Speech #600029329

But there were two interests. I will say in further answer to the gentleman from Illinois . which would be served best by an unfavorable report going out from the Sunnyside property. Those two interests were the Italian Government and the immigration agents located in the large cities of the North. The Interest which the Italian Government had was to prevent any emigration of her agricultural classes from her northern provinces. There is as much difference. as we all know. between the Italian farmer of north Italy and the south Italy fruit vendor as there is between the German and the Scandinavian of the north and the people of southern Europe generally. It was very natural that the Government of Italy should discourage the emigration of these. the best people of. the Kingdom. and I have no quarrel with her on that account. I bid her God speed in her undertaking. But I do object to having my native State held up to the other countries of the world as a land of crime and slavery. to be avoided as a thing unclean. Another interest which would be served by damning Sunnyside. and through it the entire cotton belt. is that represented by labor agents in our large cities. They have always opposed the proper distribution of immigrants throughout the country. That is her business. and. so far as I am personally concerned. They wish to keep them in the city. so that they may supply them first to this contractor and then to another. and thereby retain them as a permanent asset. Every immigrant who goes into the country and settles upon a farm is lost to them forever. Reports began to emanate suspiciously near the Italian consulate at New Orleans charging all manner of cruelty. charging peonage to exist as a universal condition on this plantation. and the newspapers of the country took them up and sowed them to the winds. They were translated into foreign languages. circulated all over Europe. and I am advised that in the railway stations of a number of countries in Europe placards are posted in which emigrants who are contemplating going to America are warned to stay away from the State of Mississippi if they desire to keep out of slavery. I do not believe. Mr.