Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-29
FROM THE LONDON SPECTATOR OF OCTOBER ls.
THE BRITISH EXODUS.

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SPECTATOR OF ocToBER 10.
THE BRITISH EXODUS.
The British exodus which has just caught the attention
Of the Times the Globe and the Standard is far from be-
ing new subject Of discussion So long ago in 1880.
Supplement to the s2d number Of this journal was filed
with it and it has different times since that date occupied
the serious thoughts Of philosophers and statesmen Amongst
these two may be mentioned conspicuous examples 1t is
known that just before his deah the amented Charles Butler
engaged about plan of emigration from Ireland the de-
lberats aim Of which repeat upon the Celtic Of
that country what st. Patrick did to the frogs BY removing
the hoi Of them to another land and Sir Robert Peel 10
ls49, though with habitusl wane be took care avoid
precise details whilst feeling the public pulse with regard
vast scheme Of Mesian emigration yet sufficiently indi-
Gated the agreement Of his views with those Of Mr. Butler
with whom, indeed, it is also known that be had held gym
pahizing communication the subject Their idea was,
that if Ireland could but be cleared Of the Cells removed
from misery in elsnd to comfort in Americas only would
the most fertile portion Of the United Kingdom soon be
pied by Scotch and English, and made to yield perhaps
tenod wealth, but that through the Of Roman
Catholic emigration from Ireland to America and Of Protss
an emigration from England and Scotland Ireland the
religious which has distracted Ireland for centuries would
inevitably and totally EXPIRE It bold thought for even
close thinkers to entertain, still for practical saemen
promulgate, however cautiously but that it was founded
in truth and may be assumed when it, reaza-
ton fact to be coming about without those aids
from Parliament which Peel and Butler had in view a. means
of expediting the natural and beneficial process
The natural which in such powerful opera
ton have been frequently pointed out, and in particular by
Mr. Cooley in memorial Lord John Russell in the spring
of lS47' and in the writings Of Mr. Wakefield They may
be forth in very words Irish emigration is the pro-
duct Of two causes, opposite in character, but concung in
endencyrepuson from Ireland and attraction America
The Irish repuson consists of whatever the Milesan Irish
suffer in Ireland, such the nferores Of conquered race
subject to foreign landpropreary and foreign established
religion, together with arvaton-rae Of wages arising from
Of population in country where the accumulation Of
capital checked by political and social disorder The Anne
rcan attraction CONSISTS in measure, Of the entire re
gous equality which prevails in America, but far Of the
high wages Of labor and high profits Of capital for which
gloSaxon America is remarkable The Times of Thurs
day last says the emigration began and has been mainly
kept up by the failure Of the potato" No began with
the general peace of 1885, and has been going since
continually increasing rate and the potato rot only
caused to take great step in advance The repuson Of
old date but not the present of attraction As the
Times says, most truly Emigations commonly begin in
repuson and 60 with attraction. The leaders of the
column fly their country because they cannot stay in but
their followers of more cheeuy, because they hear
already settled in h Just the present ATTRACTIONS the
past and present weong Of the hundreds Of thousands
millions Of Irish who have gone to America since 1876 and
of whom, Just present. for greater number than be-
fore enjoying high wages and profits in America and
sending back Ireland only detailed reports Of their
prosperity, but money wheewih to assist their relatives in
following their example, Certainly not less perhaps consi-
deraby more, than FIVE hundred thousand pound
mited in this way from America Ireland during the last
twelvemonth. The Atlantic abridged over for Irish pau
per, at any rate, it will be when the alwsysin
\
may wish go. That these will long be the whole
Of Celtic Irish probable when reflects that the
only serious check to Mlesan emigration Of late years has
been the natural unwngness of the Roman Catholic clergy
their focks diminished and that Mesan emigration
is starving the esan clergy in Ireland whilst is creating
in America ample provision for them Bishops priests
and people, let all together from their evil lot in Ireland
to.a happy home in the West SO be il, anon
1t has been taken for granted matter of course that
the created BY emigration from Ireland would be filed
up by emigration from England and Scotland but new
element is growing into importance, which may probably de-
range this calculation. Emigration from England and
Scotland TO America has recently acquired force and
which raise the question, whether Ireland, however
thoroughly Invested of her Celtic population, win present
fractions to Saxon immigration from Great Britain equal to
those which America affords. To considerable extent,
doubtless and under any conceivable state Of things
specs America, Ireland losing her Roman Catholic Celts
would gain population of Protestant Saxons: and
may reckon with confidence that her immigrant Saxon
population would be dense and their capital lasge
proportion 10 the field of employment for BOTH those
Of Great Britain but these conclusions leave untouched
query, whether the whole British exodusthat h the emil
grafton Of people and capital from England and Scotland
well from Ireland to Amcrica-msy not be such a.
equaze profits and wages both des of the Atlantic and
therefore to have the effects upon every part OF these
islands with regard to the density Of wealth and population
produced upon the seaboard States Of America BY the
emigration Of capital and people the interior States May
not North America whole become Great Britain and
Ireland what the American Far West to the State Of Mas
sachusetts New York If should, there chance,
not say prospect Of social changes in this country and
in time in comparison with which, soy with the
Times, the greatest constitutional dynasc revolutions
may be deemed magnificent for let be- observed,
whole social yseour kinds and methods Of production,
our constitution, laws, customs, and manners-ae
founded the principle Of sharp competition and constant
dependence for the bulk of the people, Neither have
saves less the Americans have, between three and
four millions. representing productive power worth at market
about five hundred million pounds sterling, and actually pro-
ducng not far from the whole Of the EXPORTS which pay for
the imports Of the United States And further there
CURED in this country the scarcity Of free labor for hire
is usual In America, should not In the whole case
supposed have the American of vast immigration
Of Irish paupers hewers Of wood and drawers
Of water This picture is ugly at first sight, almost terrible
On the other hand odcountry poverty would disappear
would become British. as il s American saying,
that vcuas object y the cradle Of the great Anglo
Saxon would be continually repenhed the uttermos
and unless the provdenta Of human improvement
were reversed the whole process would be good less for
this country in particular than for mankind. But the attempt
would be idle 10 fahom the depths of those profound
changes which must result from making labor for hire
scarce and dear in this country il is in America lot