Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12
Sunday Reading for Congressmen
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

1icdSC w TIE the FAVOR OF re-
publishing this clipping from The Star OF
era, from Naples correspondent:
shows Rrsaeer tendency or tb ns year has
fore to move to America by way of Naples.
Forty thousand had gone by June. A
cholera in July. They were isolated for five
days. bathed, vaccinated and disinfected
The Massilia, Cashmere and Weser are
migrants to New York. The Hesper, are Of
the Anchor line, with 400 on board, has now
commenced her isolation In the harbor. and
her passengers viii De bathed and vacci-
been in a mutinous condition at what they
call outrageous conduct Of the American
government In Guarantining them In their
own country. The Crown Prince of the
North German Lloyd line will sail next
with about 500 emgrants
France has just announced that she will
not give clean bill of health to ships
from Naples. Greece has established quar-
antine. The breeding places Of cholera In
Naples are wells in the Bosso portion and
elsewhere. in which refuse food and sewage
Is thrown. Serene water. supplied to Naples.
Is excellent. but the people have to pay for
using more than certain quantity, and
have no hesitation in using filthy well
water. Bosso Porto is an ancient street
filled with itinerant vendors Of fruit. meat
and sewage-fed fish. People live in cell
i These have no outlet but the front door.
Another feature of Neapolitan architecture
is set Of buildings having windows only
on the courtyard. which receives most Of
the sewage.
Three persons died in a house facing
the post office. One was woman called
seller, one Of the popular beauties of Ma
Piles. The lower classes hide their sick
under beds. believing that cholera is the
result OF the upper classes trying to poison
the lower In order to reduce the pOpula-
ton. They even say that King Humbert is
In the conspiracy although he worked
nuvp nd fhavx ,ba,x
were dying at the rate of 1900 q day"
1 can vouch for all the correspondent
says concerning the abject poverty and
filth. as well as the ignorance and super
stition Of the masses in all Italian cities,
having been for many years United States
consul In that country and having passed
have just been walking through an italian
section of New York. and find ii simply a
reproduction Of like portions Of any city In
Will Congress allow this gorge Of vile. ig-
norant and diseased humanity to break
upon our shores at time when the ma
ton Is threatened with a scourge Of cholera ?
win Congress allow whole regiments of
foreign paupers to land on our shores at a
time when our own laboring people are
daily thrown out of employment by thou
sands through the stringency of financial
affairs? Does Congress know of the wave
OF unemployed American labor which is
lowing from the mines Of the Rocky noun
tains to meet the counter wave from the
manufacturing districts in the east. seek
ing employment and facing starvation for
the coming winter?
Does any intelligent Congressman not
know that all these regiments Of emigrants,
recruited from the unemployed masses of
every nation in Europe, will be picketed
upon us to be fed. not only during the COM
ing winter. but many long months in the
immediate future, while the nation Is re-
operating from this financial blow, at a
time when but slowly will return the power
to employ labor in the factories and mines
of America?
Congress must defend the honest indus
trial classes Of our own people against
this great danger that impends. One day 8
consideration and action, on Its part, will
stay the curse which threatens not only
the laboring classes, but every other in
The unemployed labor in our country,
during the next two or three years OF
financial regeneration. may be the cause
OF more trouble and expense to the nation
than can be conceived of today. Is 1t a
wise policy to add to the delicacy of the
situation by admitting this surplus Of pov-
erty from all the nations to divide the
loaf with our own citizens who would
labor for their bread at home, but cannot
find work? Shall this curse be perpetuated,
when 1t Is to the interest of no one except
| the foreign ship owner?
The silver question is Insignificant COM
one Of vital national Importance
If Congress will repeal the Sherman law
and pass brand new act prohibiting emf
grafton for at least one year 1t will &c
| back to its constituency with an assured
| chance of being returned" by a grateful
people. FRANCIS COTTON
New York, August IL