Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-05-05
EMIGRATION FROM IRELAND TO AMERICA.
From the London Chronicle, March 5.

From the London Chronicle, March S.
While IIish members iu the House of Commons
are demanding increased facilities for the emigra-
ton of the people, the Irish Journals full OF
statements to the unusually large numbers in
which the people either emigrating orpreparing
to emigrate to North America Wehave no doubt
that the emigration of the present year will touch,
if it does not exceed the utmost limits within
which such movement carried on by private and
ordinary means, can take place with safety. The
! emigration TO America from the United Kingdom
was very great both in 1915 and 1916 1henum-
bers in the former year amounted to 10000, and
in the first three quarters of 1916 quarters of 1916
to 10000 persons about two thids being from
Ireland, and the increase in 1916 being almost entire
" Irish From the accounts which now reach US,
it is not improbable that Ireland will pour out
from 100000 to 100000 of her people in Al. We
may hope, without feeling entire confidence, that
Canada and the United States will be able to alb
sorb this multitude quietly and prohtably, and
there is no doubt that the immense demand for ag-
ricultural produce in the present year will afford
unusual facilities for such absorption. The United
States will be great gamer by this movement
The sets thither 1t is estimated that about
onefourth of the emigrants of SAG settled IN the
British colonies, and it is striking proof OF the
resources of the Canadas, that IS 900 persons
ing distress or an overpuss labor Three ourthss,
however, of those who leave our shores go TO be-
come citizens of the great Republic.
We must confess that, looking to the social et-
feet OF this movement on the mother country, we
see good deal to regret. We fear that it will
tend very little to relieve the pressure Of distress
IN Ireland if it be true, is stated with too much
probability, that the emigrants are chiefly from
the class of small farmers and from the middle and
upper rather than the lower sections of that class
In this the relation between capital and labor
will remain unfavorable as before, and the power
of society as whole, to set itself right and to get
into a selt-supporting condition may become less
instead of greater. The rural population of Ireland
contains many varieties of condition. which flow
into each other by imperceptbe shades The
lowest stratum consists of perhaps 100000 iami-
lies, containing about two millions and hall persons
OF these, about 100000 families hold no land, ex-
cept IN that temporary manner which is called
conacre. and which, though appearing under great
differences of circumstances, is generally resoy able
into payment of wages in kind. The conacre-
man has no holding. He is permitted to grow
single crop, for which he pays in labor either d.
recty to the occupier of the land, or indirectly by
working for third party. When the crop is dug
and paid for, the transaction is at an end. The
same laborer, wanting conacre in the following
from different farmer. This system has enabled
the laborer to turn his labor and that of his
family to profit, when they would otherwise have
been without employment and it has answered the
class OF small farmers who with holdings too large
for single family to cultivate have had no money
to pay wages. The conacre system is as has been
said, biased upon the potato Unless the potato
shall revive, or some productive and easily managed
green crop be found to replace it, the system is at
81, Il
GLIDING perhaps million and half of persons is
without any ejectment or legal process at once
and permanently severed from the land Add to
this class about about 300 900 families OF the small
est hoders-that is TO say persons who pay mon
ey rents and occupy the same land from year to
year under landlords and we have 500 900 families,
or two millions and half Of persons, who are now
absolutely destitute, and who in ordinary times
form the most distressed portion of the Irish rural
population. That this is not an exageeration there
is melancholy proof in the startling announce
ment made last night by Mr.. Labouchere, that the
number OF men employed at present on the public
works in Ireland was GGS00O!
Now, it is exceedingly doubtful whether one in
a hundred of this wretched mass will be able to
emigratc. The cost even reaching North Amer
lea cannot be set down at less than 81 los to
GA head. An ordinary family, therefore would
require twelve or fifteen pounds for the mere pas
sage, and for such families as we have described
anything like this sum must be unattanable In
some cases small holders who are destitute may be
sent by lands, but landlord will have an intc.-
est in sending out the mere laborer conacrc man
His departure is not necessary to clear the land
Thus the most destitute will remain, and the en-
igraton will be one not of mere labor but of capi
tai also. Thirty or forty thousand heads of fami-
lies, the most thrifty intelligent and enterpr;sjng
of the class which has some means, will probably
leave Ireland within the year and it is at least doubt
ul whether the social system of that country, en-
lcebled it is, will derive vgor from the removal
of so much healthy blood.
We cannot but wish that different and, as we |
believe more attractive object were held out TO !
this class of persons There is much, no doubt to
tempt them across the Atlantic. The fact that the |
Irish III the United States send from three cities in
a single year 100000 to their relatives at home
is not only proof to the statesman of the industry
perseverance, and iugality which natives of Ireland
can evnce but also potent encouragement to those |
who can leave the mother country to seek abroad |
that secure field of eXerton which they do not find |
on their own soil A security which they would !
prize in the highest degree, and with abundant
profit both to themselves and Others might be offer
ed to them at home. Ten acres in Ireland, in per- |
petuty would be more valued by such as we have ,
described and worth more TO them than hundred |
in remote regions beyond the Mississippi Ii emf !
grafton on any large scale were still necessary to
relieve the relieve the overstockel labor market in
Ireland it would be better that it should take place
from the destitute class, even though Government /
aid were necessary to effect it. But with strong
a disposition to emigrate among class who have
themselves the means of leaving the country, we
think Earl Gray has done wisely in determining not
to administer TO il an artificial stimulus.