, 1873-12-06
OPPRESSED ITALIAN CHILDREN,
Letter OF Celso Ctu7ur Eaovcno to H1r.
Sumner, Asking for pr1toetion. md
Nlr. 5lllnncr's Ieply.

Lcttor of Celso Cto9ur EAovcno TO MIR,
Simmer, AHlsf:av for prtteetIon. and
Nlr. 5ulnncr's 1seply.
NEw, York, Nov. 10, 1879.
DEAR SIN: Why do you not rasBo your ,,owor-
fnlyoico in hol,alf OF tho oppressed aud iofonsc.
loss Italian chillron in our midst, who ero holt,
III bondage by tho hoartlcss radroni-you, MIR,
Sumner, who have boon 30 juatty calod Tho
MoHcB Of The lato Alavca In tho Southern Statos?
Tlorc arc At least 1000 Of tlon,, Of both soxoB,
In tho various cities Of tho United Statcs who
are held III abject slavery BY tloir cruel ownors;
tito great majority Of whom have becn stolen
lom their PARENTS IN tho southern provinces Of
1faly, or invciglcd from tlcir homes through
talso ofrescntntionn--that Of having tho chit
trc1. taught II mechanical tralo boIns a favorlte
o1lo with tho wretclloH who thrive by tho sweat
and toll Of tho poor little oreaturoa.
power to call the attention Of tho public TO thin
infamous blsiuosB. Indeed, I havo written to
tue King Of Italy OIL t to snbject, to four Of hB
Cabinct Ministers, to tho Senators md men,bors
pers s % bo IN itaV sd Asrea t1 so'ssa Sor
Hrecttnlly request you, Mr.. Sumner to introduce
bili In tho bet,hte this session for TIM abolish
mout Of this groat, wrong, and yo11 nlay bo ns-
allred thst tho tl'anlss and bonedicttonB Of tho
unfortunate 1talian children, and Of thc,r t'eBo-
late mothers, will follow you In your old tays.
In ndditfan to this evil tho1o IL vet anuihor
would call your attontion to. Thero arc nov ii,
tlla country thousands Of mon a1ld woi1,c, Of
greedy. cl,nractorlcss and irresponsible men to
America, 1lis ''ring bcforohnnd promising to to
secure tlscm on tller arrival loro largo grants Of
fertile lati' IN milder climate than even TINT
Of Italy. They also g,yo them tho idea tint they
Will begivcn ct'45'ccs of finding gold mncs III
tic now country which will bo allotted to tfen,,
as we'll as Of securing large aumB OF money
easily. which will enablo them to accumulate
considerable fortune in a few years. Tl,s
intended Victims tfat, II they 4aYe not tic ready
cash, tlloir passage to tl1y country will bn
Elvei1 them, provided n mortgage IL gcc,,rcI
upon, thctr farms or othor roal estate in Ilaly,
whicl, generally amounts to four times tho yalio
Of tho money advanced to pay tho passage But.
Alas! such bright dreams noon disappear. On
their arrival hore tho victims find themselves
completely at tho mercy Of their dcccivcrs, and
grinlcrs-Home with little dancing-gir1 or q
monkey; otho1B arc compelled to got employ
nlcnt III strcct-swoepors, othors to pick up rags
or waste paper. Oftentho intlrn, and Tho old arc
obliged to beg on tho street corners aud yet
others also aro sent nround from honse to hougc,
with falEo certificate In hand, tolng Of their
losses by fro or water, papal or Governmental
persecution In their native country. Others,
again, a!e compellcdto play tho part Of the blind,
&c. All thelo miserable wretcLos, every OVEN
lng, hnvo to give IN account Of their earnings
through tho day to their masters. Tho various
headquarters Of tleBo prosecuted and lucklesH
conntrynon Of mine are ut the Five Points, Bax-
Ter street. Mulberry street, hIott street, Eliza
Sullivan street, in tho City of Now York.
MIR. sumner, thoso wrongs cast dishonor
upon tho proud 1talinn name not only, but they
arc besides direct violation of tho American
laws, and an insult to this ago OF freedom and
With profound renr1ect ani hfrh conaid arnt;or