unwary
and unsuspccting. and the frank and generous
nature of the sailor renders him an easy victim
to their seductions Hence it is tina. this sweep
ing charge against the officers of emigrant vessels
has obtained such easy credence
The number Of vicious persons cast upon our
shores by the activity Of the European police
has, within late years, increased to such an ex-
tent thai it has been found necessary to cndeavor
to impose limits to it. During the last session of
Congress piles of afiidavts were forwarded to
Washington to show the expedency Of opposing
some legislative check to this growing evil, but
unfortunately. no action was taken n the matter
In the meanwhile, however, the attention of our
local authorities has been directed 10 the means
Of preventing European communities from shift
ing upon our shoulders burdens which they find
ii inconvenient to carry. II is only short time
since they sent back ship full Of lunatics and
paupers who were generously forwarded to us
from England to provide for. 1t is enough for
us, one would suppose, to lind work for their SUI
perabundant working population, without being
compelled to supply food and shelter TO the super
animated and idle whom they find il onerous to
support. Already the poorhouscs Of our city
are sufficiently overchargcd with the redundancy
Of paupcr hclplessness which has been trans
the European governments. We have at the pre-
sent moment at our charge in New York a num-
Der of foreign poor equivalent to the population
Of eight New England villages.
II is to be hoped that Congress, during its next
session, will find means to arrest this growing
evil. 1t is enough to have our shores delugcd
with foreign thieves and bandits, without having
our female population corrupted and demoralizcd
by an infusion Of the refuse prostitutes and street
walkers Of the European capitals.
ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BECOMING PHYsr-
cMJy DEGENERATE TT has become the habit
Of late. with some Of our public lecturers. to re-
present the American people as nation who are
rapidly losing that vitality and physical energy
which are the Distinguishing features Of the
Anglo-Saxon race. Taking the mere unsupport-
cd assertion as fact, they indllge in loag and
sickly Jcremiads over our supposed degeneracy.
and with melancholy spirit, that takes sad
pleasure in evil forebodings predict the near sp-
proach Of the day when We shallbe nation Of
helpless imbeciles-when We shall have lost our
manhood. our strength and our yigor and be-
come an cffotc and wornoui race
We are disparagingly compared to the English
people, and told that we have lost that stamina
and backbone which have made them the con-
qucrors of territories uncqualIed In extent by
those Of any other nation If this is really the
case, we have good cause for alarm; but let us
look into the evidence and see If there Il any
truth in the assertion. Where are the proofs by
which such statements are ss,ainods Are they
to he found in the gymnasiums which are daily
springing mp around US; in those great volunteer
military organizations which pervadc the
country to lis utmost extent; in the zach,
and rowing clubs which have been es-
tablshcd in all our scaboard Cities in our fire
companies, which are noted for the physical en-
crgy Of their members; ia our base ball and
ri -. -. Al