The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-29
FOREIGN PAUPERs.
How Emigration Is Assisted-HOw the Peas
ants Come, and Why They Are Sent

ants Come, and Why They Are Sent
West.
Philadelphia Times
General Buffers action in refusing to allow
Massachusetts to harbor the steerage passen-
gers sent over to America at the expense of
the British government has caused a number
OF people elsewhere, and notably in Phila-
delphia, to inquire whether it would not be
advisable to agitate for Federal legislation to
prevent England from flooding this country
with the pauperized population of portion
of her own dominions. le tS-
John H. Campbell is the president of the
Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Phila-
delphia, which, in conjunction with the Hi
bernlan Society, employs agents to look after
the welfare of the immigrants from Ireland.
Roth of these societies expend a large sum of
money yearly to assist destitute Irish immi-
grants; but this is but 1.-THE of the good
| they do, because the agents see that the girls
get respectable lodgings put men and women
on the right track to their destination, and
even exert themselves to procure situations
for those who wish to remain in Pennsyl-.
vania.
The figure of old Irsh-speaking Bartholo-
NEW Gillian is well-known on the wharves of
the Red Star Line and the American. No
sooner is steamer from the other side
signaled than he hurres to the wharf, and
| as soon as it is anchored he dives down into
the steerage and makes himself known, as
well as his mission. to his countrymen and
women. If a poor, unsophsticated girl
wants to send telegram to her friends Gil
liam gets ii off at once; if she has no friends
and is a total stranger he will even take her
home to his own family; if a peasant wants
TO go to somewhere up the country, indefati-
gable Barty gets his ticket and sees him on
the right car. For these services he gets 50
steamer, or about $4 week, and if he were
not shoemaker by trade he would run
lively chance of starving for his philalan-
thropy.
Mr. Campbell said: 'In this-city there is a
fund in the hands of Peter Wright & Sons
and each assisted emigrant gets something
like $2.75. That is all they have to buy food
and necessaries with on their railway jour
ney and during their brief stay in Philadel-
phia. The first batch that were sent out here
had to travel to places in Minnesota, nearly
1000 miles away from any seaport, and when
they reached their destination the majority
were practically paupers already and had to
throw themselves upon the charity of the
community. That seems to me to be an
outrage perpetrated by the British
government against this country
hold, and SO will every intelligent person,
that England has no right to send us these
miserable people. Indeed no immigrants at
all should come here, for Ireland is big
enough for all her children now. The Brit
ish government may call this deportation of
Irish men, women and children, assisted em-
lgratlOn, but 1t is really forclDle emigration,
which is very different thing from volun-
tary emigration" After thus expressing his
views Mr.. Campbell referred to to the good
work performed by the Catholic Temperance
Society and the Hibernian Society, and said
Miss Smith o. Brien had written that Phia-
delphia is the only place in America where
Immigrants are properly looked after upon
their arrival. .4d reg
Philip Barry is the agent of the Hibernan
Society. He confirmed Mr.. Campbells state
menus in the main. THE reason for
the English government sending these
assisted immigrants so far West" he
said, 81 can only surmise. If
they were left in Philadelphia or any
of the seaports they would speedily become
paupers, and then they would be shipped
back again to ireland; but when ethey are
once taken thousand miles away into the
country there is no one to send them back,
and the English government is troubled by
them no more How many of these assisted
immigrants have arrived in Philadelphia?
There were sixty-nine in the first batch, 1873
in the second, and how many in the third
batch which arrived last week in the British
Crown, l have not learned vet, but there
were a good many. l was delighted to hear
of General Buffers action, and [ wish that
the Governor of every State in the Union
would show as strong determination that
this country shall not be used as a sink for
England's poor, misgoverned paupers."