The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-25
THE ASSISTED EMIGRANTs.
A Strong Protest by Mr.. Sullivan
and Others.
The Reply of the Chief Magistrate.

WASHINGTON, June ga deputation of rep
resentative Irishmen waited upon President
Arthur this afternoon and presented to him
the resolution concerning assisted emgra-
tion" adopted at the recent meetings of the
league. in Philadelphia. The delegation
was composed of the followin ng gentle-
men: Alexander Sullivan, President Of
the Irish National League, Chicago; John o.
Byrne, Cincinnati; Eugene Kelly, New York
JAS. Lynch, New York; Henry Hoguet, New
York; Wm. b. Wallace, M. D., New York, Of
the Irish Emigration Society; Judge John
Rooney of Brooklyn, N. Y; John Q. Mcclure
of Brooklyn, N. Y; James Reynolds of New
Haven; Bernard Callahan of Chicago; J. Il.
Armstrong OF Augusta, Ga; Michael j. Doyle
Of Savannah, Ga; VIM j. Mullen of Augusta,
Ga; Edward johnson, M. d., OF Watertown,
Wis; Hugh McGaifrey OF Philadelphia; L. b,
Fitz of Boston; John Fitzgerald OF Lincoln,
Neb,; John Falley Of Rochester, N. X; p.
Smith Of Cleveland, o.. John Roach OF Ches-
ter, Pa; o. A. White, hof New York
Mr.. Eugene Kelly was chairman of the dele
cation, and Mr.. John @. Mcclure acted as sec
retary. The party were received IN the Presi-
dents libaary Mr.. Sullivan made an address
70 the President and was followed by Henry
i. Hoguet and James Lynch OF New York.
and others.
Mr.. Sullivan presented the resolution adopt.
ed by the Philadelphia Irish convention
against the policy of sending pauper Irish to
this country. The question he desired to
bring 10 the attention of tho American gov
ernment was, "Shall q foreign goyerninent
be permitted 10 reduce by law and force to
pauperism large numbers Of those from whom
II claims allegiance and TO whom it owes the
protection due subjects; and then compel the
republic OF the United States TO receive and
provide for them?" Sullivan said as American
citizens they protested against this outrage on
humanity, civilization and on international
equity. He urged that tho President M AXE an
official protest to Great Britain against further
deposit on the territory of the United States of
persons reduced by misrule to pauperism in
Ireland, and in the name of humanity the
British government be requested by the gov
ern,nent Of the United States to remove the
causes which create and perpetuate this mis-
cry and keep nearly i've millions human be-
lngs In distress and on the verge OF a most
frightful death To point out that the COM
pulsory deportation to the republic is not an
equitable or humane method for improving
the condition of the so-caled subjects Of Eng
land is surely within the rights, II 1t be not one
States
In closing Mr. Sullivan introduced Mr..
Hoguet, president of the Irish Emigrant Saw
ings Bank OF New York, who said that the in
mates of poorhouses and other dependents
who have been receiving outdoor relief ia Ire
land have been aided by the British
government to emigrate to this country.
II is matter OF general knowledge that
Parliament has voted 800, 900 to serve that
purpose aiIa-ss~tagents of the British govern
ment came to this country. to perfect arrange
ments Tor the reception of these aided emf
grants. Application was made by Major Gas
keli to the immigration society at New York
Tor that purpose and the society declined 10
have anything to do with such business aud he
proceeded TO Boston where he met with better
saccess The aided emigrants consist largely
of people lunable to work, old women and
young children. They have been aided to the ex-
tent OF having their passage paid and given a
miserable pittance OF ten shillings upon arrival
here TO enable them to go to their friends.
Of course the sum is entirely Inadequate and
in consequence they were compelled to seek
aid insNew York, Boston and elsewhere. IL
regular attidayits in regard TO these facts are
required they can be furnished We respect
iuiiy request you to uss your influence 10 pre-
vent recurrence of this state OF things 1t il
TO the interest of American municipalities
to have the progress of this aided emigration
scheme stopped. At the proper time you W i'll
doubtless make appropriate Recommendation
to Congress upon this subject
Mr.. James Lynch of New York president OF
the Irish emigration society, was the next
speaker. He read an extract from a letter on
the'subject of aided emigration and said the
charges for maintaining the poor of Ireland
fali upon the poor law guardians which mad
at recent meeting in Limerick passed a resc-
luton to TO the effect that no more aid could
Do given these emigrants. He also said
that such aided emigration il, not stopped
will result in the stripping of paupers from
the poor houses of ireland. Many Of this
class OF emigrants which have arrived in this
country made application to be sent back to
ireland of II emigrants recently arrived only
five were able TO work.
James Reynolds of New Haven, Conn, prs-
sented letter Of Introduction TO the President
tIom ex-Gcv. Bigelow of Conn. and stated that
is OF these forced emigrants we're now Ia New
Haven, IN destitute circumstances only five OF
whom were able to work. To those five Rev
nolds furnished temporary employment so as
70 enable them to bridge over their temporary
difficulties to prevent them from becoming
American paupers. Citizens OF every munici.
paltty and community in America have ss
much interest financially and otherwise in put
ting stop TO this system of emigration as the
irish American has. Everybody looks upon
this thlDg as an indignity that should not be
tolerated by the American people
MIR. Smith of Ohio, said 73 of these people
were sent to Tiffin and were burden upon the
community The party was TOO large for them
to receive.
Che Presidentrep to the addresses as fol-
lows:
The subject yen present will receive my
careful consideration. 1t has already been nm
der consideration by the Secretary Of State.
correspondence In regard to il has been had
with our diplomatic and consular representa-
tiyes, and au investigation into the fac.s is
now being made by them. 1t is Of course
proper that tho government should ascertain
whether any nation with which il holds arnica-
bic relations is violating any obligation OF in
ternatonsl friendship before calling attention
TO any such matter. In the meantime the law
now provides that the officers of the Treasury
shall examine into the condition of the passen-
gers arriving as immigrants at any port of the
United States, and If there should be found
any convict lunatic, idiot or any person unable
to take care Of himself without becoming
public charge. they shall raporf fbn eaYn. IL,
writing TO the collector OF such port and said
person shall not be permitted to land The
investigation will be thorough and exhaustive
on this side Of the Atlantic, and on the other
and IN the meantime this law will be strictly
enforced
Each of tao delegates was then introduced
to the President by Mr.. Sullivan and the con-
ference closed.
COMMISSIQMEp EuANs