Carroll D. Wright, as a statistician, no doubt scarcely imagined his 1881
report on labor statistics in Massachusetts would cause controversy. He was, he
would say later, just reporting what he had been told by his researchers. But
that was not true. He interpreted the information, and from his interpretation he
launched into a broadside attack on an entire class of immigrants, the French
Canadians, whom he dubbed, "the Chinese of the Eastern States." His words were
picked up by newspapers and became slurs thrown at French Canadian workers on
mill floors. French Canadian journalists and lawyers struck back, organizing
mass meetings and passing resolutions to the Massachusetts legislature, which
turned them back to Wright and the Bureau of Statistics of Labor. Wright
responded by inviting the French leaders to present contrary evidence at a
hearing. Wright professed surprise that they would be offended, and, in both his
oral remarks and his written report, he defended his use of the term.
The controversy gives us insight both into attitudes towards French Canadians
and the actual lives of French Canadians immigrants in the early 1880s. Wright's
comments have been often quoted, but less attention has been paid to the
responses from the French Canadian leaders. Their defense of their countrymen
includes testimony of government, school, and business leaders, and statistical
information on that status of French Canadians in some of the most important
mill towns of New England.
On this page, I'm going to let Wright and his critics speak for themselves,
by reprinting the documentation form the 12th and 13th annual reports of the
Bureau of Statistics of Labor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The legislature of 1880 passed the following
Resolve relative
to a Uniform System of Laws in Certain States, regulating the Hours of
Labor.
Resolved, That the Bureau of
Statistics of Labor is hereby directed to collect data and obtain testimony
from employers and employιs in the States of Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York, relative to a
uniform system of laws to regulate the hours of labor in the States
mentioned, and to present the results of its investigations to the
legislature in its next annual report.
Approved March 17,1880.
The results of the investigation conducted under this resolve were fully
reported in the Twelfth Annual Report of this Bureau. In discussing the reasons
urged by parties why the Massachusetts system should not be adopted in
neighboring States, we said,
" In all our investigations we have found but three
serious objections urged against the adoption of ten hours, and these we
will now state."
After stating the first and second objections urged against the adoption of
the ten-hour system, we gave a rιsumι of the
third in the following language (see pp. 469-470):
"The third objection to ten hours is the presence of the
Canadian French. Wherever they appear, there their presence is urged as a
reason why the hours of labor should not be reduced to ten. The reasons for
this urgency are not far to find.
"With some exceptions the Canadian French are the Chinese
of the Eastern States. They care nothing for our institutions, civil,
political, or educational. They do not come to make a home among us, to
dwell with us as citizens, and so become a part of us; but their purpose is
merely to sojourn a few years as aliens, touching us only at a single point,
that of work, and, when they have gathered out of us what will satisfy their
ends, to get them away to whence they came, and bestow it there. They are a
horde of industrial invaders, not a stream of stable settlers. Voting, with
all that it implies, they care nothing about. Rarely does one of them become
naturalized. They will not send their children to school if they can help
it, but endeavor to crowd them into the mills at the earliest possible age.
To do this they deceive about the age of their children with brazen
effrontery. They deceive also about their schooling, declaring that they
have been to school the legal time, when they know they have not, and do not
intend that they shall. And when at length they are cornered by the school
officers, and there is no other escape, often they scrabble together what
few things they have, and move away to some other place where they are
unknown, and where they hope by a repetition of the same deceits to escape
the schools entirely, and keep the children at work right on in the mills.
And when, as is indeed some times the case, any of them are so situated that
they cannot escape at all, then the stolid indifference of the children
wears out the teacher with what seems to be an idle task.
"These people have one good trait. They are indefatigable
workers, and docile. All they ask is to be set to work, and they care little
who rules them or how they are ruled. To earn all they can by no matter how
many hours of toil, to live in the most beggarly way so that out of their
earnings they may spend as little for living as possible, and to carry out
of the country what they can thus save: this is the aim of the Canadian
French in our factory districts. Incidentally they must have some
amusements; and, so far as the males are concerned, drinking and smoking and
lounging constitute the sum of these."
These statements met the earnest and patriotic condemnation of the Canadian
French of New England; and the French residents of Lowell and Hudson in Massachusetts passed series of resolutions on
the subject, and sent them to the legislature during its session of 1881. These
resolutions, by concurrent vote, were referred without other action to this
Bureau.
The resolutions are as follows:
Lowell, Mass., May, 1881.
Hon. Charles J. Noyes,
Speaker of the Home of Representatives:
Sir, The " Sociιtι St. Jean Baptiste de Lowell, Mass.," a national
and benevolent society of the Canadian French of Lowell, organized in 1869 and
incorporated in 1870, according to the laws of the Commonwealth, at a regular
meeting held May 4, 1881, unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The Chief of the Bureau of
Statistics of Labor, in his Twelfth Annual Report to the Hon. Charles J. Noyes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth, denounced the
presence of the Canadian French as an objection to the system of ten hours'
labor, calling them the "Chinese of the East; a horde of industrial invaders; a
deceitful people who seek their amusements in drinking, smoking, and lounging,"
etc., etc, it is
Resolved, That we deny each and every
accusation contained in said report, and that we protest most energetically
against these insinuations made against the French Canadians of the Eastern
States.
Resolved, That it is the duty of all and
every French Canadian in New England to strongly protest against this report so
far as it concerns them.
Resolved, That a copy of these presents be
submitted to the legislature of this Commonwealth, with our prayers to consider.
J. W. PARADIS, President.
J. H. GUILLET,
Secretary.
A true copy of the record
Attest: J. H. GUILLET, Secretary.
Lowell, May, 1881.
Hon.
Charles J.
Noyes, Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir, The French Canadians of Lowell,
feeling aggrieved at the report of Col. Carroll D. Wright, Chief of the Bureau
of Statistics of Labor, assembled at a mass-meeting, May 5, 1881, and passed the
following resolutions, which they humbly present for your consideration:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The Chief of the Bureau of
Statistics of Labor, in his report to the Hon. Charles J. Noyes, Speaker of the
House of Representatives of Massachusetts, declares that the presence of the
French Canadians in the Eastern States is an objection to the system of ten
hours of labor in manufacturing establishments; and
Whereas, Lowell is the greatest manufacturing
district of the Eastern States, and the number of French Canadians is much
greater than in any other centre in New England; and
Whereas, We recognize unanimously the wisdom
of the ten-hour system,
Resolved, That we protest energetically
against this portion of the report of the Bureau of Statistics, as being
entirely groundless; and
Whereas, For the past fifteen years, agents
of the manufacturers have been sent to Canada to solicit its inhabitants to come
to the States, promising them good places and good wages; and
Whereas, By repeated invitations this class
of population has come to this section to live in this land of liberty; and
Whereas, The Chief of the Bureau of
Statistics in his report called them "the Chinese of the East:" it is
Resolved, That we deny with indignation the
epithet, and protest strongly against this portion of the report as being
injurious to our race.
Whereas, We Canadian French of New England
are yet, for the most part, ignorant of the English language, but as soon as we
become acquainted with the language, and the habits and customs of this country
we recognize the high wisdom of the institutions,
Resolved, That we protest against the part of
the report which says that "we do not care for the institutions civil,
political, or educational in this country."
Whereas, Since the French Canadians have come
to this section they hare reached a population of four hundred thousand in New
England: and whereas a large number have become proprietors, paying large taxes:
and whereas for the most part the young men propose to make their home here,
Resolved, That we, protest against the
portion of the report which says that we "are a horde of industrial invaders."
Whereas, We have to live five years in this
country before we can become citizens of this glorious Republic, and the French
Canadians have been here in large numbers but five or six years, there are over
two hundred voters of this class in Lowell alone,
Resolved, That we protest with energy against
the portion of the report which says, that "voting, with all that it implies,
they care nothing about, nor rarely does one of them become naturalized."
Whereas, We recognize the necessity of
sending our children to school, and having done so continually, petitioning the
city of Lowell to find schoolrooms for our children,
Resolved, That we protest strongly against
the portion of the report which says "that they will not send their children to
school if they can help it, and that they deceive also about their schooling
with brazen effrontery."
Resolved, That whereas the French Canadians
of Lowell have established two national benevolent societies, two literary
societies which give literary and dramatic representations twice a month, a band
that give occasional public concerts, and three societies for children,
furnishing them with proper amusements; and
Whereas, In our population, which is above
ten thousand in Lowell, the average found guilty of intoxication before the
police court of Lowell is not over twelve per annum: it is
Resolved, That we protest strongly against
the portion of the report which says that "drinking and smoking and lounging are
the sum of their amusements."
J. H. GUILLET, President.
E. H. KING,
Secretary.
A true copy Attest: E. H. KING, Secretary.
---------------------------------------
LOWELL, May, 1881.
Hon. Charles J. Noyes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir, "L' Association des Jeunes Gens
Catholiques," a literary society of Lowell, Mass., organized in 1878, at a
meeting held May 4, 1881, adopted unanimously the following
RESOLUTION.
Whereas, Col. Carroll D. Wright, Chief of the
Bureau of Statistics of Labor, in his report to Hon. Charles J. Noyes, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, has most unjustly and injuriously treated the
French Canadian population of the Eastern States: it is
Resolved, That we protest most energetically
against each and every allegation, contained in the said report, having a
tendency to injure in any way the good standing of the French Canadian
nationality.
JEAN G. COTΙ, President.
H. Constantineau, Jun.,
Secretary.
A true copy Attest: H. CONSTANTINEAU, JUN.,
Secretary.
We earnestly request that the above resolution be
transmitted to the legislature for their early consideration.
A. J. G. C.
H. CONSTANTINEAU, JUN., Secretary.
---------------------------------------
Resolutions protesting against Certain Portions of Carroll D. Wright's Annual
Report of the Bureau of Statistics.
Whereas, The Chief of the Bureau of
Statistics of Labor, Hon. Carroll D. Wright, in his report to the Hon. Charles
J. Noyes, Speaker of the General Court of Massachusetts, declares that the
presence of the French Canadians in the Eastern States is an objection and an
obstacle to the system of ten hours of labor in manufacturing establishments;
and
Whereas, Such an accusation should not be
allowed to pass unrebuked as the calumny of a prejudiced and uninformed mind
against so respectable a portion of population as the four hundred thousand
Canadians in the Eastern States represent; and
Whereas, We recognize unanimously the wisdom
of the ten-hour system, be it
Resolved, That we, the French Canadians of
Hudson, in public meeting assembled, protest earnestly against that portion of
Carroll D. Wright's report which declares our presence, there or elsewhere in
the State, to be an objection or obstacle to the introduction of that system;
and
Whereas, For the past fifteen years, agents
of the manufacturers of New England have been sent to Canada to solicit its
inhabitants to come to the States, promising them good places and good wages;
and
Whereas, It is by repeated invitations that
this class of population has come to this section to live in this land of
liberty; and
Whereas, They have been called by the Chief
of the Bureau of Statistics "the Chinese of the East," be it
Resolved, That we protest indignantly against
the injustice of the comparison, and qualify it as injurious to our industrious,
indefatigable, docile, moral, and religious race; and
Whereas, Though many of us are not fully
versed in the English language, or acquainted with the habits and customs of the
country, still we recognize the high wisdom of its institutions, be it
Resolved, That we protest against that part
of the report which says that we do not care for the institutions civil,
political or educational of the country; and
Whereas, Since the French Canadians have come
to this section, they have reached a population of four hundred thousand in New
England; and
Whereas, A large number have become land and
property holders, paying their share of the taxes; and
Whereas, For the most part, the young men
propose to here make their homes, be it
Resolved, That we protest against that
portion of the report which says that "we are a horde of industrial invaders;"
and
Whereas, Although a large number of French
Canadians have been here but five or six years, yet they still seek to maintain
their proportion of naturalized citizens of the United States, be it
Resolved, That we protest with energy against
the statement of the report which says, "they care little for voting, with all
that it implies, nor rarely does one of them become naturalized; " and
Whereas, We recognize the necessity of
sending our children to school, and have done so continually, be it
Resolved, That we protest against that
portion of the report which declares that "they will not send their children to
school if they can help it, and that they deceive also about their schooling
with brazen effrontery;" and
Whereas, The French Canadians of Hudson have
established a national benevolent and literary society, which gives literary and
dramatic representations, furnishing proper amusements; and
Whereas, In our population, the average found
guilty of intoxication, or graver crimes, is quite small, be it
Resolved, That we protest against that
portion of the report which asserts that "drinking and smoking and lounging are
the sum of their amusements."
Resolved, That, in drawing his conclusions
henceforth, the honorable Chief of the Bureau pays more attention to that rule
of logic which forbids drawing universal principles from particular cases, thus
condemning the mass for the faults of some. Resolved, That these resolutions, signed by a committee of five citizens,
including our pastor, be transmitted to our honorable Representative to the
General Assembly, E. M. Stowe, with the request that he publicly present them to
the honorable Speaker, Charles J. Noyes.
P. A. McKENNA, Pastor,
J. J. DeNOYER, M.D.,
P. O. DUPONT,
PETER SHARON,
J. A. COURTEMANCHE,
FRANK L. FRANCIS,
Committee on Resolutions.
The legislature, in referring these vigorous
resolutions to this office, did not indicate any action regarding them; and if
the statements which were so strongly condemned had been made in any spirit of
captiousness, or in malice, or
through any prejudice against the French Canadians, we should have contented
ourselves by simply printing the protests. The statements in the last report
having been made in good faith, and as the results of the observations of, and
statements made to, our agents, we thought it but fair to all parties that the
French should have a full and free opportunity
to present such testimony as they might have showing their progress in the
United States; and consequently a hearing
was announced for Oct. 25, 1881, to which all persons interested were invited.
The circular of invitation, which was given the widest circulation, contained in
brief the reasons for the hearing, and the following statement:
"I am not aware that any other
desire exists on the part of the officers of this Bureau than that to obtain
the exact truth. Certainly no prejudice exists against the French, and in
order that the statements of French Canadians residing in this State or in
the States covered by the investigation may have the benefit of the same
prominence as that given to the statements to which they object, they are
invited to attend a hearing in the Green Room at the State House, Boston, on
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1881, at ten o'clock
a.m.
"This hearing shall be conducted
in a thoroughly impartial manner by the officers of this Bureau, and all
parties desiring to be heard upon the matters in question shall have an
opportunity. The results of the hearing will be printed in the Thirteenth
Annual Report of the Bureau to be laid before the next legislature. It
should be understood that facts only should be given at the hearing; that
is, facts relating to the education, habits, etc., of the French Canadian
residents in the States named."
In accordance with this invitation, some sixty
representative
French Canadian gentlemen attended, and offered their
protests and their evidence which appear in the following
full stenographic
Report of the Hearing.
Mr. Wright, Chief of the Bureau, presiding, opened the
hearing as follows:
Gentlemen, The legislature of Massachusetts, by chap.
29, Resolves of 1880, directed this Bureau to make an investigation
in the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, and Connecticut, relative to "a
uniform system of laws to regulate the hours of labor in the
States mentioned, and to present the results of its investigations
to the legislature in its next annual report."
The investigation was made, and the results reported in
the Twelfth Annual Report of this Bureau.
Among the objections given by many manufacturers and
operatives, in the States where no ten-hour system existed,
was the presence of the French Canadians; and the reasons
given by parties why the French were an obstacle to the
extension of the system were presented in said report.
These reasons, as well as all other results of the investigation,
were reported; and the officers of the Bureau would have
been derelict in their duties, and would have disobeyed the
positive commands of the legislature, had these reasons not
been reported.
The moment the Bureau, either through fear of offending
any party or race, or through desire to favor any party or
race, suppresses facts or evidence given it in the legitimate
course of an investigation, or introduces statements of its own
invention, and reports such for facts, whatever usefulness it
may have will be gone, and the officers so prostituting the
privileges of the Bureau should meet the very severest condemnation
the public can bestow.
The reasons given by parties why the presence of the
French Canadians in factory towns is an obstacle to the extension
of the ten-hour system have offended the French; and
they have expressed their disapprobation of such reasons by
resolutions, which have been presented to the legislature,
and by the legislature referred to the Bureau of Statistics.
Many bodies of the French, in convention, have passed
very severe strictures upon the statements of the report; and,
what is to be regretted, have not confined themselves to
denying the truth of the reasons reported, but have seen fit
to accuse the officers of the Bureau, personally, of issuing
calumnious statements. I do not know as I can blame the French for being
exasperated; the only fault, however, I
can plead guilty to in regard to the report in question, as it
relates to the French, is that it was not stated fully enough,
perhaps, that the evidence which offends did not relate to
Massachusetts at all, and that it was not explicit enough in
stating the localities to which the evidence applied. We were
discussing the reasons against the extension of the ten-hour
system; and such reasons could not apply to Massachusetts,
because the ten-hour system existed here already.
The legislature has not indicated any way in which the
resolutions referred to the Bureau should be treated; but I
have thought it only fair and honorable to invite you to this
hearing, that you may not only protest against the statements of the report, but that you may introduce such evidence as
you may have relative to the progress of your race.
Please bear in mind that personally I have no pride of
opinion in this matter, and shall not feel hurt if you succeed
in proving every statement made to the Bureau relative to the
French to be absolutely false. I hope you will confine your
statements to facts, and be as brief as possible in your testimony,
all material parts of which will be printed in the next
annual report of the Bureau.
After the French present have been heard, or rather those
who have come delegated to speak, an opportunity will be
given to any who may wish, to be heard in the matter before
us.
I hope we now understand each other, and that you have
come here in the same spirit in which you have been invited
that of truth and fairness. I wish you to remember one
thing, however, and that is that while this land is open to all,
and a welcoming hand is extended to all without regard to
nationality, the people of the United States will always look
with disapprobation upon any attempt upon the part of
settlers to be other than American citizens. Our laws protect
the alien as well as. the citizen, and all the benefits of our
institutions are as free to you as to the native born; but you
cannot be loyal Americans and loyal French Canadians at
the same time.
I am inclined to think that whatever prejudice there has
has been in the public mind against the French Canadians,
and I am aware there has been such, has arisen from the
seeming disposition of the French to insist upon preserving a
distinct national existence within the Republic. If the
French can learn, even by the report they condemn, that to
become citizens here in the fullest sense means their progress
and elevation, the Bureau will have done them the greatest
possible service.
Certainly it is in the hearts of the officers of the Bureau to
perform such service by any legitimate means in their power.
This sentiment has actuated them in announcing this hearing.
Mr. H. A. Dubuque of Fall River will conduct the
hearing for the French. I wish to say to you now, however,
that I have not summoned a single witness here. I have not
asked any one to come here in opposition to the views you
may express, or in favor of the statements which were made
to the agents of the Bureau by the manufacturers and operatives throughout the States which we canvassed.
Mr. Dubuque can carry on the hearing in his own way.
I will only ask you to be as brief as possible in your statements.
Mr. Dubuque. Honored gentlemen of the Bureau of Statistics
of Labor, It devolves upon me to open this hearing
on behalf of the French Canadians who have been called here
to give their evidence relative to certain statements contained
in the Twelfth Annual Report of this Bureau. Before, however,
proceeding to present the evidence before you, gentlemen,
I wish to impress upon your minds the abnormal attitude
in which the French are placed before you. Accusations
have been made against them in a report made by the Bureau
appointed by State authority. These accusations are presumed to be true, and
taken to be true, to a certain extent;
and we are called upon here to refute them.
Of course, we understand, gentlemen, that this hearing is
somewhat informal. We cannot proceed as we would in a
court of justice. We must obtain the facts as best we may
with the means at hand, and if certain parties are not obliged
to come and testify we must rely upon the good will of those
who are willing. We feel more keenly the sting of these
accusations, for there they stand in black and white; there is
material which will go to write the history either of the
Republic, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or of the
French Canadians in this State or in the country. That is
opposed to the fundamental law, laid down in the Constitution,
that no one shall be accused unless he has the right and
the advantage of being confronted by his accuser. I do not
say this, gentlemen of this Bureau, because I want to blame
you. You are, as it were, a reflection of the evidence which
has been presented to you. Your duty is that of a court of
justice, or a master in chancery presenting his report according to the state of the facts as they have come to his knowledge, and then letting the court, or, in this instance, the
legislature or public opinion, pass upon the report.
Gentlemen, I do not wish to say that you have not done
your duty; but this Bureau, even with all the good will that
it could have, with all the kind feelings towards the French
people that it has had, has done us an injustice. You have
felt it yourselves, gentlemen, because you have summoned us
to come here to-day to present to you evidence to refute the
facts which you have stated.
Now, if we are to consider this statement as an allegation
in a civil cause, are we going to say that the allegations of
the plaintiff or complainant are taken to be true, and the
defendant called upon to prove that they are false?
Now, with these few remarks, gentlemen, we want to proceed in the best spirit possible. You have expressed the
desire of getting at the truth in the matter relating to the
French people. You have said further, Mr. Chief of this
Bureau, that the statement contained in the report did not
apply to the French people in Massachusetts. It is to be
regretted, indeed, that we did not know of this fact, this
very essential fact, till only a very few days before this hearing;
because, as you know, Mr. Chief and gentlemen of this
Bureau, the French Canadians in this State number one hundred
thousand. As you know, the French are more numerous in Massachusetts than in any other State in the Union:
therefore this report which applied to all the French of the
Eastern, States as we understood it we in Massachusetts
have felt the sting of it as well as it has been felt in other
States.
I am willing to admit, Mr. Chief of this Bureau, that it
was not intended by this Bureau to apply the statements to
any but special cases outside of Massachusetts, and to special
localities; but we read by the very words of this report that
it treats of the question of the schools, that where compulsory
education exists the French have "lied with brazen
effrontery" about the age of their children. Now, of course
you know, gentlemen of this Bureau, that in all the Eastern
States, in all the New England States, you have not the same
law regarding compulsory education that you have in Massachusetts; consequently, where the law exists and is enforced
so strictly as it is here, we have considered that the words
relating to the school laws applied to the Canadians of
Massachusetts, and we have come here prepared to present
facts from Massachusetts to show you that these statements
are not founded upon truth.
We have come before you, also, gentlemen of this Bureau,
with evidence concerning the social and moral condition of
the French in New York, in New Hampshire, in Connecticut,
in Maine, and in Massachusetts. We have come here with
evidence concerning the French in various localities and various
places in Massachusetts, where they are in large numbers
and mostly engaged in working in the manufactories.
We have come here of our own free will. Of course we are
grateful to you who have given us an opportunity to refute
publicly, before this Bureau, the statements which have been
made against us; but it is to be regretted, I repeat again,
that, when these statements were recorded against the French
people by the officers of this Bureau, no one was asked, on
the part of the French who were accused condemned by
the report to come and refute the facts given against them.
It is to be regretted gentlemen.
We do not wish to blame you; you have done your duty
as you thought best, and we consider that you have endeavored to be as impartial as man can be when he is swayed by
the opinions of others, whether the statements are made in a court of justice or
before a legislative committee.
I may state to you, gentlemen of the Bureau, that I am
not the only one who has been appointed to conduct this
hearing. We have been appointed, I believe, five or six,
representing different States, and I have been called upon to
open the hearing with these few remarks; and now, if other
gentlemen who are members of the committee to conduct the
hearing wish to state any thing farther before we present the
evidence to you, I would ask your kind favor to hear any
suggestions which they might make. I would state to you,
also, gentlemen, that there are gentlemen here, and especially
a gentleman from Maine, who has very important statistics
concerning the French Canadians. He is not very familiar
with the English language, but he will express himself as
best he can; for all of us, you know, cannot use an acquired
language as well as we can our own. He and the other gentlemen
will have to ask your indulgence; and, if he cannot
express himself in any way which you can understand, he will ask to be heard through an interpreter. But I can assure
you that he will make all the efforts in his power in
order to be understood by you in the official language of the hearing.
Now, gentlemen of the Bureau, the first gentleman who
will give you evidence will be Mr. F. Gagnon, the editor
of "Le Travailleur," a French paper published in Worcester,
Mass. I believe it is the oldest French Canadian paper published
in the Eastern States. Mr. Gagnon has sent circulars
to various cities and towns, and obtained reports, and he has
had a great experience, probably a larger experience than
any of the rest of us, in this matter. He has been with the
French people, has founded religious, educational, and literary
societies among them; and he will give you the reports he
has prepared from more than thirty cities and towns.
Mr. Gagnon represents a delegation from Worcester consisting,
besides himself, of Rev. J[ean] B[aptiste] Primeau, pastor of the church of
Notre Dame des Canadiens
[and
here]; and Mr. Charles Lalime, immigration agent of the Canadian Government.
Mr.
Ferd[inand]. Gagnon then said: Mr. Carroll D. Wright,
Chief of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, in his Twelfth Annual Report has
published the evidence furnished the Bureau that the presence
of the French Canadians is an obstacle to the adoption
of the ten-hour system of labor in certain States; and that
the French Canadians are a horde of industrial invaders caring nothing for the institutions of this country, neglecting to
become citizens, living in a beggarly way, trying to evade
the provisions of the school laws, being a sordid and low
people, and fit only to work under any kind of rulers and for
any scale of prices. It is the first time that such slanders of
a national element find a place in an official document.
Mr. Wright says that he was officially obliged to include
in the document all that was reported to him. While, however,
we admit this obligation, we regret the expressions
which have been used to illustrate the reports of his informants.
We acknowledge that in order to indicate his sense
of fair play and justice he has called this meeting for a
hearing.
We come to refute opinions given ex parte, and to reform
the verdict based on them. This situation is quite abnormal;
but we rely upon the justice of our cause, and the impartiality
of the tribune before which we present our evidence; and we
say that the informants of the Bureau have taken, in every
town or city from whence they reported, the exceptional for
the general.
Moreover we say that malice, prejudice, and very probably
individual interest, were the chief denunciators of our countrymen.
And, moreover, we say that considering the circumstances
under which the Canadians emigrate to this country;
speaking, as they do, a language different from the idiom
spoken in the United States; they can show a record within
the last ten years that no other national element can exhibit.
Moreover, we say that, comparatively, considering their
number, the French Canadians do more for the general prosperity
of the Eastern States than any other national element.
Moreover, we say that the French Canadian element ought
to be respected as others, for they have rendered services in
every manner to the United States; establishing cities,
counties, States; fighting for the stars and stripes; pacifying
Indian tribes; guiding explorers and United States armies;
and we say this without claiming, in this case, the honor to
be the sons of France, the generous friend of the United
States, whose alliance was cemented by the blood of Lafayette
at Brandywine, and by the surrender of Cornwallis to
Washington and Rochambeau at Yorktown.
It may happen that ignorant or malicious gossips denounce,
in their villages, the French Canadians, because the farmers
who come to this country do not wear modern garments, and
have not the "nobby" appearance of their traducers; but
ignorance ought not to prevail.
Denouncing a whole national element because the families
in a village do not send their children to school, wear poor
clothing, eat poor victuals, is the act of a prejudiced man.
The faults of ten are not the faults of a nation of nearly
two millions of individuals.
There was premeditated malice in the reports of the informants to this Bureau.
Who gave the key note to these denunciations? The
manufacturers themselves, who send agents to Canada to recruit factory help.
I have a letter from an agent of the Boston and Albany
Railroad at Worcester, who says he is ready to testify that
since two years, no less than one hundred superintendents or
agents of mills have applied to him for French help, one mill
asking for as many as fifty families at a time. And Mr. E.
I. L'Herault, justice of the peace at Fall River, could testify in the same manner. Manufacturers cannot say that the
French Canadians have been an obstacle to the system of ten
hours of labor.
Never, at any place, have Canadian help asked an increase
in the hours of labor, and never, at any place, have they been
opposed, as a body, to the ten-hour law.
The Canadians are peaceful, law-abiding citizens; and they
accept the wages fixed by the liberality, or sometimes the
cupidity and avarice, of the manufacturers.
Unable to speak the English language when they arrive in
this country, burdened with a family, poor as the generality of
immigrants are, the French Canadians have but to go to the
textile factories, and there accept what is offered to them.
After a few months, and the children have learned a few
words of English, being not satisfied with the wages, they ask
for more, and, if refused, they move to another village where
they expect to get more. This perpetual moving displeases
some manufacturers; but it shows that our countrymen do
not try to reduce the scale of wages, but that, on the contrary, they put themselves to trouble and expense to get better wages.
Canadians do not go back to their country in a large number,
as is believed by many manufacturers. Leaving their
relatives in Canada, being at a short distance they go often
to visit their friends, but come back to the States to their
usual occupations.
We propose to overthrow specifically, by logical reasoning
and statistics, all the misrepresentations contained in the
reports transmitted to the Bureau.
We have affirmed that the French Canadians have never
asked for an increase, nor have they opposed a reduction of
the hours of labor. Having many children, the Canadian
emigrant living in factory towns cares for his family. He and his children do
not generally take side with strikers when strikes occur, and for this
reason the prejudices go against the law-abiding Canadian. Is it not
probable that many of the informants of the Bureau were men who had already
been engaged in strikes, and that Canadians did not follow
them? And hence the malice.
During the last ten years the Eastern States
have received the greatest bulk of the Canadian immigration, and already we
count over thirty churches built by them, many schools, and a great many are
real estate owners.
We have the statistics of thirty-two cities and
villages where Canadians are to be found in great numbers. They are as
follows:
[chart]
What do we learn from these statistics?
These thirty-two different places have a
population of 417,877, and of this number 88,653 are Canadians more than
one-fifth of the whole.
These 88,653 Canadians represent about 10,000
families, and of these we find that 2,516 have a home and own a house in the
United States. More than twenty-five hundred! Is there a better
signification that the Canadians are not wandering Jews, but that, on the
contrary, they settle here to make a home?
Mark, gentlemen, that in certain towns the
manufacturing companies oblige their employιs to dwell in the tenements of
the company; that in many towns these companies do not sell land to
individuals, and, consequently, in such places Canadians cannot become real
estate owners. We shall compare two groups, for example:
Grosvenordale, Conn., has (including
Mechanicsville) a population of 2,400 Canadians, and 12 real estate owners.
At Gardner, Mass., where the Canadian population is only 766, we have 78
real estate owners.
Spencer, Mass., has 140 Canadian real estate
owners, the Canadian population being 3,450. This number of Canadian real
estate owners is astonishing when it is an acknowledged fact that the mass
of these emigrants have been in the Eastern States during fifteen years
only. It has been said in the report that the Canadians did not send their
children to school, and that they try to evade the tenure of the law, This
is given as a generality in the report. Now let us examine our statistics.
We find that thirty-two towns or cities send 56,888 children to the schools,
and of this number 13,406, or 23+ per cent, are Canadian children. And we
also find that these Canadians, called "the Chinese of the East," have
religion enough, patriotism enough, to have forty French and English
Catholic schools in these thirty-two cities and towns.
We acknowledge that some of the new comers, too
poor, and unable to speak English, and the wages being low, are obliged
to send children to the mills against the law of humanity, and, in
Massachusetts, against the State law. But who is the most guilty? Is it not
the manufacturer who gives employment to young children of eight of nine
years of age for merely nominal salary? These children, belonging to poor
families, are submitted to a daily task of nine or ten hours, for thirty
cents a day. Why does not the manufacturer cut the evil at its root, and
refuse employment to these poor little ones, pay a little more to the adult
members of these families, and give the children a chance to have an
education? But no! These manufacturers complain of the ignorance of the
Canadian children, and they try to get them at their mills for a few cents a
day. Yet, notwithstanding the opportunity offered by the cupidity of the
manufacturer, few parents only evade the school law.
The statistics above given demonstrate that
Canadians send their children to school; for more than twenty-two per cent
of the school children of thirty-two cities and towns are Canadians.
The report says that Canadians do not care to
vote, another error. The informants had forgotten, probably, that the law
requires a residence of five years in this country for an alien to become a
citizen. In Massachusetts the law requires that a man to be a voter shall
read the Constitution in the English language. In Rhode Island the law
requires that a foreigner shall be a real estate owner to vote. In New
Hampshire the Constitution says that no Catholic shall be elected to office.
With such liberality which is a real
barrier to universal suffrage it is yet surprising to see so many
Canadians who are citizens of the United States.
In these thirty-two cities and towns. 4,480
Canadians are American citizens, and more than 58 of them hold public
office. One is a member of the legislature of Connecticut, one is a town
treasurer, many are aldermen, councilmen, selectmen, members of the school
committee, etc. Many have declared already their intention to become
citizens. Our national conventions, our newspapers, our local organizations,
urge on the question of citizenship with very satisfactory results. Let the
young generation, which speaks the English language, grow a few years more,
and politicians will have to count with us.
The report says that Canadians live in a
beggarly way. Very few of them do; and it is acknowledged by our merchants,
by our pastors, that Canadians spend everything they earn for the food and
clothing of their families. If it was not so, we should not see so many
Canadians engaged in different trades.
In the thirty-two cities and towns above
mentioned, we find 549 merchants and professional men and 2,014 tradesmen
and clerks. These statistics are abundant evidence that the trade of the
French Canadians is important.
In fact, they have not inherited the economy and
frugality of their ancestors. They are inclined to extravagance, and they
scorn with indignation the expressions used in the report to describe
falsely their way of living. Because they like to trade where the French
language is spoken, some merchants who do not employ French help may believe
that Canadians live in a beggarly way, not buying much at their store. It is
a great mistake, and the many Canadian dealers and clerks, and the American
merchants in towns where no French Canadians are engaged in trade, could
testify to the contrary.
We believe we have shown, in the light of
logical truth, the error of the report. As we have said before, informants
have everywhere taken the exceptional for the generality; and for this
reason the Canadians have protested publicly, as they now protest at this
hearing, against the authenticity of the evidence on which the report was
based. And they ask that the sense of justice of Mr. Wright be equal to the
circumstances, that this report be acknowledged by him and the Bureau as a
slander, and that in his next report he shall recognize that he has been
deceived by informants prejudiced against the Canadian element.
Canadians have been great factors in the
prosperity of manufacturing interests. Steady workers and skilful, the
manufacturers have benefited by their condition of poverty to reduce wages,
and compete favorably with the industries of the Old World.
Americans who study but one history their own
do not know enough of the services rendered to their country by Canadians.
In fact, nearly all the large cities of the Western States have been
established by Canadians. Consult the historical societies of Michigan,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and you will learn to respect and admire
the French Canadian element.
From Langlade, the father of Wisconsin; Juneau,
the founder of Milwaukee; Joseph Robidon, the founder of St. Joe Mission;
Vital Guerin, the founder of St. Paul, Minn.; Menard, first lieutenant
governor of Illinois; to Jean Louis Lιgarι, the trader, who has persuaded
Sitting Bull to surrender to the United States authorities, the list is
long of the Canadians who have rendered famous the name of our national
element.
In the Eastern States we are from yesterday, and
already we form quite an important element of the population. And, if we
have not yet had the opportunity of illustrating our nationality by great
historical deeds, we try in our daily vocation of duty to obtain the respect
and consideration of our fellow-citizens by our loyalty to State
constitutions and municipal laws, and by our good behavior.
All we want is the freedom guaranteed to all
citizens, and we want protection against such slanders as the informants of
the Bureau have laid upon us.
Public spirited citizens whose honor sustains no
stain, we have protested, and do here solemnly protest, against the
expressions and sentiments of the informants of the Bureau. In the name of
justice and respect of decency we ask that the report be corrected so that
it shall place our national element in the true light in which we stand,
loyal and honorable citizens.
Mr.
Dubuque. Now, gentlemen, before we proceed further, I would like to
make a remark in regard to the ten-hour law in Massachusetts. The people are
under an impression that this ten-hour law applies to everybody in
Massachusetts. The first law relating to ten hours of labor in Massachusetts
was passed in 1842, chap. 60, sects. 3 and 4. That law provided that no
child under ten years of age should be employed more than ten hours per day,
and the penalty was $50 fine for a violation of the law. That law has been
incorporated in the General Statutes, chap. 42, sect. 3, published in 1860.
Later, in 1867, by statute of 1867, 285, sects. 1, 2, 8, and 4, it was
provided that no child under fifteen years of age should be employed more
than sixty hours per week. That is the progress of the ten-hour law in this
State. Under the statute of 1842 no child under ten years shall be employed
more than ten hours a day, and thence to 1867, when the law provides that no
child under fifteen shall be employed more than sixty hours per week. Then
influence brought to bear on the legislature caused the so-called ten-hour
law to be passed in 1874. It provides that "no child under eighteen years of
age, and no woman over that age, shall be employed in the manufactures more
than ten hours per day." It does not say that no man shall be employed. It
does not apply to men. The manufacturer has no right to employ a child under
eighteen years or a woman of any age more than sixty hours per week, having
the right to divide the hours of labor so that they will not amount to more
than sixty hours per week.
Now, in 1876 there came a continuation of that
same progress; and the legislature of 1876 by chap. 52, sects. 1, 2, 3, and
4, enacted, "no child under ten years shall be employed at all in the
manufactories, and no "child under fourteen years shall be employed unless
he attend school twenty weeks in a year."
Then in 1878, by chap. 171, sect. 1, the
legislature authorized the school committees to approve private schools, the
teaching as well in private schools as in public schools and then, in
1879, struck the word "wilful" out of the ten-hour law, so that it might be
more effectually enforced.
So we are to understand that the law applies to
children under eighteen, and also to women. It does not apply to men. It is
not a law which forbids the manufacturers from employing men more than ten
hours a day. Of course it was one way of getting at the object in view, but
still we want to understand the law as it is. Now, if Mr. Gagnon will be
kind enough to give us his statistics.
Mr.
Gagnon. The statistics have been given in bulk in my remarks. I have
them here, and they can be consulted by the Bureau; the questions are here,
and the answers.
Mr.
Dubuque. Will you please state to the Bureau how you have proceeded
in order to get these reports, so we may get at the way in which you have
collected the statistics?
Mr.
Gagnon. These blanks were addressed to some prominent citizen, and
the response came from him.
Q. You have printed how many circulars,
and sent to the various towns?
A. I have thirty-two answers here.
Q. You have sent a great number?
A. I have sent forty-four. That is all.
Q. And these circulars have been printed
by you?
A. By me.
Q. At your office in Worcester, and sent
to the most prominent French citizens that you knew in the various towns?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you have received the answers
which you have given?
A. Yes, sir; they are signed.
Mr.
Dubuque. We want to state further that we have evidence to offer on
this point; it is stated that we are opposed to the ten-hour law.
Mr.
Wright. No; I think there is no such statement.
Mr.
Dubuque. "The third objection to the ten hours, is the presence of
the Canadian French."
Mr.
Wright. I do, not think it is stated anywhere that
the French Canadians have opposed the law.
Mr.
Dubuque. No; but that their presence is opposed to the ten-hour law.
Now, we want to state what the action of the Canadians has been in
Massachusetts, and why they have not entered into that movement.
Mr.
Wright. To set you right, so that there shall be no misunderstanding,
let me say that, as I understood the testimony, the presence of the French
Canadians was urged as an objection to the ten-hour law on account of their
migratory customs and habits which it has alleged they had; not on account
of any movement of their own, but that manufacturers objected to taking up
any reformatory movements for the elevation of a people that were not going
to stay among them.
Mr.
Dubuque. I want to state this, which will bear upon the question, as
you will see in a moment, that what brought about the ten-hour law in 1874
I have lived in Fall River for ten years, and know something about these
things what brought about this ten-hour law in 1874 was started by a great
movement in Fall River, first by a strike, the argument being by
intimidation, violation of law, rows, public demonstrations, which were
converting the whole city into a state of rebellion. Now we want to
introduce evidence to show that the Canadian French, wherever a strike has
taken place, wherever any of these public demonstrations against law and
order in any place have been made, have never taken part in the movement,
and have staid at home like good law-abiding citizens; in a measure that
lies created a prejudice against them, and made other nationalities believe
that they were opposed to a ten-hour law, while, on the contrary, they were
staying at home like good law-abiding citizens, not wanting to be mixed up
in any breach of the peace.
Mr.
Wright. You will introduce testimony, if I understand you, to show
that the French Canadians, on account of their non-participation in strikes,
have incurred the enmity of agitators?
Mr.
Dubuque. Yes, sir.
Mr.
Wright. What are known as " labor reformers"?
Mr.
Dubuque. Yes, sir.
Mr.
Wright. Do you think any testimony from them
would be particularly unfriendly to the French?
Mr.
Dubuque. Yes, sir, by reason of their abstaining from taking part in
any of these movements in which were mixed up these violations of law. The
French people have kept away, have been advised by their ministers, by their
leaders, to keep away, to keep within the law, and to respect the laws of
the Commonwealth. That has been the reason why they have not entered into
this movement; and it has given the opinion that they were opposed to it, or
that their presence was an objection to it.
Mr.
Wright. I want to ask Mr. Gagnon if it has been the policy of the
French Canadians in the United States or of the leaders, those whom you
might call the principal men, to advocate the doctrine of repatriation?
Mr.
Gagnon. Yes, sir; I have been an agent, myself.
Q. That has been the policy?
A. That has been the policy, to take out
from this country families which, it was evident, would not succeed in the
mills.
Q. Is that the policy now?
A. Every thing is stopped. The government
of the Province of Quebec have no more subsidy to repatriate with, so, for
two years, nothing has been done; and it is the reason it partially failed.
Q. They are now, after that failure,
feeling more permanent, and even some of those are returning who had
repatriated?
A. Well, some are returning, yet but few
repatriated; and during the repatriation movement the Canadians were just as
anxious to stay as since: we could not repatriate them in large numbers, I
mean.
Mr.
Dubuque. For the information of this Bureau, it would be well to
state, also, that the condition of the French now is different from what it
was five, or six, or ten, years ago. The French to-day have become more
familiar with the institutions, and more familiar with the language and the
ways of living, of the American people, than they were five or ten years ago
when they first came. For instance, in Fall River we had, about ten years
ago, some five hundred French citizens: to-day we have eleven thousand in a
population of forty-nine thousand.
Mr.
Wright. Mr. Gagnon, are there places either in New York or
Connecticut, for instance, because it was from those States that the
testimony came to us principally, are there places in those two States
where the statements made to the Bureau would be applicable to any great
extent, or even applicable during the last ten years?
Mr.
Gagnon. It may be, sir, in those States, because the people have
migrated more from these factory places on account of the failure of the
Spragues. They were obliged to go to other places on account of the failure
of these mills, and they lost considerable money in Baltic on account of
that failure; they had money deposited in the banks, and were losers.
Q. Is it your idea that the financial
depressions following the year 1878 had an influence in bringing about the
conditions alleged in the report?
A. Yes, sir, and also that in Connecticut
villages the manufacturer is the king of the place, and they cannot own land
as in Massachusetts, and in Maine, and in New York, without being citizens.
Q. You mean, they cannot be citizens
without being real estate owners?
A. I mean, that, should their death
occur, if they were not citizens the State can claim their real estate.
Rev. Father
Millet of Nashua. The Canadian
Government, and I look upon this point as important, as bearing upon the
question, the Canadian Government, not only
here, but in the different countries of Europe,
I have seen
them myself, in England, in Belgium, and in France, establish
agencies, with well-paid officials, endeavoring to draw
towards Canada a current of immigration; and here, in the
States as well as in Europe, these agencies were established.
What kind of success they were in Europe, it is not the question; but in the States it is well to note down that it was a
total failure. That is, not perfectly total, but by an immense
majority it was a failure, so much so that the government has
ceased to subsidize these agencies.
Mr. Wright. If I understand you, the attempt was made
by the Canadian Government to repatriate French Canadians
from the United States?
Father Millet. Yes, sir;
not only that, but great inducements were offered if they would return; and some of them
did return, but of those who did go a certain proportion returned
to the States again, and in a majority of places the
thing was a total failure, so much so, that the subsidy which
was given has been withdrawn.
Q. So that the work of repatriation has ceased?
A. It is the desire of the government that they should
return, but it has ceased to pay; though it encourages immigration
to all parts of Canada, it has ceased to subsidize
these agencies.
Q. Now, let me ask you, Father Millet, one other question,
because you seem to be the best man to ask it of, has
it been the policy of the Church to which the French Canadians
mostly belong in Canada, to urge repatriation now or
at any time within the past ten years?
A. The Church in Canada, as represented by its bishops
and priests, has done all in its power to stop immigration; but
that was at the first.
Q. How does the establishment of French Catholic
churches in America affect the permanency of the French
people here?
A. It brings on what in Canada was feared, because in
Canada they said this was a great evil for the country, the
constant flowing out of the country of the population; they
desired the people to remain there, and, when we priests
were sent into the States to attend to their spiritual wants,
it was only then that they saw what the result of their action
was, and that they could not hold the French among them.
Q. Now, am I right in this opinion, that during the last
five years the condition of the French Canadians, with reference to their policy of repatriation and their desire to better
themselves, has been in a transition state? that is, that it
has been a crucial period with the French Canadians, is
that true?
A. I should consider that for the moment the question
of repatriation is not given up, but partially so.
Q. I do not mean that particularly; but, have the French
been in a transition state, during the past five years, as the
result of the establishment and failure of the repatriation
system and the gradual establishment of churches here?
A. I should consider that especially for the last five years
this has been partially so. I look upon it now as a permanent
population.
Q. And that that permanency has just begun to take positive form?
Q. You mean, take it from ten years back?
Mr. Gagnon. From the establishment of our churches?
Q. (By Mr. Wright.) From the establishment of the
French Canadian churches in America, the permanency of
the French population began?
Father Millet. The permanency of the French population was secured.
Mr. Dubuque. While we are on that point we might
well call Mr. Lalime of Worcester, who has been an agent of
the government.
Mr. Lalime. I wish to tell you what I know personally
about this immigration matter. I have been appointed agent
by the Federal Government of Canada in 1875, and I am still
the Federal Government's agent for the New England States,
that is, what you might call the repatriation agent. I wish
to state this, that, as stated a few minutes ago by the Rev.
Father Millet, this repatriation is almost a failure, if it is not
a total failure. Why? Because we have work in the New
England States, because everybody finds occupation, and our
Canadians will not go West, or a very few of them. For the
last four years, gentlemen, for the last three years, we certainly have not sent from New England, more than, I should
say, thirty families, I mean, sent to Canada or any one of the
provinces of Canada, or to Manitoba. Quite a number from
the other side have gone to settle in Minnesota and Dakota.
And I wish to state, inasmuch as I understood that Mr.
Wright wanted to find out if our clergy were in favor of
immigration or repatriation to Canada, I wish to say this,
that but very few of our clergymen in the New England
States have favored that movement.
Mr. Wright. My point was this, if you will allow me to
interrupt you a moment: whether the French clergy in New
England or America had not acknowledged public influence
here and in Canada in this matter of repatriation?
Mr. Lalime. Yes, sir, that is just what I want to say, and
that I can prove. We have but very few clergymen in New
England who have favored the repatriation movement. Far
from it: they have always done what they could to have our
people settle permanently here, and get naturalized and become
citizens. That we can prove, any of us can prove, in every
parish. So that repatriation is almost a dead letter to-day.
Mr.
Dubuque. I will call upon Father Bedard of Fall
River, if he will be kind enough to give us some statements
on the question of immigration. He is a member of the
clergy, and has the charge of a parish in Fall River; and I
will ask him to state whether or not, in his opinion, the
founding of parishes for the French Canadians in the States
has not tended to make the Canadians settle more permanently
in the States?
Rev. Father P[ierre]. J[ean]. B[aptiste].
Bedard. On that matter I can say
that for my own part, and knowing the action of my friends
of the clergy, we did respect that desire in Canada; but at
the same time we did not fight against the people wishing to
stay in the States. More than that, the French clergymen
in the United States, as can be proved by acts and resolutions,
did favor the title "citizen" and naturalization. It is
quite natural for the clergy in Canada to desire the people
living in Canada to stay there; but I do believe the American
clergymen will be the first to raise their voice in favor
of the permanent settlement of American citizens in the
United States. But we, becoming citizens in the United
States or not becoming citizens, we do respect the desire of
the American population, and we do favor it, as is proved by
our conventions not only in the State of Massachusetts but
in all the conventions in the other States. So I believe, Mr.
Wright, you will have a good opinion of the influence of the
clergy on the people in that matter, and I believe everybody
will be inclined to give credit to the clergy on that question.
Mr.
Dubuque. I would ask you, Father Bedard, how
many were real estate owners in the city of Fall River,
where you founded a parish, before you came there, in that
particular portion included in your parish?
Father Bedard. Very few, very few.
Q. Can you state about how many, to the best of your
knowledge, there are now in your parish?
A. I did give the answer in writing to Mr. Gagnon: we
have now about one hundred.
Mr. Wright. Out of a parish of how many members?
Father Bedard. In my parish about a hundred French
Canadians own property, real estate; and I encourage this,
myself, any time I can do it. And more than that, one or
more bishops, coming from Canada (to Woonsocket, R.I.)
lately, did say the same to the people living here, who intend to live here, to have property, to encourage the progress of
this country, and so forth.
Q. You do not hesitate to assert, then, fully, that the influence
of the French Church in America to-day is in favor
of permanency, and against the policy of repatriation?
A. Here in the United States?
Q. Here in the United States.
A. Yes, sir, I do believe so.
Q. While, in the past, the influence of the French Catholic Church of Canada has been in favor of repatriation?
A. Yes, sir.
Mr. Gagnon. On that question of repatriation, it was
movement begun in 1875. A vote of the legislature of Quebec
was passed granting a subsidy of sixty thousand dollars
to promote this movement of immigration. And this money
was not only intended for the Canadians in the States; it
was intended for the immigrants from Europe, and for the
families of the farmers of the Province of Quebec who wished
to make new homes on new lands. After that year a subsidy
of ten thousand dollars was granted by the legislature,
and it stopped there. We sent, I was the agent of the
government at that time, we sent about six hundred families to Canada, and about three hundred, only, staid there.
The other three hundred did not settle, but came back to
this country, or, if they did not come to this country, did not
settle on the land given for the purpose by the government.
The grant was this: the government of Quebec gave one hundred acres
acres of land for the sum of sixty dollars, and built a
log house, and cleared about four acres of the land. This,
with the price of the land, amounted to two hundred dollars.
The settler had to pay twelve dollars during five years with
interest, and the remaining one hundred and forty dollars in
ten years without interest. That is all that was done for
the purpose of repatriation. Three years after, I myself sent
my letter of declination, my resignation, to the government
of Quebec, because I saw it was not necessary to maintain
an agent here for nothing, as no money had been appropriated
since three years for that purpose. Of course it is just
that the Province of Quebec wishes to have as many of her
children as she can have. She wants them to return, if possible;
but there has been no other urging but this action
partially devoted to the Canadians in the United States to
repatriate them. Certainly, gentlemen, there are families
here who cannot succeed in the mills, who cannot make a
home, make a future for themselves and their children and
we, knowing that, try to take out those families, and settle
them in Canada, or in the Western States, on land to cultivate. It is not so much repatriation to the Province of Quebec
we want, as to draw those families from the mills, and
settle them on land. They were farmers before coming here,
and we think that, trying again under more favorable circumstances,
they would make a better future for their families.
Mr.
Dubuque. Now, gentlemen of this Bureau, I only
want to state another thing on this question of immigration,
and then we will proceed to some other matter. The most
overwhelming fact that we can bring to bear on this question
is, that for the last ten years, in every place where
the French have settled, it is a known fact that they have
doubled, if not trebled, in population. Now, if they were
coming here and earning money; and going back to Canada,
how could it be possible that the population would double and
treble in such a short time? It must be that there is a new influx from
Canada right along, and that those who are here
stay here continuously. Now, we are prepared to show by
various witnesses that, it is the minority, the very small number,
that go back. Some will go back, will be dissatisfied;
a great many of them, as Mr. Lalime has said, go to Montana,
Dakota, Kansas, and the Western States; and others go
to Canada, where they think they can do better. Now, we
have a gentleman here from Marlborough, Mr. Aldrich, who
has been kind enough to come here and give testimony in
relation to this matter. There is a delegation, I should say,
from Marlborough, and I will call upon Mr. Aldrich first.
Hon. S. N. Aldrich said: I was requested this morning,
in behalf of some of my Canadian friends in Marlborough, to
come up here and say a word. I can only say that, so far as
the French Canadians of Marlborough are concerned, they
are a quiet, peaceful, industrious, and temperate class among
us. If you should go to Marlborough with me, you would see,
in the place where they live, what is called "French Hill,"
and other parts of the town, some of the best residences in
the town occupied, by French. They have a splendid church;
there are many merchants among them, dry goods merchants,
provision dealers, and men engaged in all sorts of business.
It is a fact, as will appear from the papers that will be presented
to you, the statistics, that the French of Marlborough
are a quiet, temperate people, industrious, and as good as any
of our citizens. We have some two thousand of them there,
and all of them are at work, enjoying themselves, building
homes, and, in fact, about all of them have homes, and none
of them have poor homes; they are all good houses. If a
stranger went through our town to-day, and saw the homes of
the workmen, he would come back and ask where our poor
people are. They are all doing well, and enjoying themselves.
I don't know as I can add any thing more to the statistics
which will be presented to you from the clergymen and traders
and others in regard to them.
Mr.
Dubuque. You are an ex-senator of the State, I
believe.
Mr. Aldrich. I was a senator three years ago.
Q. Now, Mr. Aldrich, how long has that condition of the
French people, as you have stated, existed in Marlborough,
about when did they first come there to settle, to your best recollection?
A. Well, sir, I went to Marlborough some seventeen years
ago. At that time there were a very few French Canadians
there, and from that time up to the present they have been
continuously coming, so that to-day our Canadian population
is about one-fifth, I think, of the whole.
Q. Now, what is their desire or inclination to take part in
any political movements, or getting naturalized, or any thing
like that? Do they take part in public affairs?
A. They have taken part. We have made them selectmen;
we have put them on the school committee, and we
have recognized them as good citizens of Marlborough.
Q. How have they proved as citizens of Marlborough,
what is their record, those who have been elected to public
office, whether as school committee men or as selectmen,
what is their record?
A. Perfectly good, sir. They have discharged their duties
in any office as well as any of us, sir. I believe one of the
gentlemen who was elected on the Board of Selectmen
declined to serve, or he could have been elected again.
Q. Now, what is their condition as regards education?
A. Well, sir, we think they are educated too much in our
town, for the benefit of the town financially, they have to
have too many schoolhouses. They fill up our schoolhouses,
sir. Our low schools have been sixty or seventy or even one
hundred in number, so that to-day the town of Marlborough
is expending forty thousand dollars for schoolhouses on
account of this population. I don't know as they increase
faster than we Yankees do, but I think they must.
Q. Whether you have observed the French people outside
of Marlborough, or outside of the State of Massachusetts?
A. My experience has not been very great in that direction.
I only know them practically in Marlborough.
Mr. Wright. The French Canadians of Marlborough, if
I am properly informed, are employed in the shoe manufactories?
Mr. Aldrich. Wholly in the shoe manufactories.
Q. Are you connected with the school committee?
A. I am not now connected with it; I have been connected
with it for a long time.
Hon.
Charles Q. Tirrell then said; Mr. Chairman, I
have the honor of representing, in the State Senate, the district of which Marlborough forms a part, at the present time;
and, as of necessity and in the interest of my constituents, I
have taken considerable interest in this question, in its examination
and its presentation; I have been requested by the
French people, although I do not desire to obtrude myself, to
present some facts- at this hearing in reference to the various
points which are to be considered.
Now, in the first place, I desire to present, Mr. Chairman,
some testimony in regard to the matter of schools, upon which
you asked the Hon. Mr. Aldrich a few questions. I have here
a few letters relative to the public schools, and I think that
they demonstrate, if the testimony of the school committee
of the town of Marlborough, if the testimony of the business
men of the town of Marlborough, if the testimony of the
school teachers of the town of Marlborough, is of any value
or force, that a better class of children the teachers do not
desire, nor the school committee themselves.
Now, in regard to the criminal statistics of the town of
Marlborough. It has been stated by Mr. Aldrich that the
French population of the town of Marlborough is about two
thousand, or one-fifth of our entire population. Now, let us
see how many cases have been brought before the trial justice
of that town for the violation of the laws of the Commonwealth.
The number of criminal cases brought before him
from Oct. 1, 1880, to Oct. 1, 1881, was 383; the number, of
French nationality, 43, that is, one-fifth of the population,
and only one-tenth of the criminality, is French.
Now, we will see how it is about their being a burden
upon
the community, a curse to any town or village where they
may happen to be located, so far as the town being compelled
to assist them is concerned. From the report of the overseers
of the poor it appears that the total amount paid out by the
town for the assistance of the poor, as I understand it, in
1880-81, although the year is not stated here, was $3,580.42;
paid to people of French nationality, $496,81.
The real estate and personal property of the town of
Marlborough
is about as follows: total $3,720,166, and the French
people possess $138,970. Poll-tax payers, 2,626; French,
363. The French constitute one-fifth of the population; they
receive fourteen per cent of the aid which is given to the
poor. They have four per cent of the wealth, of the town.
We have a perfect mass of testimony here from the business
men of the town of Marlborough that we propose to submit.
It would take up too much valuable time to read this
testimony here; but the committee desire me to leave these
letters from the manufacturers of Marlborough, from the
grocers, from the tailors, from the men in every department
of the industries of life, which all go to show by an overwhelming
and an irrefutable accumulation of evidence that
the French people of the town of Marlborough are as desirable
a class as any that exists within its borders.
Mr. Tirrell filed resolutions passed by the French Canadians
of Marlborough, June 18, 1881, similar to those
already printed from Lowell and Hudson. These resolutions
were signed by Rev. J. Z. Dumontier, Dr. J. A. Trembley,
Onesime Levasseur, Jonas Gregoire, Charles Favreau, Louis
B. Talbot, Leon Burgess, committee on resolutions.
Mr. Tirrell also submitted letters (referred to in his
remarks) from prominent parties in Marlborough, among
others the following:
Marlborough, October, 1881.
Hon. Carroll D. Wright.
Dear Sir, Having read what you have written in the Report of the
Statistics of Labor concerning the Canadian French in the State, I have
been requested to give my opinion of them as they are in Marlborough.
We have here in town a Canadian French population, I should judge today,
of a thousand or more, about a hundred and seventy-five legal
voters, and some seventy-five real estate owners. Having been in trade
in town from twenty to twenty-five years, and having had a large share
of their trade, I have had a good opportunity to judge of their habits, etc.
I cannot say what class of Canadian French there may be in other places;
but your article does not do them justice here.
As a class, in Marlborough, they compare favorably with any other.
Of course there are individual exceptions. During our civil war there
might not have been many in town at that time naturalized; but a number
enlisted in the service, though we had a much smaller French population
than at present. But since that time, as the young men have grown
up, they stay with us, buy real estate, become citizens, and are
Industrious.
Many of the families that came here twenty years ago are here
to-day, and take an interest in our affairs.
Having had an experience with the children as a member of the school
committee, I have not found any more truants from that nationality than
any other. I can recollect many of the brightest and most interesting of
the scholars were French. Many of the French children work in our
shoe factories; but in my experience I have never found that the parents
wish to evade the laws about sending their children to school. They
hare seemed to me to desire to have the children at school, as a rule.
Poverty in some cases has brought them so that the help of their children
was needed; yet, when the heads of families were able to educate their
children, as a rule, they wished to have their children go to school.
So far as their living in a beggarly way, it is not true of the Canadians
in this town. As a class they live well, and, as the facts will prove, save,
and invest in real estate. The French like amusement, yet I do not
think they carry it to excess any more than other nationalities. They
seem to enjoy life, yet, after all, as it is here, many of them become good
citizens, and reflect credit on themselves and the town.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) E. L. BIGELOW.
Marlborough, MASS., Oct. 17, 1881.
To whom, it may concern:
This is to certify that in my acquaintance with the French Canadian
people of this town, I find them, as a class, honest, industrious, and
taking an active part in the welfare of the town. Many of them naturalized,
realizing what it is to vote, demand their rights with as much
promptness as any other class of people. Also many of them own real
estate, which is strong evidence that they have come amongst us to remain
and make homes for themselves and children.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed)
JAMES T. MURPHY,
One of the Selectmen of Marlborough.
Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 24, 1881.
This is to certify that, as merchants of this place with many years'
experience, we hold the trade of the French people of this town and vicinity
in such esteem that we encourage our salesmen to learn French so as
to increase our trade with the older folks of this nationality who may
not speak English readily.
The French residents of this town and their descendants furnish a
large percentage of our customers. They are good judges of values,
appreciative
of new styles and novelties, and, in proportion to their numbers,
are good buyers of all classes of dry goods. To lose their patronage
would be a calamity.
(Signed)
HOWE & STETSON.
Marlborough, Oct. 18, 1881.
During the past ten years we have counted the French residents of
Marlborough and vicinity as amongst our best customers, and find them,
as a rule, very particular as to style and quality, and willing to pay good
prices if they find what they want.
(Signed) D. W. COSGROVE.
Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 21, 1881.
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify that I, Charles Mowry, police officer of the town of
Marlborough, am called upon to perform duty in the section of the town
called "French Hill" it being occupied by French Canadians. I find
them a quiet and a law-abiding class of people; disturbance of any kind
is of rare occurrence, and those caused principally by strangers. I never
was interfered with in the performance of my duty by them. I consider
them a first-class sort of people.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed)
CHAS. MOWRY.
Marlborough, Oct. 12, 1881.
To all whom it may concern:
This is to certify that I have employed Canadian French for near a
quarter of a century, and that I have always been pleased with them. I
have found them obedient, quiet, and, in fact, they compare favorably
with any I have ever employed.
(Signed)
JOHN O'CONNELL,
Manufacturer of Boots and Shoes.
Marlborough, Oct. 17, 1881.
Having, in the course of several years' service on the school committee
of the town of Marlborough, become familiar with the pupils attending
the public schools in that town, among whom every year may be
found hundreds of children of French Canadian parentage, I can truly
assert from actual observation that these children have in the past and do
now compare favorably with their mates of other parentage in intelligence,
morality, and deportment.
The French Canadian children are very apt, and manifest in a high
degree the desirable characteristics of industry and perseverance.
In my official capacity I have frequently come in contact with the parents
of these children, and they have at all times shown great interest in
the cause of education, arid ever have been anxious that the young of
their community should receive the benefits to be derived from our
educational
institutions.
(Signed)
JAMES N. McDONALD,
Of the School Board of Marlborough.
Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 25, 1881.
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify that, as a member of the school committee of this
town for two years, daring which time I had under my special charge
several schools of the primary grade largely composed of French Canadian
children, I have uniformly found this class bright, docile, and teachable
in every respect. Their reputation for good conduct was always
excellent, also, among our teachers.
(Signed)
E. D. PRATT.
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify, that in no manner have the pupils of French Canadian
birth or descent caused special difficulty to the teachers of our public
schools. Except in the most extreme cases, I can safely acknowledge
them to be keen, quick-witted, and remarkably obedient. Teachers
individually amply testify that their relations with said pupils have been
especially pleasant.
In our section, at present, the majority of the pupils in question are
specially apt and agreeable to training. I can recall no case, during my
experience, in which even one of said pupils has committed any violent
breach of good manners.
In conclusion, the French Canadian pupils in our department are not
conspicuous on account of any baneful characteristics.
Most respectfully submitted.
(Signed)
ELLEN A. O'CONNELL,
Washington Street Department of the Public Schools of Marlborough.
I can cheerfully indorse every word of the above statement, so far as
my departments are concerned.
(Signed)
J. V. JACKMAN,
Master of Pleasant Street Schools.
Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 14, 1881.
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify, that in the capacity of Treasurer of the Marlborough
Savings Bank, I have constant dealings with the French citizens of this
town both as depositors and borrowers, and I uniformly find them an
honest, industrious, and money saving people.
(Signed)
EDWARD R. ALLEY,
Treasurer of the Marlborough Savings Bank.
Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 24, 1881.
Louis B. Talbot, Esq.
Dear Sir, In reply to your inquiry as to my knowledge of a disposition
extant among our French citizens of Marlborough to hoard their
earnings under any probable contingency of a return to their native
country, I must of necessity return you a negative answer. My business
relations with our French population cover a period of eleven years and
upwards; and the goods in which I deal being distinctive from what
might be termed the necessaries of life, enables me to meet your inquiry
more broadly perhaps than any other trader here could.
From positive knowledge, I can say, that in proportion to their means
they spend their money as freely as those of any other nationality, in
providing the essential comforts and luxuries for their homes. I find also
that a very large proportion of those with whom I came in contact ten
and eleven years ago are still living here, and many of them have either
erected or purchased homes that they own; and, so far as outward evidence
exists, they are as permanently located as any other class, not even excepting the Yankees. And, in connection with the defence
you are to
make, it may not be out of place to add a farther word as to my knowledge
of their general character. My business connections with them
have been quite extended, and my experience justifies the statement that,
so far as discharging their debt obligations are concerned, they are
usually
actuated by a high sense of honor.
I have found them considerate, just, disposed to deal fairly, and seldom
resorting to any trickery to avoid discharging an obligation. In
fact, they are a people (and I think all our traders will bear me out in
the assertion) with whom it is very pleasant to meet in the business
affairs of every day life.
Trusting my reply may meet your inquiry,
I remain yours truly,
(Signed)
J. W. POPE.
Letters of similar tenor were also submitted, signed by Miss
Eva S. C. Wheelock, and Miss Hattie E. Brigham, school
teachers, and Messrs. Samuel Boyd, Sidney G. Fay, John L.
Stone, William Barnes, John Rock, Brigham & Eager, and
H. G. Fay, all of Marlborough.
Mr. Tirrell (in closing). I think that is all that I wish to
present; but there are other citizens of Marlborough, French
people and others, who, perhaps, would like to say a word.
I would call upon Mr. Timothy A. Coolidge.
Mr. Tirrell. Where do you reside?
Mr. Coolidge. Marlborough.
Q. How long have you lived there?
A. Twenty-two years.
Q. What is your business there?
A. Manufacturer of shoes.
Q. How extensively are you engaged in that manufacture?
A. I employ about three hundred persons, making about
twenty-five hundred or three thousand pairs a day.
Q. Have you carried on such a business as that for a
number of years in the town of Marlborough?
A. Perhaps ten years.
Q. During this period, whether or not you have employed
a large number of French Canadian people in that town?
A. I think I have employed as large a share of French
people as any of the factories, perhaps more so, or as much
so, at any rate. I have a large share of French people, being
in that part of the town where the French people mostly
reside.
Q. How many should you say you had in your employ at the present time?
A. I should say there were one hundred.
Q. Now, Mr. Coolidge, what have you to say relative to
their habits of industry?
A. Well, I have always considered them as having good
habits of industry, as good as any class I have had in my
employ; and, out of the factory, I don't see but they are the
same.
Q. How as to their intelligence, and aptness for work?
A. That is very good. Their mechanical skill is good;
they are quick to see into any thing, and to take hold of any
thing; they are quick, and they are always willing to do
whatever is required.
Q. How do the French people of Marlborough stand in
the community there, as citizens?
A. I think they are recognized the same as any other
class of citizens.
Q. Whether or not they take an interest in public affairs
in the town of Marlborough?
A. They do, and I think they generally show more interest
than do a great many others.
Q. How about their habits through the
town at large, whether they are public violators of law, or otherwise, I
mean, take them as a class generally in the community?
A. Well, take them as a class, I consider them on an
average with the other people. I live right among them. I
live in a part of the town that most of the French live in;
there are a number of the families on the street, and they are
just as good neighbors as any neighbors I could have. I
would not wish to change for any neighbors of Yankee
people or Irish. They are good neighbors. Their children
attend school; they dress well; they are economical, and
attend church regularly as any other class of people, and they
are just as quiet on Sundays. I have a chance to see that,
because I live right amongst them.
Q. Any thing further, Mr. Coolidge, that you desire to
say?
A. I do not know that there is any thing particular. There
has been something said here in regard to strikes amongst the
French people. Now, of course, in my own factory, I have had a great number
of strikes, but I don't think, and I have noticed it during the last three
or four years when I have employed more French, I don't think I have had the
strikes in my factory that there have been in others. Of
course, when there is a strike in the factory, the French must
fall in, necessarily, they could not do any other way and
have peace, but I am satisfied that I have not had the
strikes in my factory that there have been in other factories
the last three years; and I think I have employed a larger
portion of French than most other factories: there is one
exception, perhaps.
Mr.
Dubuque. Mr. Coolidge, you were a representative
for your district, I believe, last year?
Mr. Coolidge. Yes, sir, last year.
Mr. J. H. Guillet, of Lowell, then said: Mr. Chairman,
I have a few statistics which I would like to offer. First, I
will take the population of Lowell. It is 60,000; French
Canadians, 11,000, or 18.3+ per cent of total population;
amount of real estate owned by French Canadians, $275,000;
French Canadians paying taxes on personal property, 83;
amount of personal property owned by French Canadians,
$96,000, which makes the total valuation of property owned
by French Canadians $371,000. The assessors told me that
the property was taxed but two-thirds of the actual value
there in Lowell this year, and that is the amount which they
are taxed on.
Now as to the attendance of children at school:
Total number of children in public schools
... 6,193
Total number in parochial schools ... 1,100
That is to say, the total number of children at school is 7,298,
or 12.1+ per cent of the total population. Of French
Canadian children there are:
Total number in public schools
... 925
Total number in parochial schools ... 253
Or a total of 1,178 now in school. We petitioned the city of
Lowell, two years ago, to provide more schoolrooms for us.
They have given us two rooms where we need ten. The
school committee has been fighting all the time for two years
to have rooms provided. I take the statement of Mr. Smith,
of the school committee, that in one district we have 183
children who cannot attend school for want of room. I am
informed that in other parts of the city there are many who
cannot go to school for the same reason. They use ward
rooms and every place possible for schoolrooms. Now, if we
add this total of 183 French Canadian children who are prevented
from attendance for lack of room to the number
previously obtained, we find the whole number of Canadian
school children to be 1,361, or 12.3+ per cent of the total
French Canadian population.
Consider in this connection that a large part of the French
population is composed of grown-up families recently arrived
in Lowell, together with many young men and women who
have come to make their home here, and who, being unmarried,
consequently have no children to attend school.
There are in Lowell 232 French Canadians who have
become naturalized American citizens, and, besides these,
twenty-seven who have declared their intention to become
naturalized. Please remember that the laws of this country
regarding naturalization are very, strict, and that five years
ago there were not many French Canadian young men here
who were under eighteen years of age.
We have in our city seven French Canadians in official
positions, including two public school teachers, and one
member of the common council. We have a church with
a seating capacity of 2,100, and also two French Canadian
benevolent societies, two literary societies, and two dramatic
societies, These societies give conferences on different topics
every other week, and dramatic representations every month.
We have a French Canadian brass band, and a French
Canadian newspaper.
There are in Lowell 134 French Canadians engaged in
business on their own account in the various branches of
trade; there are ten physicians and seventy-one clerks.
There is also a branch of the Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wis., in which French
Canadians of Lowell have invested large sums of money.
In regard to the education of our people, the
facts that they have reading-rooms, conferences, and dramatic
representations so often, as I have stated; that we support a newspaper; and
that we have evening classes for those who desire to attend, supported by
the before mentioned associations, are ample proofs that we may be
favorably compared with any other nationality so far as educational taste is
concerned.
As to our habits, I offer as facts: 1st, on every Sunday our
church, which has a seating capacity of 2,100, as I have
stated, is filled three times; 2d, our reading-room, connected
with one of the above named associations, is well attended
every night; 3d, the conferences given under the auspices of
our societies every two weeks are also very well attended,
and so are our dramatic representations and evening schools;
4th, that with a population of 11,000 French Canadians, we
have only one saloon, owned by one of our people, where intoxicating
liquor is sold, and he does not keep it himself; and 5th, that the clerk of the Lowell police court has stated to
me that if the whole population of the city were French and
American there would not be business enough to support the
court.
In regard to the mill operatives I would state that on the
occasion of the 24th of June last, when I interviewed agents
of our cotton manufacturers to obtain permission to let the
French Canadian help out on that day, Mr. Ludlam of the
Merrimack Manufacturing Company told me that he would
do it with pleasure, as he considered the French his best help.
Mr. Cumnock spoke in very severe terms of the Twelfth
Annual Report, and said the French were his best help. Mr.
Shaw of the Tremont and Suffolk Mills, and Mr. Moulton of
the Hamilton Manufacturing Company, both said that the
French compared very favorably with any other nationality
in their respective mills.
I have letters here from overseers. We have about half a
dozen French overseers in Lowell, but I will read no letters
from them, because they are interested.
Mr. Guillet then read the following letters:
Lowell, Oct. 24, 1881.
In the capacity of overseer for the Lawrence Manufacturing Company
I employ about seventy-five French Canadian people, mostly males. I
find them, as a rule, punctual and steady at their work, and not given to
drunkenness. I have not found them desirous of working overtime,
though frequent opportunity has been given them to do so.
(Signed)
S. B. Kitchen.
