Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-23

tons OF the people OF Europe Is a subject
Of interest and importance well worthy the
reflection Of the political philosopher.
The Morning Post (London) makes an
estimate, based upon official returns ofemi-
grants from the kingdom Of Great Britain
to the United States, by which it appears
that during the last four years 773,9l5 Of
the subjects Of that Government have be-
come citizens Of our own, and that. during
the whole period there has been steady
and striking increase. The ratio of that
increase is as follows:
IN lSH . 49,
lS4S- 1898
49, ..-9l9,4 50
1890 DIE, COS
Referring to the census of Ireland, a
Dublin Journal says the population Of Ire
land, it may be estimated, will be some two
millions less than in 1S41. The decrease
in the population Of some Of the towns
where the census has been taken would
seem to impart probability to the estimate.
The Leeds Inteligencer, an English jour
nal, in rcmarking upon this subject, says:
"The rotten cdiiice of Irish agriculture fell into
ruins in 1896 with the failure OF the potatoe crop.
The first fearful consequences Of this to the peasan
try ia nine and deaths infrighfu numbers, and
each succeeding year has seen these more or less
actively at work in thinning the population. Ur to
this day the Of daily wages (where such can be
| had) in the West Of ireland il small afford
adequate sustcnance even of the humblest kind, TO
multitudcs of families whose heads contend with
| another for employment. Half feeding is proven
bially prolific ofdiscase and death still makes many
though almost unnoticcd, ravagcs among the Irish
| peasantry."
Such direful causes as these have great
ly tended to quicken and increase emigra-
ton; but the chief inducements have been
the boundlcss field for industry and enter
prize, which the Western world opens to
their gaze, the cheapness and productive
ness ofits lands, the high rewards CT labor
and the benignity Gifts laws and institutions.
Under the conjointinAuences Of these caus-
cs; want, disease and oppression there;
plenty, health, and freedom here; it is not to
be wondered at, that whole districts have
been well nigh dcpopulated.
The Celtic race is rapidly thinning out in
the island, where through many years, it
has dcgencratcd and dwarfed, beneath the
uncongenial rule of Saxon laws and the I'M
fraternal contact of Saxon rulers. In this
country, the Irish become rapidly national
lied, and ina few generations, the distinctive
features that mark their origin, disappear;
but for reasons. which it is difficult to see,
all attempts by the British government, to
obliterate distinctions, have failed, and it is
now their evident policy, as it has been at
other times, toremove the original popula-
ton. This is Incorporation off their system, of
absentecisn, of political exclusion, of heavy
rents, and the inevitable and designed effect
of Sir Robert Pecls bill, relating to encum-
bcrcd estates. If we could disregard the
injustice and immortality Of such course,
we might sec in the investment OF English
capital and labor, and the substitution OF Eng
lish population, which would be the conse-
quencc, muchto reconcile us to this policy
Ireland possesses incompatible richness of
soil and with her boys and marshes drain
ed and her lands subjected to wise and
energetic system Of agriculture she would
become in fact the ''irst isle of the sea-
One Of the first apparent results of this
great movement of mankind, is its politi-
cal effect upon the monarchics of Europe.
No one Influence, we believe, has, in the
last half century. had so powerful ten
dency III republicanizing the feelings of the
people, and compelling corresponding
modification of the principles of govern
ment,abroad, las this. Within that period, we
venture the assertion that every mail. that
has crossed the Atlantic, has borne the tri-
butte of the enfranchised and grateful cmi-
grant, to the glories ofcqual laws and free
government, back to the friends whose
fortune has kept them near the natal
homestead. Thousands upon thousands
of these missives, filed with the seeds of
longing and discomfort, are yearly scatter
ed among the poorer and more oppressed
classes, to germinate. in the fulness of
time, in a great harvest of revolution-in
a contest for the rights of man--in strug-
gle for freedom and equality.
But the consideration of most mmcdi-
date importance to us, is the effect upon
ourselves, of this greet foreign inlet, into
the regular and natural increase of our
population. Will it not effect in;uriocs-
ly the integrity of our system and the mo-
rails of our pcople3 We have already
said, that the efforts Of the British Govern
ment to anglicise the Celtic race, had hith-
erto failed. The attempt of Cromwell
to beat British feeling into them, with the
butt-cnd ofmuskets, failed as effectually as
the nasal exhortations of his clergy, and
the prayers and psalmody of his followers.
VIII the United States be as unsuccessful
in winning their confidence and affections,
and moulding them into loyal and useful
citizens We think not. British min
listers have failed because they sought to
ccerce rather than induce-because they
have held to policy which denied to the
governed, rights and privileges, which,
his inner consciousness assured him,
were inherently and inaEenably his-be-
cause while they have prated of liberty
and protection and prosperity, he has not
beheld the visible form or effect of any
one of these. Hence has arisen a lack of
confidence, on the part of the subject, equal
to if not exceeding, the lack of candor on
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