The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-02

street men ravenous for their dinners.
The Exodus from Ireland.
Early in January we predicted that the pres
emit year would be remarkable for prodigi-
GUS increase In European, and particularly In
Irish, emigration. The prediction is beginning
TO be verified. Our special correspondent at
Queenstown states that on the 18th ultimo the
steamships Minnesota, City of Cork, and Melita
sailed thence crowded with emigrants. Up
wards Of one thousand two hundred people, he
adds, ON the 18th, have since taken their de-
parture for New York In the steamships Con-
cordia, Of the Warren line Malta, of the
Cunard line Denmark, Of the National line,
and the City Of Warrington, of the Inman line;
and still there are nearly seven hundred await
ing embarkation. Even prior to the Fenian
risings one thousand five hundred emigrants
embarked weekly from Queenstown, according
to government returns, and the number is now
rapidly increasing. This movement at single
port is but fair index of.what is going on
throughout the island. The result must be
such an exodus from Ireland as has not yet
been witnessed. The famines Of 1847 and Of
l849, and the intermediate failure Of Smith
O'Brien's attempt ct revolution, drove
emigrants forth by tens of thousands.
The chronic evils under which Ireland has 80
long suffered have kept up . steady flow Of
immigration to the United States And now
fresh causes add their cumulative force to the
current The Fenian risings have been so
speedily followed by universal distress and
anxiety, by disturbed state of the country
districts and utter stagnation Of trade In the
cities, that multitudes are ready and eager
to fee to more hopeful shores. Not only are
disappointed Fenians returning themselves-as
in the instance of one vessel which arrived here
last week with thousand passengers on board,
more than half Of whom, it is said, were Fee
nians-but their relatives and friends, and par
ticularly the relatives and friends Of the cap
tured Fenians, against whom prosecutions have
recently been instituted, are joining the depart
ing crowd, and hundreds Of thousands will fol-
low their example.
One interesting and important fact should
be remembered in this connection: if we run
over the long list of names of Fenian prisoners
now held for trial for high treason and treason
felony in Dublin, we shall be struck by the
variety and responsibility Of the occupations
represented by these unlucky men. Among
them we find medical students, manufacture
ers, distillers, clerks, commercial travellers,
mechanics Of every description and compare
lively few laborers. The prisoners and their
friends belong to higher class than that which
has hitherto, for the most part, supplied immi-
grafton to this country. The appros ching tide
Of immigration, 1t may then be expected, will
bring us desirable addition to the skilled
labor, the intelligence, culture and industry ON
which the wealth Of every country SO largely
depends.
The returns Of the Registrar General Of Ire
land indicate decrease Of 1,4O1 in the popula-
ton during the three months ending the slst oil
last December. During that period the births
were 1888, and the deaths 1890, while by
emigration the population was lessened by
1884. At such rate Of decrease the depopu-
lstion Of the island seems to have actually
begun. But Ireland's loss will be gain to the
United Statea Here the Irish emigrants, with
their strong arms, quick wit and warm hearth,
will always meet with welcome and they
will repay their welcome generously; for their
energy and ambition will help build up this
great Western empire, which has just extended
its borders almost to Asia.