Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-01
THE IRISH EXODUS.
From the London Observer, May 7th.

ireland has been, il Is well known Englands
difficulty for the last century. We have seen revolutions
client outbreaks OF religious anmosties pestlence and
famine; and We witnessing the scene OF the land
passing from the hands of its ancient propretors and
soil becoming depopuiated. ireland appears to have
passed through succession OF phases each one more
detrimental TO her interests than the last until is pro-
battle that ireland will be longer IRISH The last
turns opened sad page in her history il show
ed that since the 1852 when the first account OF the
number OF the people recorded, up 1884, there had
BEEN with only one exception. continued increase in
the populations but ia the sot space Of years from
1871 to 1884, the population had increased 5l3 29f or
is per cent, almost quIvalent to filth, aud W IN
every prospect that the principal Of this dminuto
would continue III even greater force.
Unquestonaby considerable portion Of the diminution
OF the population il attributable the famine pcsfi-
lence Of 1871 Sad the accounts with which the
n-wspaper eemed that period they fell far short OF the
melancholy reality Thousands In fact persisted OF whom
no acrOuut was ever gwen Taat awful visitation h.-
nO"ever, passed, but Effects clearly traceable in
the continual aud rapidly progressing decrease OF the
number OF Inhabitants The failure Of the potato crop
sud the constant OF the disease in the plant
uvon waich the poor depended for subsistence, III pow
~ OF the owners Of tho SOIL and the uent 10
PRICE 0 induced the people last look to other
d more suspicious clirne4. The It'd. Of erngraton to
tue United aies then in and since 1873 it hA, in
creased H. 9Th with binary rap ity until du
rug the last year the number IRISH who drputed ac
Justly amounted to the large total Of 80 6Ug and Of
these l56 go left for the United States The emigra-
ton OF Irish Tor the years previous 1853 has no, en
given by the Colonial Land aud Emigration Commission
ere but judging from the year 1858, We think we are
considerably within the mark when we set the annual
average at least at $4,000 for the three years 1851
1853 ~
The total population OF Ireland according TO the las,
census, was 1901 $50 II, then, We presume that the
population actually augmented by increase OF births
III the same ratio between 1891 aud si viz one per
cent per aunum IL would give yearly addition of rather
more than $4,000 but the emigration for the last three
years has been than doubs this amount and in the
last year IL Is than three times the assumed
OF births; say assumed Tor do not believe that at
the present time the births than sufficient 10 re-
place the deaths; and II take into account that thoe
who have emgrsted and those who are now Jep,,ting
gre the reproducing classes Of opinion that the
deaths will Actually exceed tho births Admitting how
ever Tor the sake OF argument that during the next ten
Jeas or rather until the next that births aud
deaths equal, the loss Of population to the countrv
will exactly tally with the emigration. Now if we sup
pose, which We think We may fairly do, that during the
next seven years the annual amount Of emigration will be
the same, viz: on an average 10000 annually tho pop
ulaon Of Ireland in 1884, will probably be no. more than
about 46OOOOu and then, supposng it continue for
the next forty years there would be siugs IrisI
man remaining on bis native soil in the year 1891
Hopes we're entertained now that affairs I'm ireland
we're being placed sOunder basis and English and
Scottish capital and enterprise introduced that sop
would be put 10 the outgoing tide. Wages are a. a rule
breadth Of land has been planted With potatoes this
than has been ever known and yet the face Of this
the exodus still continues, II possible in greater force
than before Heretofore the chief amount emigration
was from the western aud southern provinces Of Munster
aud from Connaught; but laerly, Ulster and Leinster
have been sending forth thousands Of their sons and
daughters The principal Of this continued dtain
Of the population Is unquesonaby the hatering account
sent home by those who before Of their prosperity
aud the substantial fruits Of their industry which they re-
NIT In the shape OF funds TO enable their relations and
friends 20 join them IL Is estimated that the reittances
sent 70 Ireland from her Aotoad do now actually
coed the sum Of Gl 100000 annually. This immense
fund provides ample means for the emigration OF very
large number aud the consequence Is that tho class above
tho very poor even tho laborer we mean the ANAL
farmers, when they the crowds Of old familiar faces
that are leaving become infected with the irresistible de-
sire OF accompanying them. America il the county 70
which they chiefly flock, aud In that aud fertile
tlrent they find ample room and full employment
This question OF the Irish exodus has assumed an i'm.
mense importance aud every month II s more severely
felt In Ireland there great fears that athou Oh the
crops look unusually we'll and give the promise plept
fol harvest there will scarcely be hands sufficient gath
sI Ia EnsSnd also, the scarcity Of Irish win be So