The Wilmingtonian., 1884-11-01
STRANGERS IN THE LAND.


Gangs of unconth fnr ners, Italians, Wal
rackS, Buhemlaus a. 81 ers Of the minor
European nationalities aie seen almost daily
tramping our streets in parties of score or
fifty at time. Mud bespattered boots and
coarse clothing indicate them to belong
to the laboring casses-usually the en-
/ ployees o. railway contractors who have in
hand the construction Of the various new lines
ofthe vicinity. These foreigners are at pres
ent the object of some notoriety. From
different parts of the country come almost
daily reports of their breaking the law-us-
ually that they have taken their derelict pay
masters in hand and treated them to an
| illustration Of that summary style of pro-
ceedings recognized in the court Of Judge
Lynch.
| 1t would be as wrong to com mend their
course as TO allow the deeds of their en-
| ployers to pass uncondemned.
They are strangers in the land-entirely
ignorant Of our customs, language and
laws.
1t is allowed that they perform their task
laborious, exposed and unenviable as it is,
to the satisfaction of their employers-but
it seems they are unusually clamorous in
insisting upon the full wage coming forth,
exactly on the day it is due.
Their presence here is animadverted upon
in me directions as repellent-they are os-
tracised-and have already become distinct
element in the social community. They
have made no effort at affiliation and are
come to be recognizedS to a certain degree,
as the Chinese, transient element, carry
ing with them, always an intention of ul-
teriorly returning to their native land, there
to end their days, enjoying the fruits of
their past industry and frugality here. Much
of the sentiment of hostility existing in
reference to this people may be ascribed to
the above causes. In their recent troubles,
they do not appear to get that share of pub
lie sympathy which similar causes would
instantly gam for our own people were they
in the same predicament. Turning to the
latest local instance, it appears that the sum
of $2.SS4, in hard cash was too strong a
temptation for the contractors Fitz Patrick
and McGurgan. These individuals abscond-
ed and left their italian employees on the
B. and P. road unpaid. At Newark, where
the work is being done, the laborers have
made no answer to the railroad company's
proposition to return to work, "but sullenly
and doggedly whine that they want their
money" 1t is reported that should the men
trouble is feared. In other parts Of the
country these foreigner laborcrs have, on
similar proyocation, seized their derelict
paymasters and, with the hangman's rope
around their necks, have compelled them to
dsgorge.
Without attempting to palliate the offence
against our laws in taking the matter in
their own hands, it may be asked in extenua-
tion of their deeds ''what recourse had
they?''
Without the sympathy of the community
in which they found themselves, discover
ing that they were in the hands of unscru-
pulous paymasters, located in outlying dis
tricts where legal trickery can be so manip-
ulated that the real offenders have every
facility for the evasion of justice, and the
consummation of their fraudulent intents
upon this helpless class can be effected al
most with impunity-is it matter of sur
prise that we see these results 1t would be
only just to suppose that in the ignorance
Of the liabilities they incur they took the
law into their own hands.
There should be vigorous demand from
all quarters that the rascally deeds of these
irresponsible contractors receive their due
in summary condemnation aud punishment
at the hands of justice.