The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-04
CATHOLIC COLONIZATION.

q Democrat
CATHOLIC COLONIZATION.
In our New York dispatches we published
the following outlines OF crude scheme |
for the colonization Of some OF the un-
settled regions of the West. The dispatch |
In question informed us that large num-
Der OF Catholics In New York assem-
bled on Saturday evening In the Catholic
Lyceum, In response to an invitation signed
by Bishop Spaulding, Of Peoria. and Bishop
ireland, coadjutor, Of st. Paul. The object OF
the meeting was to discuss Catholic coloniza
ton and to raise subscriptions for an Irish
Catholic Colonization Society.
It was maintained at this meeting that the
best interests Of the Catholic Church and the
prosperity Of the Irish In America could be
protected by sending this class Of people to
till the American soil.
With the above purposes In view Catholic
Emigration Society was organized with q
capital stock of one hundred thousand dol
lars for start.
The organization was encouraged and In
dorsed by some OF the most prominent secu-
lar and political leaders ID the State Of New
York. 1t opened under the fostering care OF
the foremost Catholic prelates OF the Empire
State, and received the Endorsement Of the
Hon. John Kelly, who said that he thought,
under proper management, the proposed
scheme would be successful, II the society
succeeded only In giving living to COM
parative few Of the many starving residents
of the great cities OF the country.
The establishment Of Catholic colony Ia
Minnesota was cited as precedent to show
that large numbers Of poor families had been
removed from our overcrowded cities to this
great State OF the West, where after worthy
efforts they had succeeded In establishing
themselves and winning the comforts Of a
home OF those who were forwarded to such
localities only 2per cent were dissatisfied with
the change In their condition, and only small
part Of this number returned to the localities
from which they had been sent.
Without Ia any way considering the fact Of
this scheme having been organized and fos-
tered under seetarian influences we must say
that 1t deserves the sympathy, as well as the
support, OF all good citizens Of this country.
1t proposes to take the surplus OF labor, with
Its consequent suffering and distress, from
the great cities of the country, where It Is
demonstrating, and, OF course, non-produc-
ing, and to place 1t In regions Of the countly
where labor is wanted, where honest work
commands honest wages, where it will be
self-supportng, and where 1t will be pro-
ductive Of wealth instead of being.a drain
upon the over-taxed charities Of the crowded
cities OF the East.
The abnormal condition Of labor at the
North for the past two years demonstrates
the urgent need for the adoption Of some
such measure to properly distribute the
labor Of the country. The lessons OF 1877
should not be forgotten. It will be remem-
bered how in that year the general distress OF
the laboring classes found temporary vent
from It's terrible restraining power In the de-
structive riots which occurred in Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Illinois and other great States OF
this country. II all the Indications are to be
believed, we will witness similar outbreaks
in the summer Of 1879 unless something Is
done, unless some step Ia taken which will
promise speedy relief from their sufferiDgs to
the poor, overworked and under-paid labor
ing classes OF the North.
These men should be sent away from the
improbable mines and profitless manufacto-
ries Of the Eastern States and transferred to
the rich fields and undeveloped lands OF the
great Mississippi valley, where their toll is
enlivened not only by the promise of speedy
recompense to themselves, but where 1t will
show result OF increased prosperity to the
whole country.
Will the fanatics and the false philanthro-
pists who have been obviously seeking to bene-
tit the condition OF Southern negroes by In
ducing them to emigrate from their natural
homes to the prairies Of the Northwest now
show that they have been instigated only by
motives Of true philanthropy?
Will they manifest as much zeal in attempt
ing to relieve the suffering of their white
brethren OF the North as they have shown for
the more prosperous members of another
race in the South? Will they help in this
good and catholic work of removing their
fellow-citizens from over-woried mines and
| over-crowded manufactures to the free and
fertile soil of the Western plains and prairies,
or will they still remain utterly Obvious to
the want and suffering Of their own brethren
and sacrifice their misplaced charities by be-
slowing them upon an inferior race which
can only be injured by their unreasonable
aid.
10 these men we would say: Charity begins
at home. You have your OWL "pcor always
with YOU" Help them, ana we will try to
lind the time to help ours.
DIR. @. BEARD,
oCJLIsT AND AURIsT,