The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-19

EvARTs Is tho accomplished custodian, thcrc
Is a recent httcr from Minister JONI WELSH
telling sad story OF dastitutiOn In the ease
81 an American citizen now soiourning
abroad Tho IA, u in the case have already
been referred by Mr.. EvAFrs to the House
Committee ON Appropriations, whose duty
It IL, as everybody knows, 10 relieve from
the public purse the necessities OF indigcnt
citizens stranded on foreign shores.
The American citizen whose destitute cir
cumstances Mr.. john WELSH has officially
communicated TO our Government is Mr..
JONI WELSH himself HAYEs's Minister at
the Court ot st Jamcss reports his inability
20 live in London in respectable and digni-
fled manner upon his present salary Of
$1,000 year. A brief arthnetical oalcu-
htion viii suffice to show what n plight Mr..
JOHN WELSH Is in. His sl7, 50Oa year barely
equals the income from an English estate
worth 10000 pounds sterling, or SGOO,OO.
What Englshman with pittance like this
can hold his head erect ON the streets Of
London or hopc for anything better for him
self and family than beggars fare and an
uncnding fight with the wolf at the howell
door ?
when Mr.. JoHN wEG.sH's petition for an
lItFflNf Ol pay tOltlfN DtlOIt NNllKIfNS IL
will probably be said that in past years
American Ministers to Great Britain have
lived upon 81, 500 u year without complain
ing 1t will perhaps be- pointed out that
Gen. ScHISCK. whose habitual diversions
are known to have been expensive, and Mr..
PTERREPOET, whose outlay for copies Of
BURKE's Pecrage was considerable, man
aged TO keep body and soul together upon
that sum, and even to support the dignity
Of the Office" so far as the dignity OF the
Office can be supported by giving dinners.
II may also be urged that when the Hon.
INDEX NoYEs was offered the French mis-
sion with similar salary, In payment for
his professional services in counting in Mr..
HAYES, he accepted 1t upon business princi-
piles, and has never indicated that he does
not regard its income as sufficient pecu-
mary compensation for the work that he did
in Florida. Why, then, some short-sighted
Congressman will be sure 10 ask, should
Mr.. JOHN WELSH report himself in destitute
circumstances
II must be remembered that this Is the
same Mr. JoHN WELSH who, little more
than one year ago, was taxed by the Span
ish Government as the owner of the estate
called Purio. in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, and
Of the one hundred and thrty-eight African
slaves employed in the cultivation OF the
Purio. When the attention OF the people
was called TO that interesting fact by The
Sun. Mr. JOHN WELSH, then about TO sail
for England, made no reply. Nevertheless,
his brother and partner, Mr.. WILLIAM
WELSH, after some evasion, admitted that
the firm had taken the plantation in pay
of Ialf fbnf upit la no
JONI was aware that they were slave own
crs They had owned only the truly good
part Of the estate-the houses. land, fix
lures, mules, and the like. If any slaves
can be found" said Mr.. joins WELsH's
brother WILLIAM, lin which s. Il w.
WELSH have an interest they Will
certainly bc freed" Indeed, 1t was
his impression that the Purio estate
had long before that passed out OF
the ownership OF the firm. Then
The Sun telcgraphcd 10 Cuba and learned
from an official source that Purlo still
figured upon the mdtriculd or Government
list OF property sworn b b. the owners, a.
belonging 10 5. n w. WELSH, and that taxes
were still paid in thcr name upon it and
upon its one hundred and thrty-cight
slaves.
Now the whole country knows that MIR.
JONI WELSH is an exceedingly philnu-
thropic man. To borrow the language OF a
popular comic opera, q" II is greatly to his
credit, and he himself has said it," In his
speech at farewell banquet given to him
| by his Philadelphia neighbors, Mr.. joins
WELSH remarked with emotion that seemed
10 be prophetic:
when have extended my hand IN the cause Of
charity did not knoV that the shifting sand, Of time
might require 1t Ia be outstctchcd as snppianu
When aided To provide asy lam for the destitute OF
hospital Tor the sick and woued did not know ct The
uuuuuborcd III that flesh Is heir Co.,. and that the bed
which provided for others might tor the when
have nrthered the cause OF education and strven To
give 10 institutions 81 science aud learning com
| mandns position have not been stimulated to It by
CONSEQUENCES ct my nccdf When have adv ocatoi
and urged measures in which the COOL OF my country
concerned not quite sensible that It, nag b,
my proiocuoni when put years OF labor and anxiety
AZ the command of my fellow country for their cen
tnnlal commenorauon. was It not because was toe
weak 10 resist the call that heard coming down a. me
on the wings of umcf Ana now that demand ha, be-
! made upon me hy The President OF the United stats
sanctioned rs the Senate Bearing upon the impress OF
duty, my weakness has asnin put sponhty upon me-
aud going forth m the service OF country Thus
tits that through M my weakness may have led me into
paths which TIE many avoid amt my friends, II Is tor
| that which you here and now applaud mel'
With philanthropy ike this for the gov
erning principle OF his career, to what
sacrifices may not Mr.. JoHN WELSH have
submitted himself after he had learned in
the shadow Of Exeter Hall and by the con
versation OF intelligent Englshmon that
slavcholdng is an unrighteous and detesta-
bic thing what would be the course
natural to man such as Mr.. JOHN WELSH
has described himself to be The first step
would be To emancipate the one hundred
and thrty-cight slaves on the Purio
plantation, no matter at what sacrifice
Of property interests. Tho next step
would be 10 provide literally for their ed
ucation and for the Improvement Of their
condition. In such work $1,000 Il year would
go but little way, and the margin left for
the personal expenses Of a man conscien-
tously engaged in that work would be in
deed small. We regard this rs the probable
explanation Of Mr.. JOHN WELsH's present
poverty and distress.
But that Is no reason why lac should ask
| Couprpss to raise his INV He should Tnthpr