The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-14
THE SLAVE CHILDREN.
The Nations Protection Of the Homeless
Vain Of Italy.

The Nations Protection OF the Homeless
Wain Of Italy.
The people OF this nation have hailed with pleas
ure the abolition, by an act Of Congress, Of the
infamous traf1ic In young Italian children. The
passage OF this bill marked the universal over
throw OF this abuse not only IN New York, but
throughout every city in the United States The
poor friendless, homeless boys and girls who, in
summer and winter weather, trod our streets have
already disappeared, and their absence is relief.
Many have found their way into benevolent insti-
tutions many have been abandoned by the pddrOnt
to make their own living, while not few, it Is to
be feared. have been carried OF by their old mas
tiers to Canada and the West Indies, where their
slavery will continue Signor Moreno, an Italian
gentleman. who has given much time and labor to
this subject, was visited yesterday evening by q
HERALD representative with the view Of obtain
ing further information On the subject
81 have called to ascertain any new facts in re-
gard to the enslavement OF Italian children.
HOW IT BEGAN.
Will you give me the history Of the rise OF this
infamous trafic, together with Its causes and re-
suits ?" asked the HERALD representative.
"With pleasure, Sir. The traf1lc was relic OF
the Bourbon government In the kingdom Of Ma
pies. These children are partly kidnapped from
their parents but some fathers are induced by
subterfuges to give them up. The parent is told
that his children shall be apprenticed to me-
chanical trade in America. All the kidnappers
went out from America with passports furnished
them here, and they returned to America with
children obtained in any manner practicable,
which children they sold or hired out to Otner Ital.
lans. known as pddrOf1f.
THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PADRoNI
are In Mulberry, Baxter, Mott, Elm, Sullivan,
Marion and Crosby streets. The cities Of Italy
Marsico Vetere, Mersca Moro, Castel Vinzano,
Viggiano and other towns of Southern Italy. How
these children have been landed in CASTLE Garden
has always been q mystery. 1t Is very strange
that the police who are stationed at that place
should have passed them when they were all under
the charge or one man. This man, known as CHIEF
Of convoy was usually elderly in appearance. At
any rate the man always got the children.
TEN Of these were
the long story Of their wretchedness and their
misery. wrote TO the King OF Italy, to Messrs.
Minghetti, members OF the Kings Cabinet, de.
the recall Of the Consul also showing clearly by
statistics that this evil was taking greater proper
tions. Their answers were evasive promising
that they would give the subject their earliest
attention, but by their slowness which is charac-
teristic Of the present Italian Ministry nothing
practical was DONE"
AMERICA THE LAST RESOURCE.
"Discouraged, then, with the apathy shown by
the Italian government you determined to appeal
to the American Congresss" asked the HERALD
eyes, sir; belle wing 1t to be the only course by
which this deep.rooted evil could be stopped
T went to Boston to g see the late senator
for the abolition OF the white slave trade ia tratta
Gel Otdncii" Mr.. sumner, with his characteristic
earnestness told me this trafic was indeed infamous
and should be stopped. lie offered freely to do
all IN his power to that end, and requested me TO
N Wrlte out statement S,. OF grievances and have
ington lie introduced the bill on December l,
1873 Mr. Nefey also introduced the same bill in
the House, and II finally passea both houses unan-
mously on June Is last. Az passed, the act reads
as f0llows:-
AN ACT to protect persons OF foreign birth against orc
BILE con straint or involuntary seryitude
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives United States Of Congress asse
bed That whoever shall knowingly and wilfully bring
into the United States, the Territories thereof any
person nvegled or forcibly kidnapp In any other
eountry with intent to hold snehperson 50 nveised
and whoever shall knowingly and wnfuily hold any
other person in involuntary confinement or to any
involuntary service, or who shall transfer any such
service to other person. except for the purpQse Of