Italy's Attitude Toward Her Emigrants - 1905

A Typical Italian Immigrant Family at Ellis Island. Photograph by Arthur Hewitt. The World's Work, October 1902. GGA Image ID # 14f9097c8d

The recently published report of the Commissioner-General of Immigration has given renewed impetus to the discussion, which has recently engaged public attention on how to deal with foreign immigration.

It may be reasonably assumed that Mr. Sargent's report will, by its general trend and through certain statements it contains, afford a strong argument to those who still advocate a restrictive policy to lessen the evils resulting to this country from the constant influx of certain specific foreign elements, which seem particularly obnoxious to the cultivated American of the day.

I do not propose, nor have I any authority, to enter into the general discussion of the immigration problem. That question concerns the American nation, and it would be entirely out of my province to express any opinion on the subject as a representative of the Italian Government in New York City.

But one crucial aspect of Mr. Sargent's remarkable argument requires my explanation. I refer to the chapters on "Inducements to Immigration" and "Naturalization and Distribution" on pages 43 and 44 of the report.

Mr. Sargent contends (p. 44) that "one at least of the reasons for the existence of alien colonies in the United States," which is "the cause of. the chief dangers to be apprehended from the enormous immigration of aliens," is that certain foreign governments are actively engaged in trying (p. 43):

"to colonize their subjects who come to this country to maintain in them a love of their mother country. This was accomplished through agents of the home government and church sent here to keep them from imbibing knowledge of, and affection for, the institutions of the United States, which might, and probably would, result in their purchase of homes here and final expatriation from their own country.

That result meant a permanent loss to those countries of the allegiance and usefulness of such of their subjects as adopt our views and become American citizens, as well as loss of the enormous aggregate revenue sent back annually by those who cherish the intent of ultimately returning, buying homes and living on the proceeds of their savings."

He says further on (p. 45):

"Those foreign countries where the labors of the ever-active transportation agent have been most effective in diminishing native population have become alarmed and have made futile attempts to check an exodus which threatens to impair their self-supporting capacity seriously.

Failing in this, they have taken the next possible step, minimizing the evil and, if possible, turning it to their advantage in the long run. Hence, all the political and social, and occasionally the religious, resources of these countries are being directed to one end—to maintain colonies of their people in this country, instructing them through various channels to maintain their allegiance to the countries of their birth, to transmit their earnings here to the fatherland for the purchase of ultimate homes there, and to avoid all intercourse with the people of this country that could tend to the permanent adoption of American ideals."*

These charges, as an able student of the problem remarks, "are serious indeed and cannot be too plainly substantiated, if made at all."[[i]] Regarding the countries concerned, we logically conclude that there are two: Austria-Hungary and Italy.

As the same critic remarks, "The countries of north-western Europe are not in question, as immigration from them is light, and there are no dense colonies of their people to hold together.

Russia is so situated toward its immigration that she could not, if she would, influence them sufficiently to hold them in colonies. There are left then, Austria-Hungary and Italy."

An additional proof that Italy is involved in Mr. Sargent's charges is that, on page 45 of his interesting report, he mentions, among the evils resulting from the tremendous increase and racial character of foreign immigration, "the introduction into this free country of such hideous and terrifying fruits of long-continued oppression as the mafia, the vendetta, black hand. . .

This reference to the mafia, etc., obviously suffices to show that the Italian Government is one of those who, in the mind of the Commissioner-General, pursue the policy he deprecates.

Italian Immigrants Leaving The Office Of The Society For The Protection Of Italian Immigrants. Photograph by Rockwood. The World's Work, October 1904. GGA Image ID # 14f2b35e79

First, it behooves us to correct an erroneous impression, which dominates in certain quarters, regarding the scope and meaning of the Italian Emigration Law of January 31st, 1901.

No provision in that law might, with any fairness, be construed as an attempt to exploit emigration by turning it to the advantage of the mother country. The law accepts emigration as something determined by causes deeply rooted in the social and economic conditions of the country that are entirely beyond the reach of empirical measures directed to favor or restrict the exodus.

The law merely proposes to solve a problem that is explicitly forced upon the Italian Government: ensuring the most efficient protection of the emigrant against all possible wrongs and abuses.

It is primarily and fundamentally a social law, that is, a law destined to serve the ends of social justice by affording an instrument of defense to those classes that cannot protect themselves against the various forms of social parasitism.

That it never was the intention of the law to favor emigration is conclusively shown by Section 17, through which "Carriers "— i.e., Steamship Companies and their representatives—" are forbidden to persuade people to emigrate."

The same section of the law recalls explicitly a provision of the Penal Code, which states that inducement to emigration based on the circulation of news and statements concerning alleged conditions abroad is considered a misdemeanor and punished accordingly.

This section of the law is supplemented by Section 31, by which a fine of 1,000 lire is imposed upon the Carrier (Steamship Company), who "shall introduce between himself and the emigrant any middleman who shall not be his representative."

The same penalty is imposed upon the " Carrier" or his representative, "who shall pass off as spontaneous emigrants, having paid their own passage, any parties who shall, in fact, travel at the expense, total or partial, of any foreign government or private enterprise," by the same section of the law, such fine to be increased to 2,000 lire in case of recurrence.

The law aimed to eliminate the possibility of any artificial attempt to favor or facilitate emigration. Under the provisions mentioned above of our law, it is difficult to conceive the potential of the abuses denounced in the report of the Commissioner-General, through which " violations of our [American] laws, particularly of those that are directed against aliens under agreement to work here, continuously occur" (p. 43).

Inducing emigration to this or any other country is considered illegal in Italy, so the statement that " certain foreign countries are actively engaged in it " cannot possibly apply to Italy.

Others have completed the provisions mentioned above against any form of soliciting in connection with emigration concerning the emigration of women and children.

Section 2 forbids the emigration of children under fifteen years of age unless they have undergone a medical examination and have been granted special permission by the local authorities, as required by the Children's Employment Act.

Section 3 punishes" anyone who shall enlist, or receive in his care in the kingdom, one or more children under fifteen years of age, to employ them abroad" with imprisonment at hard labor for up to six months and a fine of 100 to 500 lire for" engaging in unhealthy and harmful occupations."

The same penalty applies to those "who send abroad, or deliver to third parties to be taken abroad, children under fifteen years of age to employ them as above."

In such cases, the father or guardian shall be deprived of his powers. The same penalties apply to "anyone who shall induce a woman not of age to emigrate to prostitute her."

That the law never aimed at facilitating the dumping of paupers in foreign countries is proven by section 25, by which provision is made for the return home of indigent Italians, at the expense of the Steamship Companies, and the rate of 10 adults per 1,000 tons register, and one for every further 200 tons or fractional 200 tons above 1,000.

But, apart from the above considerations, the mere reading of the headings of the law suffices to show that its sole aim is to assist the emigrant during the voyage and see that he be well taken care of by the Steamship Company.

Previous to the passing of our law, emigrants were piled up like cattle in unsanitary conditions on board steamers, which very often left much to be desired in points of safety, comfort, and decency.

Our duty was to care that way for the hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens who go abroad to work. The following is the list of the Chapters of the By-Laws issued for the enforcement of the Emigration Act:

• Part I.—Emigration in general.
• Part II. —The Emigration Service.
• Part III. —Carriers and Emigrants.
• Part IV. —Transportation of Emigrants.
• 1. —Seaworthiness, speed, and equipment of emigrant steamers.
• 2. —Internal organization of steamers.
• 3. —Sanitary service on board.
• 4. —Supply and distribution of victuals.
• 5. —Examination of steamers.
• 6. —Examination of emigrants previous to their sailing.
• 7. —Supervision on board.
• 8. —Special provisions.
• Part V.—Emigration fund.
• Part VI. —General provisions for the enforcement of the Law.

This shows that, aside from a few sections dealing with the general question of emigration or the organization of the emigration service, the bulk of the regulations concern the condition of emigrants during their voyage.

A Runaway Italian Mother and Two Girls. The Home Missionary, March 1909. GGA Image ID # 149af4321d

Mr. Sargent calls attention to the congestion of emigrants in the cities and the existence of alien colonies, which he assumes are primarily due to the actions of the foreign governments concerned.

As to Italy, it suffices to recall that, as far back as December 1901—that is, at the time when the high influx of Italian immigration was beginning to take place—I published a paper in the "Monthly Bulletin" of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of New York, calling attention to the dangers resulting from the overcrowding of our immigrants in the city tenements under unhealthy surroundings. In that article, I strongly advocated the formation of a powerful Land Corporation to favor the agricultural distribution of our immigrants.

My article was reproduced in some of Italy's leading newspapers and magazines. In May 1904, another article published in the Italian number " Charities" over my official signature followed.

In the latter ("The Agricultural Possibilities of Italian Immigration"), I again addressed the subject of urban congestion, emphasizing the necessity of organizing Italian agricultural colonies in the Southern States, where conditions, climatic and other, seemed to be most favorable.

On December 29th, I published a lengthy article in one of this city's leading Italian newspapers, " L'Araldo Italiano. " The article discussed the same question and again concluded in favor of a wider distribution of our immigrants in the agricultural districts.

In this article, as also in several public speeches delivered on various occasions, I advocated, in clear terms, the Americanization of our immigrants, actively opposing the constitution of " alien " colonies, such as those which Mr. Sargent justly deprecates.

It may not be amiss to reproduce certain statements contained in the last-named publication, which are of a nature to show precisely the trend of thought dominating the action of the official representatives of Italy in this country. I wrote in part:

"The transformation of our immigrants into landowners is sometimes opposed because it would gradually lead to their denationalization. A sort of nationalistic obsession thus confronts us. ...

It is evident that the more active our immigrants are in the political and other life of their adopted country, the wider the field of action offered to them.

The alien colony is bound to be hampered by unavoidable limitations in its possibilities of life and action. In a group materially separated from the country of origin and yet kept deliberately apart from any intimate contact with the country of adoption, all the original racial deficiencies cannot but be intensified through the action of a well-known psychological law.

The colonialist conception ends in imitation or caricature of the type of civilization represented by the mother country. And against this form of nationalism, which is narrow-minded, intolerant, and fanatic, we cannot protest with sufficient energy in the interest of our emigration.

The conception of enforced exoticism must be replaced by a free and unhampered fusion of the immigrant with the indigenous element."

An Italian Family. The Man Tried to Pass as her Husband but was Found to be Her Brother. The Home Missionary, March 1909. GGA Image ID # 149ade1e51

Based on the evidence presented, it is clear that the official representative of Italy in New York, the primary point of entry for our immigrants, has consistently and systematically worked towards the same goals as the Commissioner-General.

The agricultural distribution of the newcomers, the gradual and natural disintegration of the so-called "alien" colonies, and the blending of their members with the communities in which they have established their new home, such are the cornerstones of a program that has been asserted on every occasion and with every means at our disposal.

It is hardly necessary to point out that this course of action was in perfect harmony with the general policy of the Italian Government regarding the immigration problem.

A most striking proof of this is afforded by the fact that when Signor Adolfo Rossi, a member of the Italian Department of Emigration, was sent here last winter to make a thorough study of the question, the first object to which his Government directed his attention was the overcrowding of immigrants in the cities, and the means to favor their agricultural distribution.

If the central idea of our law is to leave emigration entirely free from any attempt at artificial inflation and merely to perform certain specific duties of help and assistance (such as providing resources and support for the emigrant's journey and settlement) regarding the individual emigrant, the central idea of our policy concerning Italian emigration to this country must necessarily be to let the assimilation of our immigrants go on unhampered. By pursuing that policy, we will assist our immigration in becoming an active factor in the life of this great country.

  [i] Kate Holladay Claghorn, "Immigration for 1904," in "Charities," February 4th, 1905, p. 455.

Gustavo Tosti, "Italy's Attitude Toward Her Emigrants," in The North American Review, Cedar Falls: University of Northern Iowa, Vol. 180, No. 582, May 1905, pp. 720-726.

Why This Article is Essential for Understanding Italian Emigration and Its Impact on Immigration History

For teachers, students, genealogists, and family historians, a thorough understanding of immigration must include the push factors—the reasons people left their homelands—and the policies that shaped their journey. Italy’s Attitude Toward Her Emigrants (1905) is a critical resource that provides an in-depth look at the official stance of the Italian government on emigration, the challenges Italian emigrants faced, and their integration into American society.

This article is particularly valuable because it:

• Challenges the Notion of “Intentional Colonization” – Addressing concerns from American officials, this account refutes the claim that Italy actively sought to keep emigrants loyal to their homeland while living in the U.S. Instead, it highlights Italy’s efforts to ensure proper treatment and fair opportunities for its people abroad.
• Explores Government Efforts to Regulate and Protect Emigrants – Unlike other nations, Italy had strict anti-exploitation laws regarding emigration, including bans on forced recruitment, middlemen, and fraudulent travel arrangements.
• Sheds Light on Urban Overcrowding and Agricultural Distribution – Italian officials pushed for emigrants to settle in rural America, advocating against the formation of isolated immigrant colonies and urging for their assimilation and land ownership.
• Dispels Myths About Italian Immigration – It directly challenges the negative stereotypes often associated with early Italian immigrants, such as accusations of crime and organized groups like the Mafia and Black Hand, arguing that these views were exaggerated and unjustified.
• Highlights the Role of Steamship Companies in Migration – The article describes the challenges of steerage travel, the conditions aboard ships, and how Italian laws regulated carriers to improve safety and prevent overcrowding.

By reviewing this article, readers will gain a nuanced perspective on Italian immigration policies, the experiences of Italian emigrants, and the complex relationship between Italy and the United States during this period. This is an invaluable resource for those researching their Italian ancestry, teaching immigration history, or understanding how government policies shaped the immigrant experience.