Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-15
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1892
t,hnlera and incarceration.

Cholera and Immigration.
The health authorities of the port of
New York are getting their quarantine ar
rangements into "ship-shape," and will be
able to deal with infected vessels moro
successfully hereafter. They were ill-pre-
pared for the appearance of cholera, and
though they went to work with vigor
which deserves the commentator OF the
country they seem not 10 have been very
considerate of the passengers on ship
board who we're subjected TO their regs-
lations.
There was deplorable lack of fore
thought in providing for the health and
comfort of those persons aboard ships de-
tanned in the bay, and in consequence
some very harsh things have been said
about DR.. JENKINS, the head OF the health
Office.
We have no disposition to shield him or
his subOrdinates from any censure which
they may have justly incurred, but DIR.
JENKINS is a brother-in-law OF Grand
Sachem CRokEs. of Tammany Hall. aud 1t
is not likely that the enemies of that or
ganization will allow themselves TO be
pleased with everything that he may do.
Perhaps he has been criticised too harshly.
His purchase, with the consent and APP
proval Of Governor Flown, OF the Fire
Island Hotel has been characterized as "a
iob.n because the price paid was IN excess
of "the real value" of the property; but
we all know that in such emergencies
those who have property to sell exact the
highest price, aud here there was no time
for higgling.
The acquisition OF this property by the
health authorities puts them IN position
70 deal very effectively with the disease.
And had the islanders yielded gracefully
TO the logic of the situation and welcomed
the Normannia's unhappy people to their
shore, we doubt not that the State of New
York would have literally compensated
them for any damage they might have sus-
tanned in consequence, but In view of then
unruly. not to say inhuman, conduct they
cannot now expect to receive very much
consideration.
Throughout all Of these cholera trou-
bles in the harbor of New York Governor
FLowER has acted with determination and
sagacity. He appreciates the peril that we
are in from the introduction OF cholera
from Europe and has made sure. as far as
is in his power, that the quarantine shall
be effective and that the persons subjected
to it shall be made to suffer as few hard
ships as possible. But for his prompt and
courageous dealing with the Fire Island
ers il may be doubted If that haven of
rest for the distressed passengers of the
Normannia would yet be in the possession
of the authorities. Upon the whole we
may fairly conclude that New York is GO
ing TO fight the introduction of cholera
with adequate resources and determine
ton and with far prospect Of keeping II
out.
One result of the aggressive measures
adopted against cholera-infected vessels
by the Federal and several State authori-
ties will be to put an embargo, for the
present certainly. on wholesale lmmigra-
ton. They will be largely aided. too, by
the stringent regulations in force in most
of the European countries, through which
emigrants must pass 70 reach their ports
OF embarkation. Under these circum-
stances comparatively few persons will
undertake 30 leave their homes on the
Continent TO come to America.
The greatest hardship of the existing
condition of things falls to the lot of those
emigrants who have sold out their little
possessions and gone TO Liverpool, South
ampton, and other ports in expectation of
taking passage for ou,thores. They will
not be received upon tie regular passenger
ships, and though promised speedy trans
portatIon on special ships (and board and
lodging meanwhile at the expense of the
steamship companies), they have to face
the probability of prolonged quarantine
upon arriving at New York. The condi-
ton of these peoples pitiable. They can
not we'll go back to the homes which they
have abandoned and IL is dangerous for
them 20 cross the Atlantic. Let trust that
arrangements will be made TO lessen their
hardships as much as possible; but for
this year, and we might add the next year,
there will be very little WI olesale
immigration TO our shores. Individuals
or families may come. but we shall not see
immigrants crowding in in companies Of
hundreds and thousands. Indeed. 80 long
as cholera continues IN Europe there will
be necessarily restriction upon immgra-
ton, especially upon what may be classed
almost as pauper immigration, and thus
our liability 20 cholera will be minimized.
kilograms which we publish this MORN
ing state that the bacteriologlst of the
New York Board of Health reports that
from investigations made by him he is
quite sure that FIVE suspected persons who
died in the city between the 9th and 18th
instant were victims of Asiatic cholera.
IL was, however. not ascertained how any
Of these deceased persons contracted the
disease, for as tar "a could be learned
they had not been in contact with any im-
ported cases.
The Board Of Health took the correct
view In determining not TO withhold this
information from the public. II will justify
them in taking the most rigorous measures
TO stamp out the disease whenever and
wherever it appears in New York, and we
have faith in the ability Of the authorities
there to hold il in check until radical
change Of weather comes TO their relief
and enables them TO extinguish IL almost
entirely. Meanwhile every other city
should look 70 its own sanitation. and be
prepared 70 deal with any cholera case
that may arise.
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