TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



185 



cart-shovers and organ-grinders, with an army of ignorant, unskilled, 

 and degraded humanity. The majority of these immigrants go to fill 

 the slums of the great cities, and become, when prosperity slackens and 

 the demand for their labor lessens, a burden on our industrial life." 



That is Mr. Sargent's report, but it is not all the danger. This 

 undesirable class will, in time, become voters, and help to make our 

 laws. Now the question is, can these ignorant people, born with the, 

 seed of discontent so thoroughly sown in their hearts by the tyranny of 

 despotic rulers, be contented with our government, or any government? 



No; I am afraid not. To them all rulers are tyrants; all capitalists 

 are oppressors. You see it is your duty to take prompt action in insist- 

 ing that laAvs shall be made to keep these people out — and the laws 

 enforced. 



The steamship companies are responsible, to a great extent, for bring- 

 ing this class to our shores. With them it is not "what kind," but 

 " how many." They have freighted their ships to suit themselves long 

 enough. Now let them freight their ships to suit us. 



We do want immigrants. We want half a million, or more, strong 

 young girls for domestic servants. You may think it imprudent to 

 bring so many unprotected girls here without any visible means of sup- 

 port; but it is not, for what was carried out successfully half a century 

 ago in Australia can be accomplished in America to-day. When Great 

 Britain transported her convicts to the colonies, the colonists were 

 allowed the better class of female prisoners as help, and, as a rule, they 

 were good servants, grateful and glad to get away from prison life. 

 But when transportation to New South Wales was stopped, and the 

 prisoners were removed to Norfolk Island, the settlers were destitute of 

 help. The Home Government then inaugurated an immigration sys- 

 tem, and sent girls to take their places. The girls, on their arrival, 

 were taken in charge by the Immigration Commissioners, and the news- 

 papers notified the people when they were to be hired. On the date 

 specified, the ladies went to the government depot, presented their 

 credentials, which had to be signed by a minister or a member of 

 parliament, and got the girls. They were hired for six months at ten 

 shillings per week, which is a little less than $2.50. If the mistress or 

 girl was dissatisfied, the girl had to be returned to the barracks, and 

 found another place. I understood there was no trouble of that kind. 

 The majority of the girls were Irish. They were quick, witty, kind, and 

 honest. And, by the way, Irish people, as a rule, are honest; there is 

 not as much thieving among the Irish as there is among other nation- 

 alities. 



In those days it took as many months to go to Australia from 

 England as it now does days to come from Europe here. If they could 

 take care of the girls, so can we. Immigration bureaus could be placed 

 in the large cities, with competent ladies in charge, whose duty it 



