The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-04
OCEAN STEERAGE ABUSES.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM Mr.. MCDONNELL
He Tells Who He Is aud Answers Messrs. Hurst
and Lambert-The Evils Worse Even Than
at First stated-N These Things Are
True Let Them Be Swept Away.
To TnE EDITOR OF THE HERALp:-

To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Magma est reirtas et prerdleoit For twelve
years the motto at the commencement of this
letter has been mine. For twelve years have
toiled in the OF Truth, Justice and Humanity,
and have always and at all places found that
truth was great and ever prevailed. have no fear
that on this as ON all past occasions, the truth VIII
prevail against money ana falsehood The truth Of
my allegations against the National Steamship
Company has been challenged. The challenge
accept. The gauntlet that has been thrown down
cheerfuy take up. The war Of Right has now
commenced, and only with its triumph will aban-
don the cause Of that large and influential class,
1.-THE people of no property" whose want OF cash
subjects them to the Luxurious easeY' OF the steer
age when crossing the Atlantic.
In my last letter stated, and now repeat, that
I have no object to subserve save the good of the
thousands who yearly cross the Atlantic. Twelve
years Of public llfe-from fifteen to twenty-seven
years OF age-prOve that humanity has been my
guiding star, ana that neither bribery nor intimi-
dation could turn me from its course. II had
studied selfinterest would not have striven ana
suffered, too in the cause of Heland's republican
independence, nor would have rsked danger and
endured Imprisonment for France in the day of her
great agony, when the German Emperor became
the aggressor and 1t is equally certain that would
not have allied myself permanently with the great
prole tartan movement throughout Europe, which,
In spite Of kings and money lords and gross mis-
representation, has made giant progress during
the past three years.
To you sir, submit proofs OF the worth in which
I have been and am held by some who differ with
me, and those proofs, in addition TO my antece-
dents, which are well known to hundreds Of thou
sands, ought to be sufficient to remove from the
public mind all doubts OF my truthiulness, II such
exist.
Go not, however, will not--ask the public to
accept any or all of my statements ON my ipSe
dtIt, shan not follow the modest example Of
Messrs. Hurst and Lambert, whose logic Is only
equalled by their audacity but Will demand. what
lam determined to have-a full and satisfactory
inquiry-and give all whom it may concern notice
that shall not rest until ample justice Is done and
the emigration laws amended. demand an imme-
date inquiry, and If that s not granted call upon
the company or its responsible agents to institute
procee dings against me for libel. do not desire,
but defy them to adopt the latter course. Either
the company or must come out OF this matter
with clean hands. II the company holds back or
refuses to acknowledge and remOve the scandalous
abuses complained Of will have the question
forced upon the government Of the Republic by
monster gatherings throughout the Union and in
England and the European Continent will have
the matter prosecuted to the bitter end
have now, cir, to thank you, in the name of that
gIeat ciuSS, VI WHICH, all
TRUST an earnest and faithful representative,
the impartial manner in which you have dealt with
this question. As YOU very properly remarked in
your edition Of yesterday, there are two sides to
every question, and in the interests OF truth you
have presented both to the public. You have done
your duty; ! hope the public will do theirs.
must CONFESS sir, that was not little sur
prised at reading the communications OF the two
champions of ocean abuses in the HERALD of yes
tesday. my attention, may add was not called
to the said statements, as was the case with Mr.
Hurst, as l am an humble man and employ no
clerks to read the papers for me. Twas ast0nished
at the miserable attempt at defence and the auda-
ciOus manner in which all my statements were de-
MED. Now, who, ask, are the persons who cnal-
lenge the accuracy OF my statementsY Are they
taken before mines One is Mr. +. W. ]. Hurst,
manager of the National line, whose interest II IS
to whitewash the conduct Oh ms employers, ana
man, because he possesses cash and travels In the
cabin) named Thomas Lambert. Now. Mr.. F. W. J.
Hurst in private lite may be an estimabe gentle
man, but ne should not have rushed into print 10
make himself look ridiculous by the wretcnedness
of his defence. IL is only natural that he should
defend the National line, be 1t right or wrong The
National line is his bread aud butter, SO that
the public must take his statements for what they
are worth. Moreover, he can know nothing POSI-
lively OF the grievances OF which complained, not
fence viii be torn to pieces by an intelligent pub
nc as It Is simply composition OF audacious false
hoods and wholesale denlals, without proof Of any
kind The second champon-l shall call him
Thomas Lambert, Esq.-as he travelled cabin. has
evidently more nj 1ney than heart and belongs 10
that intelligent class OF Englishmen who delight In
discussing the qualities OF dogs and horses over
their punch and pipes. 1t Is well known fact
that such are very humane when horses OF
dogs are concerned, but that their eyes are blind
and their ears deaf to the miseres Of the poor and
bert, Esq, is, and moneyed man to boot, viii.
humble though be- whip him and mis- assertions,
and II the entire crew, from captain to cabin boy,
IN I
They have yet to learn the mighty power of Truth.
Mr.. Hurst states what ought to have been done,
but cannot prove that the regulations have not
been shamefully broken. Thomas Lambert, Esq,
deliberately asserts what most soemnly, before
eulogizes q treatment which was as infamous as it
was illegal. Now, whom are the public throughout
terested manager, who knows nothing except
what he mas learned from cabin passengers;
Thomas LAMBERT, Esq, who knew nothing about
the storage Tor the simple reason that he never
was there but once, on which occasion the stencil
Correspondent, who lived in the secrage and Kept
q diary OF the outrages committed on poor pas
sengers, / stake my public character as o man OF
against all the cash That Thomas Lambert, Esq, is
possessed OF, and am prepared to abide by the
Now, as Messrs. Hurst and Lambert are a little
personal, hope Will be excused If slightly re-
turn the compliment. III. Hurst says made some
damaging statements. Quite correct: Let hum
dsprove them Il he can. do not and shall not It
Withdraw OF them, hut shall in this letter add
one or two more for his satisfaction. He says ''t
seems'' had nothing personally to complain OF.
NV letter implied nothing the kind, as had just
as much as anybody else to complain of, and, II |
had not, extra kindness to me would not JUSTLY
extra unkindncss to oil others.
''Ile found in the superior officers everything
that could be deslred.' Mr. Hurst abors under
mistake as never said anything OF the KIND.
gave the officers credit or being polite," "gente
manly,n accomplished" &c, to me, personally;
but have yet 10 learn that commended their
humanity. man may be very gentlemanly and
accomplished and withal be heartless and even
lDhuman.
For the first time learn that my wife and I
were treated with the greatest consideration -
that the officers and cabin passengers treated me
with the greatest courtesy, and that deicacies
were sent every day from the cabin to my vile. IL
ia TO be regretted that received practical proof
OF the foregoing statement so far as the little