The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-07-06
ASSISTED EMIGRANTs.
A REPRESENTATIVE IRISH DELEGA-
TIoN PRESENTS THE CASE TO THE
PRESIDENT.
President Arthur's Response.

| WASHINGTON, June 23.-A deputatior
representing Irishmen waited upon Presi
dent Arthur this afternoon and presented
him the resolution concerning the assisted
emigration, adopted at the recent meeting o.
the National League at Philadelphia. The
delegation was composed of the following
gentlemen: Alexander Sullivan, Presiden
Of the Irish National League, Chicago; Jno.
OByrne, Vice President, Cincinnati; Eugene
Kelly, New York; Jsmes Lynch, New York;
Henry Hogert, New York; VIM. B. Wallace
New York: of the Irish Emigrant Society
Judge John Rooney, Brooklyn, n. Y; Johr
G. MCGUIRE, Brooklyn; James Reynolds,
New Haven, Conn.,; Bernard Callaghan
Chicago; j. F. Armstrong, Augusta, Ga.
Michael j. Doyle, Savannah Ca; VIM. j.
Mulhern, Augusta, Ga; Edward johnson
Watertown, Wis; Hugh McCafrey, Phila.
delphia; T. b. Ftz, Boston; John Fitzgerald
Lincoln, Neb.; John Fahrey, Rochester, N.
| Chester, Pa; Octavius A. White, New York
EugeRe Kelley, of New york, was chairman
of the delegation, and j. G. McGure, OF
Brooklyn, secretary. The party were re-
ceived in the Presidents library and Sullivan
addressed the President. In his argument,
which was long and comprehensive and sus.
tanned by copious figures, Sullivan said that
| the resolution was aimed at the curse of
| enforced pauperism and not at its wretch ed
| victims; nor was 1t designed to discourage
voluntary and beneficial immigration to this
| country. He said this country, whose
entire civilized population is of immigrant
stock, and whose natural resources are only
in an infant state of development, will con-
tinue gratefully to receive those who freely
sever foreign bonds and undertaking the ex-
elusive political allegiance of Americans,
bring the Republic loyal hearts and useful
hands. But 1t Is against international equi-
ty for England, first to reduce to pauperism
those she claims as subjects, then force them
as charges upon the United States. The
Americans of Irish descent are compelled
annually to send to Ireland at least five
million dollars to save the lives of British
subjects in that country. The government
of tine United States should take such action
as will put stop to this imposition. Sui
livan showed that emigration Is not ne
cessity in Ireland, whose food crops are more
than enough for q much larger population,
and which pays $30,000,000 in taxes to
England over and above what is returned 10
Ireland In expenditure. Notwithstandin ng
this surplus of money, which goes to pay
off the Imperial debt, half her population are
living in mud cabins, and are kept in q state
of destitution ALWAYS bordering Oh famine.
He urged that the United States, thirty-ive
per cent. of whose population are Irish,
should be moved by humanity to ask Eng
land TO remove the causes which produce
this fFightful condition. He cited prece-
dents similar to that created by Great Britain
in Naples, Turkey, Bulgaria, Bosnia,
Herzegovina and Posen.
Smith, of Ohio, said seventy-thfee of these
impoverished people were sent to Tifin and
were a burden upon that community. If
a less number had been sent, then some
effort might have been made to provide for
them; but the present party was too large
TO support. Smith said his neighbors had
insisted that he should come here and lay
the matter before the President, so that the
trouble might be remedied.
The President replied to the address as
follows: "The subject you present will
receive my careful consideration. 1t has
already been under consideration by the
Secretary Of State, and correspondence ia
regard to it has been had with our diplo.
matte and consular representatives, and an
investigation into the fact is now being made
by them. 1t Is, of course, proper that this
government should ascertain whether
nation with which 1t holds amicable relations
Is violating any obligation of International
friendship before calling attention to any
such matters. In the meantime, the law |
now provides that the officers of the treasury
shall examine into the condition of passen- |
gers arriving as emigrants 10 any part ofthe |
United States, and If there should be found |
any convict, lunatic, idiot, or any person |
unable to take care of himself without be- |
coming a public charge, they shall report |
the same in writing to the collector Of such |
port, and such person shall not be permit
ted to land. The investigation will be
and exhaustive on this side of the |
Atlantic aud the other, and In the meantime
the law will be strictly enforced"