The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-19
AN IRISH EXODUS.

The prospect of the passage of the
Coercion bill has suddenly set the people
of Ireland thinking about emigrating ito
America as the best method of relief
from their distress. Mr.. Parnell is con-
templating another visit to the United
States and it is believed that if he comes
he will give part of his attention to an
investigation of the advantages to be de-
rived by his afflicted countrymen from
removal to this country. 1t may be we'll
before the reader the following statistics
of immigration Of 1880.
Total number of immigrants ...... :5s6, O6S
Immigrants from Ireland .......... 81 4
1t will be noticed that ireland did not
contribute an extraordinary number of
inhabitants to the United States. In fact
more than half of the $50, 06S immigrants
came from Great Britain, SO that the ex-
odus from Ireland was far less important
than that from other parts Of Queen Vic
toria' realm. If, therefore, great Irish
1
be to make 1881 the. year of greatest i'm
migration in the history of the United
States. There were 125, 000 more immi-
grants during 1880 than during any pre-
vious year. and if Ireland is to send us
$50, 600 this year instead OF the 1874 of
last year, 1881 may have y record of not
/ Lose tJ,,,, mn OcO ;r,p,ifrantS
That an exodus would be wise for the
inhabitants of the Emerald Isle is evil
dent to those who are familiar with the
poverty of Irish soil as compared with
the fertile prairies of the Cnitsd States.
The Irishman who has money enough to
take him to the unoccupied lands of our
Territories and new States can by indus
try raise enough in one season to give
him better food during the next year than
he ever enjoyed in Ireland. To flee to
! America is therefore but an escape from
grievances for which he can expect no
! immediate redress. to land of plenty
in which no industrious man need lack
bread But it is evident that n great
Irish exodus must be managed with much
prudence. or there will be extreme suf-
fering among SO vast 4 throng of immi-
grants. as the result of their ignorance
as TO where to obtain employment or Il
chance to cultivate land for themselves.
If Mr.. Parnell intends to encourage such
a movement among his c0Untrymen. he
will do we'll to visit the United States for
the purpose of providing place for such
of them as may come.
If he would undertake such work, he
would obtain a sympathy in America
which he failed to excite when here a
year ago. Adequate provision for the
removal of quarter or half million
IriShmen to the United States during the
next six months would undoubtedly be
the best thing that could happen to those
who accepted the opportunity thus Of
fered But would such an Irish exodus
be also advantageous to the United
States? Unfortunately, the 1rishman does
/ not become Americanized as rapidly as
most other immigrants, and unfortunate
ly. too Irish immigrants prefer to estab-
fish themselves i'll isolated communities.
I IF an Irish exodus is to be an event of
! the approaching summer, it ought to be
so conducted that the immigrants may
be scattered among our population. SO
that they will become Americanized as
! soon as possible. abandon Irish ideas Of
! agriculture and Irish ignorance, learn
new methods Of work. and place their
children III the public schools.