Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-01
FERRER0 APOLOGIES
FOR the AMERICANS
Translation of Comments Of
Trenchant Italian Writer
In the Rome Tribuna.

In the Rome Tribuna.
The exalted American. who thinks
his country immesaurably above Italy
and would thank Victor Emanuel to
keep his subjects at home instead Of
letting them flock to our shores. may
be surprised to find that the Italians
have no such lofty view of us. The
eminent historian Ferrero finds it
necessary to tell his cOuntrylnen in
the Tribuna (Rome) that they should
not Judge US too harshly, or expect
America to equal Italy In. the excel
lence of its government or a. a place
to live.
Money is to be had here, so they
should overlook our crudity. He re-
come here sacrifice some things their
own country alone can provide they
find peace, plenty, and a ready labor
market. He does not hesitate to point
out some of the social and political
faults of the new world, but he says
"a stream Of gold" flows into Italy.
He thus protests against Italian
grumblers:
The enemies of America are vast
ing their breath when they describe
the transatlantic countries as bar
barous lands, where all sorts of disap-
pointments and snares await the emf
grant. Doubtless If it be expected that
every emigrant is to be considered a
victim Of his adopted country unless
he returns home a millionaire, Amer
lea may fairly be looked upon as one
vast tomb of disappointed hopes. But
a different conclusion is reached If we
are content that all our emigrants,'
excepting a few unfortunate or unfit
ones, find in that continent an easy
Inc abundant livelihood, that a goodly
number of them can by economy amass
a respectable patrimony, and that a
few of them are successful and ener-
If we can claim for America as much
as this, surely we have no reason to
complain"
These are the essential things Of
life. and the Italian immigrant in our
country must not sigh after the blue
skies and vineyards of his native land.
continues Mr.. Ferrero:
If In America many n~ecessaries of
life are more abundant and a~ttainable
than in Europe. If labor is better paid.
II money Is more plentiful, and changes
hands more swiftly. the immigrant
must be satisfied to live in the midst
of that abundance n wealth as q
deprived of many of those props and
supports which in q country of older
civilization are within reach Of all,
even the poorest. The new country is
after all situated in this base world of
ours and not in a hemisphere or con-
tinent OF Utopia. The natives con-
slider America as created and ordained
to be their own fatherland, and regard
foreign immigrants as so many chance
strangers. They look upon the new
conner az lords of the land look upon
their guest. as in all times nations have
looked upon foreign people who come
among them. This feeling is universal,
and why should we expect Americans
TO prove an exception to the rule?'
{. OF the darker side Of American
civilization this writer says:
/. The charges made against America
by Europeans all circle round one point
the political monopoly claimed by
preserve that monopoly, and the use
which is made Of it. The political and
administrative corruption, the waste
and i~rregularity in the disbursement of
public money, the arbitrary and violent
OF those In power, the PARTIAL
administration of Justice which Italians
notice are the direct consequences OF
an oltgarchic democracy. and Italians
have much to suffer, no only
in their material interests, but in
their national pride and personal dig
nifty when they find themselves sub.
ject to q kind Of rude dictatorship
which m~asquerades under the name O.
q republic"
!: He gives to his fellow countrymen
therefore. the following advice:
], Il do not think that Italians wiz
gain n advantage from abusing the
country. But like their brothers II
Europe. they are too much disposed t.
sedittons and complaint in political
matters. It is quite useless to indulge
the illusion that 1t would be easy t.
transport European principles OF gov
rnmen and European social dlstinc.
ons 70 America and to complain that
amy prevent this being done. There
are certain things and institutions that
are excellent In Europe, which, II takel
across the ocean,, would only aggravate
the evils they sought to cure"
Are people then to shut their eyes
esks the historian. and pretend that
America Il . new celestial paradise?.
BY no means, and yet
We can at least say that the trans
Atlantic countries are rich. that they
are rapidly being developed, that there
y plenty Of work and good wages:
that without America not only Italy
put al Europe would miss many COM
forts Ia lie and fail to obtain many
which they now enjoy. But
We must otill repeat that America 70
oar OF this world. and that the ad.
vAntAees there for those who come
rom Europe are mingled With many
srewbAcss. which should Do borne With
patience because they are Inevitable.
Only time can bring . remedy. for
here = nothing more difficult OF dan.
ferrous than to change. even for az
9eeter. q form OF government whether
M worst or the most l~netncient. 81
:ho most admirable"
-srEFLE ~