The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-12-08
THE IMMIGRATION CONVENTION.


ODe of the greatest humbugs of the /
present day was the convention that met at
Indiana poll. last week, ostensibly for the
purpose Of beneG.ing foreign Immigrants.
But, in rea :, .he majority OF the men,
bers Of the convention seemed determined /,
to give the proceedings . partisan bias
The result OF the whole affair was, as
might naturally have been expected from
such a body Ct men, that resolutions
we're passed in favor Of the general govern
ment taking hold of the matter. The
idea of course is two-fold let, to find an
excuse for tie employ men: Of horde of
. ditional ftderal officers and, %, to use
the emnigrant, in the interest of politi
cal party Hon" James Ross, of this
city, was one Of the delegates; and, SO
far as We can ascertain, he was one oil the
mos. honest of those present, and in point
Of ability was surpassed by very few from
the western states. A contemporary. in
S0e.king Of This matter, says: Tie
smigrant, on his arrival at New York, is
landed at Castle Garden duly !; licensed
boarding house keepers, known to be re-
sponsiba and trustworthy, are allowed to
solicit bis patronage his baggage is tran
ported by parties who give bonds to
large amount for their fidelity, and in every
detail of the passage to points further west
the present arrangement enables the com
mission to secure the emigrant against
fraud and extor,ion. He leaves their
care only when he steps on to the cars to
continue his journey. Al the depot at
Castle Garden be can arrange every detail
of his trip, accommodate himself to the
novel and varied circumstances by which
he is surrounded, and be free from extor
ton and imp Jsture. If he meets with
wrong it is promptly redressed. If he is
sick or destitute, he is provided with med
icai attendance, or food or shelter. 1t he
desires labor, employment is provided for
him. And for all this care and protection
he pays the sum Of two dollars and
half This tax is not a toll exacted BY
the state of New York for its own benefit,
bu. only the trif1ing premium he pays for
his share in the great benefits that this
wise and judicious system of pro-
lection corters uron him.
When, TOO, it is remembered that only the
less t ones feaiG AZ the GO p foE
where they land, it will be seen that the
State of New York might hive been jus,i-
fed In taking less magnanimous measures
for her own protection. As to placing the
matter in the hands of the federal agents,
this proposition is far from novel one.
At was started some years ago by New
! ork politicians, who advocated it for
their own benefit, and has been renewed
almost every year and as often defeated.
Even II 1t is admitted tina. emigration is a
matter of national concern, it is extremely
questionable whether any good could result,
from abandoning system which has fully
realized Its purpose and been perfected by
long experiences Whose operations arc
concentrated and under the control Of few
pracucs and skllful agents, and governed
By board Of unsalaried and non-p partisan
commissioners located on the spot. To re-
place such system by the clumsy machin-
cry of central board, or by single CON-
missioner stationed at point remote from
the centre OF emigration, with multitude
of irresponsible subordinates scattered over
the land, would be worse than unreasons>
bic. Such is the opinion of those who
have given much study and .houxht to the
matter, among them Mr.. Friedrich kapp,
man Fl great experience in the matter"
i Madison Democrat