Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-10-06
The Irish Exodus.

The most reliable accounts from Europe lead to
the conclusion that the great movement which has
been impeling the population of Ireland almost G"
nasse across the Atlantic, has at last received cnecK
II is believed that in future the emigration will be
comparatively scattering composed OF nose VINO come
for the purpose of rejonng friends already here OF
who have some plan and purpose In view, more de-
finite than that of merely flying from the one country
to the other. very sensible and marked falling on
in this emigration may therefore be looked for 1t
will probably return to the point at which it stood
before the great famine panic, if it does not touch
much lower one.
For this, many reasons may be assigned, but the
chief ones anpear to be that between famine and en-
i0raton the population of the island has been fairly
brought within the resources OF the country Tor a
comfortable subsistence-that the great evil OF ao-
sent landlords and mortgaged and rack-rented es'
tates have worked their own cure by sweeping the
landlords as we'll as the tenants-the ownership oil
the land has, in many cases. passed into other and
better hands, and been sub-divided among proprle-
tors who have the means and the energy to improve
IT, During the years of distress, labor was gwen 10
the destitute upon public works, at government ex-
nense. which although improbable in commercial
mint of view, still tend to the advancement OF the
country. The immense emigration of the farming
class has essened the number of bidders for FARMS
and has therefore placed the tenants less in the power
Of landed proprietors and enabled them to obtain
fairer terms Besides all this stern necessity has, al
length, forced attention to manufactures, and the
laces lawns, linens and other fabrics no longer
exclusively confined in their production to the North
ern province Ireland is no longer likely to be the
great exception to the progress OF the age as her
great national fair at Dublin, proved by surprising
the world with her proficiency III arts and manulac-
lures The terrible visitation of famine sllled Tor
a time the outcry of the brawling demagogue, or
left il UNDECIDED Ii compelled the imperial govern
ment into a mere liberal policy 1t broke up forever
the worship of the potatoe 1t conquered the Us m
srte of centuries and drove the Irish masses to man
ufacurng or anything else, by proving 10 them tnat
agriculture alone, in densey populated country
would not keep them from starvation. Capital from
England has, at length, begun to seek investment IN
Ireland as it is doing in this country and elsewhere
but it appears to be mistake to suppose that the
population that has died left is to be replaced, to
any great extent, from the neighboring island The
census does not show any great proportion OF Eng
Ish or Scotchmen in reland--nothng at all to COM
pare with the number of Irish in England and Scot
land.
After all that has been said of the " Exodus,' it
amounted in fact TO nothing than the operation
of natural laws, under which population sought to
attain its level by pouring from on over crowded
country upon sparseIy settled one-and OF labor
leaving glutted market to seek one in which a
more active demand at better prices existed AS the
level begins to be reached the rush begins to abate
Ireland in proportion to the number of acres OF fer
tile land under actual tilage, is not more densely
populated than some of the New England States
while the average produce per acre is very mucf
greater-the population is not quite twice as dense
that of the State Of New York. while the products
the soil are far larger.
The effects of the storpage Of Irish emigration, TO
good or for evil will be differently vewedby dferen
persons. Capital will find less supply of labor +
carry out its great projects for the physical develope
ment of the country-perhaps those projects may b
safely delayed for time, and this pressure will b
chiefly felt in the non.savehoding States, where low
for negroes and hated of Trshmen is alike tenet O
religion and philanthropy, as well as the leadin
dogma of formidable political association.