Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-02-07
Irish PrOsperitV,

An article in late number Of the Lon.
don Daily News attempts to show that Ire.
land has at last entered upon a career OF
prosperity. The main argument is based
upon the great decrease in the cottier or
pauper.farmer population since ls4S. 1t
says:
Between the years 1851 and 1853 there
has been decrease Of all classes of holders
occupying above l and not exceeding 80
acres. That is to say, there has been a
dlminution in the number Of pauper tenants.
Under ordinary circumstances, a farm con-
sis,ing of less than 80 acres cannot be cul.
tivated skiIfully or proitably. The necessa-
ry outlay for cultivation would suffice tor a
farm of two or three hundred acres. 1t may
be assumed, then, as almost sel(-evident, that
the greater number of farm tenants holding
80 acres are poor men and bad farmers 1t
is something to show that this class had de-
creased.
According to official returns it appears
that since lS49 the holding above one and
under five acres in extent have diminished
by lS,76l; those above five and under fif.
teen acres have diminished 35,l96; those
above fifteen to thirty acres 1856; and
those above thirty acres, 1850. The total
diminution in the number Of holdings within
five years has been 69,602
The News goes on say:
4 great test Of the condition Of the cOun-
try is the existence Of large middle class.
The greatest extent of land in Ireland is in
the hands of farmers holding between fifty
and hundred acres. Out OF fifty millions
of acres of land, nearly four millions are in
the hands of this class of farmers, holding
between one hundred and two hundred acres.
This is a gratifying symptom. Farms OF
more than so acres require certain amount
of capital to insure their being worked
promptly, and the fact of such large por-
ton of the lands being in the hands Of small
capitalists is a proof Of a general prosperity
which forms marked contrast with the
state of Ireland some years back.
The increase of the value of stock be.
tween 1852 and 1858 is remarkable. The
amount of the increase is e. 757092. This
is an average increase of rs, IS. Cd. per
holding. There can be no better index OF
the gradual rise in the prosperity of the
country than this. The addition of stock
to the farms is not only proof Of the in,
creased richness Of the farmer, but is a
guarantee for the improvement Of the land.
A CoMpL1MENr.-Ihe Montgomery MAIL
speakine of South Carolina and of the Sc.
lection Of her public men, pays her the fol-
lowing compliment:
No State in the Union has been so uni
fornly jealous Of her character in this par
ticular. Virginia has been famed for hel
regard for men of standing and ability, anc
Massachusetts has been always disposed tc
nut her best talent forward. But Of late
wears thew have fallen below their old stand
ard while South Carolina has continued to
use her finest mind, SO far as it was available
for her service. We imagine that in nc
State has demagogueism less sway and gen
uine ability reader chance for success
Politics still retain some dignity in South
Carolina; but in most Of the States mans
advancement in public life depends on {
goody number Of outside Accomplishments
The natural resnlt is beginning to be suf
fcientIy apparent Our best men, in many
sections of the Union, are seeking othe
fields and other harvests, 4 wonderful chang'
has certainly taken place already; ane
hence the marked decline in our statesman
ship, and in Congressional and Executive
talent. Time may bring about REFORM
The old patriarch has done many good thing
in his day, and he is not yet too old to righ
up matters in this portion of his dominion
Without any sort of doubt, the American
people see the error of allowing their bes
! men to fly from public life, and dedicat