New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-02


Irish Grievances and EN- z ration.
An attempted reorganization Of the Fenian
element in New York, and a great meeting
of the National Party at Clontarf, in Ireland,
occurring simultaneously, are naturally sug
rcstye of the question whether there is any
new cause for the agitation, and if SO, what
is the nature of it? We have been acCus-
toned for so many years to hear of the mis-
cries and oppression of the Irish people,
that We are probably too prone to- regard
these new demonstrations as merely the re-
suits of the same long-standng Iuse, into
which we care no longer to inquire. Blu, it
is quite worth while to survey the subject
under its most recent aspect, especially as it
is ono with which emigration is intimately
connected.
The proceedings of the Fenian Council
here being secret, there is no opportunity
for testing their value and if there were,
il might not be of any consequence to do so.
We have only to deal with conclusions, and
those. as arrived at by the wisdom of the
cOunselors is that the time for more energetic
action has arrived Political agitators in
ireland are of the same opinion. Clontarf is
an historical spot. 1t was there that the
Danes were defeated between eight and nine
Irish chief, and anything that is said on the
same place by popular orator, especially if
he recalls the tradition which the most inlet
tered natives preserve of the great battle,
goes deeper and more forcibe to the sensi-
tive irish heart than if it were spoken only
twenty miles away. Accordingly, when at
the recent meeting member of the National
Party appealed 10 the fighting record of the
race, then drew picture of the tyranny
which il now endurcs, and closed his har-
.nguc with demand for the release, at the
hands Of Il despotic Government, Of all Irish
political prisoners, the audience was, Of
course, in ecstacies. Every Irishman present
felt immediately sure Of bis slavery and his
martyrdom. lie pinei for the glories of
Bias Boroimhe, and wept Tor the solitude
that ovcrshadows his country from the OPP
pres5ive heel OF a foreign foe.
y people should by every right know its
own affairs best, yet, while this kind of ora
tOrical agitation is going on it is neverthe
.ess fact that there is not one person In
any of the jails Of Great Britain detained
for Fenianism, or for any kind Of political
oifense. The only prisoners who We're ever
associated with Fenianism are men who
either broke their oath as soldiers Of the |
line, or committed some Otlense against the
criminal law. This breakdown of one of
tempts us to look at the other-thc alleged
misery and suiierings of the people generally.
Within thirty years the population of Ire
land has declined to the extent of ,, 1913 ,S3S /
This was between 1871 and 1871, according
to the dates of the census. But tho reduC-
ton of population in this case does not indi-
cate diminishing degree Of prosperity. On
the contrary, it has gone on simultaneously
with an increase OF wealth. In live stock
Ireland riches grew during the same period
from sl05, $50 $40 to slo7, SIT, 05J. The
number of flax factories doubled. The num-
Der of spindles increased from 592 ,9Sl in
1862, to &c. $50 in 1870. The flax power
looms were 1906 in 1862, but ten years after
they were IA, 1874. The cotton power looms
numbered ,757 in 1862, and 3,437 in 1871.
The total number of hands employed in the
factories in 1869 was 3. ,S72; now it is G3 ,9j2.
The eposits in the joint stock banks in | 34l
amounted to s27 ,33y, 25j, and in 1871 they
had increased to sl3G,7i2, 1875. On the
other hand, the business OF the pawnbrO-
kers has diminished. In 1867 there were
IL, 2S2,9ls pledges for 9,2j2,7 and in
1870 only II COS Al pledges for 500 $50.
These figures are from an Irish source
We might extend our quotations, but these
will suffice to show very different condition
of the country from that which agitators most
ular demagsgue than to talk 1t is his self
imposed occupation; and practice, together
with a little tact in choosing his audience,
will generally make his efforts effective, even
though they be not necessarily truthful For
no amount Of speech-making about the grow
ing miseries of the Irish people, and the
necessity TO- energetic action on the part of
political agitators, can nu!lify the force OF
such facts as We have here given, and which
indicate degree Ofprospcrity that for rapid
ity OF growth and extent of development has
no parallel in the history of the country
This increase Of wealth is made relatively
greater by the decrease of population, but it
also tends to create a reaction in that mar
ticular, and if il continue, as i seems likely
to do, we shall feel it in a falling off OF mmi-
grafton from ireland. The population at the
last census was under five and a halt millions
With healthy application Of the resources
of the island, that number might be doubled
and trebled without any Inconvenience.
There is, then, abundant room for those now
there, and we may expect that this fact will
become MORE apparent to them "tth every
year OF increasing prosperity. We must not
be misled by the cOnpialu!ngs OF few Inter-
csted speakers, or by even the combined
efforts OF Feaian coun-clOrs. There are on
oil sides indications 0: .mpediments 10 our
supply of immigrants. They may not be
seriously felt yet, but they az IN operation,
and they cannot he too well understood.
The only way we can cOuntegact their ill.,
tuence is by turning a deaf ear t. Interested
repre- citations, learning the true state Of
the labor centres Of Europe, and rendering
the attractions OF our own country more
effectively. J. Times.