7

Italy Abroad

Second Conference on Emigration

Held in Turin at the Exhibition of Sacred Art

(1898)

At the end of the century, social and political forces in Italy were often on a collision course. In Parliament, for example, a group of Members was attempting to modify the 1888 emigration law along the lines advocated by Bishop Scalabrini. An ally in opposing emigration agents was the Minister of Foreign Affairs Emilio Visconti Venosta. How to handle remittances from emigrants was part of the debate. Laws on mandatory military service were also under revision. In September 1898 Scalabrini was invited to visit the section of the Turin Exhibition on Sacred Art dealing with Italy abroad. It was the occasion to address again the emigration question, even though he had to note that the country had “almost completely abandoned” the emigrants. Yet emigration was one of the most important factors in contemporary Italian life, a law of nature with a positive value: it makes the world the motherland of man.

First, Scalabrini considers that internal migration is incapable of ensuring sufficient jobs to a population in constant demographic expansion and that emigration by military conquest, especially after the recent failed attempts in Africa, is not an option. Instead he looks at emigration across the Atlantic as

viable, if properly assisted. The 1888 migration law must be changed since it allows lax recruitment and exploitation. Military adventures on the part of Italy would be anachronistic and dangerous to emigrants and even to candidates to the priesthood. He notes that the law, by classifying Italians living in foreign countries as deserters, prevents their children from visiting the motherland and thus from establishing economic and commercial relations. The three years of military service imposed on clerics deprive precious help to the missions where Italy contributes its civilizing action. Scalabrini concludes showing as a valid example of missionary impact the founding of the orphanage “Christopher Columbus” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, by Father Giuseppe Marchetti, who met his premature death in heroic assistance to the migrants.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

While visiting your beautiful Exhibition, I stopped and observed with special satisfaction the “Italy Abroad” pavilion. I admired the school displays and the industrial products of our countrymen spread all over the world. I rejoiced in my heart at their moral and economic achievements and even more at their willingness to take part in this noble challenge launched by our mother country.

Gentlemen, I hope that this fact does not go almost unnoticed, as if we were dealing with a routine episode of our industrial life, but that it calls the attention of our statesmen and leaders to what I call “Italy Abroad”. This “Italy Abroad” has been taking shape little by little, almost in total neglect by the mother country and has been able to reach a remarkable economic and moral position in foreign countries. It has become one of the most important factors in today’s Italian life; important for the millions of citizens involved, for the religious and social issues this “Italy Abroad” raises, for the economic problems that give rise to it, for the commerce, industry, the educational and welfare institutions “Italy Abroad” gives rise to, and for the good will or ill will it may attract to itself and to our country.

From official statistics and especially from the valuable study, Colonies and Emigration (Colonie ed Emigrazione), published by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I excerpt the following data that will corroborate my statements.

Italians living abroad throughout the world, in the various Mediterranean cities, in North or South America, in far-off Australia, in the dry

fields of Africa, and in the vast prairies of the “pampas,” or of the United States, are about three million. This great army of workers is swelled year after year by a large number of emigrants totaling 400,000. There are about 200,000 temporary emigrants, a veritable ebb and flow of human beings who provide the international labor market with intelligent and hard working people and return to our country hard earned savings and well deserved praise. Almost as many make up permanent emigration: driven by the law of survival, they cross the ocean in hopes of quick fortunes but, in most cases, end up settling down in the host nation and creating, if not for themselves, at least for their children, a new homeland.

There are more than 700 Societies of Mutual Aid, Welfare and Assistance founded by our countrymen abroad with very large memberships and considerable capital.

There are 150 governmental, religious and colonial schools attended by some 30,000 students, who learn the history and the language of our country from Italian teachers.

Gentlemen, these figures need no comment. They tell us what Italian emigration is and could become, if guided, aided and protected. These figures are a consolation, an admonishment and a lesson. If we try to understand this lesson and not let it end up in sterile recriminations, but allow it to give rise to reasoned and practical measures on the part of the mother country on behalf of her far-off children, we will have accomplished a highly deserving work.

For this reason, gentlemen, I gladly accepted the invitation of the hard-working and worthy Committee of the National Association of Assistance to Italian Catholic Missionaries (Associazione Nazionale a favore dei Missionari Cattolici Italiani) to address you on the needs of our emigration and on our obligations to it, convinced, as I am, that my words will take on authority and strength from this strong and tenacious city in which I am speaking and from you, gentlemen, who are (so kindly) listening to me.

I have another reason for addressing you in these days about our emigration: a feeling of pity and a sense of indignation. The recent deplorable crime carried out by an Italian anarchist on a noble and innocent victim, who had already suffered so much, has, in many countries, furnished the rabble — blinded by racial hatred and ill-concealed anger against foreign workers who may be more skilled and more appreciated — with a pretext for threatening, persecuting, and hunting down Italians.

Our countrymen, who are forced to live in the midst of so many dangers, should know that their mother country watches over them with solicitude and know that, in most cases, they are good and hard working, that she appreciates and loves them like her own living members and that she does not confuse them with the few criminals who hide like snakes among the flowers.

Gentlemen, before beginning my discussion, let me, in your name and mine, greet the venerable Apostle of Eritrea, Father Michele da Carbonara, whom I am so happy to see among you. May God grant him strength and long life to carry out his noble plans on behalf of religion and country.