The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-11
e~.a,ug Star and Catholic Messenger
RECLAMATION Of Waste Landsin Ireland.
Ipublin Nation ]

The project of creating numerous BODY
of small propristors In Ireland by reclaim
ing her waste lapds has now assumed
. practical form. Two distinct bills on the
subject have been introduced into the
House of Commons. There 10, of cOuree,
NO chance that either of these bills will
make any sensible progress through the
House this session; but that is no reason
why the press should defer the discussion
of the measure, or neglect to arouse the
ut which both the bills in question aim.
Often as the topic OF the reclamation OF
Irelsud's waste lands has been moOted. its
importance ia hardly yet appreciateaseishe
here or 10 England, while In the latter
country there exists some vague suspicion
more than pull at the Treasury, aud may
possibly cover some more dang rous anti
Imperial designs. 1t seems likely to be
useful then to bespeak calm considera-
tion of the subject; and from such we
tbiak 1t will appear that the consequences
. such rs ought to enlist the heartiest sup
port on both sides of the Channel, and from
men of all varieties of political party.
Ireland is at present, relatively to her
natural capabilities, a semi depopulated
country. 1t is taking no quixotic view OF
her resources to affirm that she might sup
port double her present population IN the
same degree of comfort as France supports
her 37miilions. Previous to famine lS46,
her people numbered 81 millions. That
event, and the subsequent plague of exter-
minating landlords, and the induced habit
of emigration; have combined to reduce
them to 81 miilions. 1t is true that in the
days of Ireland's maximum population the
condition of large portion of her inhabi-
tants was extremely miserable. But it
does not follow that an equal or greater
population would be equally ill-provided
aIry Inn
proved, aud the education, skill, and indus
try of the working CLASSES have consider
ably advanced. They would have ad-
vanced much more were 1t not for the want
of profitable employment, o want which
depresses the energies OF the population
the beat Of them to emigrate. The recla-
nation of our extensive waste lands would
give the employment that 10 needed. There
are ut least three millions Of acres OF land
now lying unproductive, aud which after
few years might be brought into such
twenty acres. That 10 to say, one hundred
ard Atty Thousand families or eight hun
dred thousand persons might live in rea
souable comfort aud independence on
what is mountain and bog, supporting with
difficulty few half. starved sheep aud cat
crease the fertility of this reclaimed soil,
and convert its hardy and industrious TIL
lers into q more substantial and wealthy
class of small farmers. The presence OF
this class would act like magic on our
email and now decaying provincial towns.
They would rally from their long night
mare of impoverishment and bankruptcy,
and be converted into centres of profitable
activity and enterprise. In one genera
tion the smaller towns would double their
population, while great impetus would be
given to the prosperity Of such Places as
even Cork, Belfast, and Dublin. The
new wealth thus created would be distrib
uted so as to produce o maximum effect
on the general we'll being. 1t would be
spent at home, aud the savings from it
would be invested in Irish, not in Eng
lish or foreign speculatiOns. There would
DO an end to the listlessness aud paralys els
which blight every Irish undertaking a. the
present day, and, in epite of the example
of success elsewhere, deter us from doing
anything for ourselves but fatten bullocks
for England and import English and Scotch
goods. But would this increase in wealth,
population, intelligence, and public spirit,
be attended with any danger or disadvan.
tage to Euglaud7 That question WILL of
course, be the first and principal one
with the imperial parliament, and unless it
can be answered to the satisfaction of that
body, 1t is in vain to expect that eur waste
lands will be reclaimed But we are not
afraid to face it. population of small
proprietors is, of all populations, the least
revolutionary. That point has been settled
by the modern history of France, of Lom-
hardy, and of Belgium. A man who has
spent ten or fifteen years in stubbing Thor
manly waste and turning twenty acres of
moor or bog into q snug little farm, will be
little inclined to encourage attacks on the
rights of property, or give ear to the councils
of Communism or political confusion. 1t
is true that, with the increased intelli-
gence and resources of the Irish people. the
demand for an Irish legislature would be-
come at once more urgent and more obvl
ously just and reasonable. The hurried
and haphazard after midnight Legislation
that may be tolerated in the case of poor
and Insignificant province would be abso-
lutCly uncomfortable in the case of a more
prosperous country. Ireland would require
for national ip terests n SHARE in the impe-
rial parliameu.'s attention which that al
ready overcrowded institution would be
utterly unable to bestow on her. But
along with the increased necessity of the
case would increase the guarantees that
bs IhartH, nd SDlananlanca Wa