The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-09
MATTERS At HONE AND ABROAD.
Pa UPER IMMIGRATION FROM
EUROPE.
Governor Butler, of Massachusetts, Calls At
tention 20 the Subject Interesting Letter
from CensuI-Gcnerai Merritt Giving the
Result OF His Investigations.

''iS'i, 'dllilp Ills dtitHtlOu ~
the immigration of paupers from Europe,
ana inclosiDg extracts from foreign news
papers on the subject. Secretary Foleer
replied that his attention had been
called to the matter in a report
from the collector of customs Mt Boston
April Goth. II is learned at the State De-
partment that the subject Of pauper immi-
grafton from Ireland has for some months
been under consideration in that depart
mcnt. a number OF reports relating thereto
have been received. and among the most
interesting Of them is onefrom ConsuI-Gen-
eral Merritt, OF London, giving the re-
suits OF an investigation made at his
request in March last by the United States
Consul in Ireland. From IN advance sheet
OF the regular monthly publication Of con-
sular reports the following abstract OF Mer-
ritts communication TO the State Depart
ment has been obtained. II begins as fol-
lows:
Reports published on both sides Of the
Atlantic relative to the extent and alarming
character OF the present distress among tho
Irish p%easantry have been so conflicting
and exaggerated that | have deemed an in
quiry into the real facts OF the situation
would he Of service TO philanthropiSts, who
too often give where charity is uncalled-for
and mistakenly withhold where Il is
needed. But aside from this con-
sideration the Irish distress means in
crcasing emigration TO the United States,
and 1t includes many political questions
into which il is not my province to enter.
WHOLESALE EMIGRATION FROM IRELAND.
aided by the Government, is looked upon
in many quarters as the only relief from
the periodic recurrence OF famine, and
are now on foot to send thousands
Of poor families from "congested districts"
Of Ireland across the Atlantic. Consider
ing the subject in these aspects one OF
Legitimate inquiry, on the 18th Of February
last | addressed a circular-letter TO men,
berS of the United States Consular Corps
in Ireland, asking them to make
Investigations in their respective districts
and to report on the following points
First, whether the published accounts OF
the distress were substantially correct or
were exaggerated; second. whether the
prospects Of ameliOration in the immediate
future were encouraging; third, TO what
extent will the existing condition tend to
more rapid emigration to the United States
or English colonies; fourth, whether the
Government, the Guardians OF the Poor,
or associations are engaged in sending pau
perS TO the United States.
ConsuLGeneral Merritt then reviews and
summarizes the answers of the consuls TO
these questions rs follows:
1St. The reports submitted in reply to
the first question, while admitting the gray
ity Of the situation generally, agree that
the distress prevailing at present is not eX-
ccptiOnal in its character, and that pub
liShed accounts TO the contrary are eXag-
eerated. In the poor agricultural districts
the situation Of the pcasantry j. miserable,
and
ABJECT POVERTY Is II L
But sad as it i, it has been the same for
wears, ard has become the normal condi-
ton OF life. The partial failure Of the
potato-crop in certain parts OF Ireland has
to some extent aggravated the situation.
The fisheries have again been umsucceSs-
and Il rainy autumn and winter, while
f%oreboding no good to the coming crops,
have interfered with the work OF the Ia
bOrer.
Consul Pietta, Of Cork. says upon this
point: While | fam inclined to believe
that the restitution i'm Western and South
ern Ireland are great enough and worthy OF
assistance, and that our people are always
disposed to give, there i certainly room to
doubt whether the picture as it is shown
to the outside world is not exaggerated.
The boards OF guardians and popular
bodies, | am assured, are in a measure re-
Sponsible for this ~eXaggeration, as they, in
their anxiety to have the poor relieved by
opening Of relief works by the Govern
ment. have made efforts to magnify the dis
tre,s in some localities. In brief, it may be
assumed that the much-talked-oi
starvation point has not been reached, how
ever bad the situation may be, and that
the local and Government authorities have
abundant means 1T hand to relieve actual
necessity.
Replies to the second question show that
TIE PROSPECTS, OF AMELIoRATION
of the present condition Of the immediate
future are most discouraging. 1t is alto
gether unlikely that the Government will
shortly commence public works in order TO
give employment TO the people, rs the poll
settled upon is relief either by work.
houses or by emigration. The Chicl Sec
retary for Ireland, IN a recent speech, said
that the condition Of the poorer class OF
farmers was more deplOrable than that OF
anv class OF people living in any civilized
country: that there were $1,000 farmers
of from one TO five acres, and 100, OO0 OF
from five To fifteen acres, and in the latter
class there were not more than from
two to two and q half acres Of arabic
land in their holdings under more favora-
BILE conditions. The agricultural interests
i'm Great Britain have suffered severely, the
present price Of farming land being the
lowest known in generations, and the OPP
nression Of bad seasons and foreign compe-
fition has reduced the Irish farmer,
whether tenant or owner, to still lower
depths OF poverty. Trade in Ireland is eX-
tremelv dun. Land is almost unstable at
any price. and the unsettled political state
OF the country forbids the hope Of capital
heinz forthcoming to extend the manufac-
turing interests. From whatever point OF
view the subject is looked at there is lit
tie or
no CHANCE FOR AN IMPROVEMENT
in the immediate future.
As to the third query, with great una
nimity the consuls agree that the present
condition must act as a powerful stimulus
70 emigration, and many interesting facts
are given in their reports TO illustrate this
branch OF the investigation. In 1882 the
emigration was S9,56G-an increase OF
10.S47 over 1881, and the present year. at
the lowest, will certainly show an emigra-
tion of over 100, 600. The total numbers
represented 17.2 per 1000 OF the popuIa-
tion as 1t stood in 1882; 7i.S per cent. Of
the persons who left Ireland last year
were between the ages Of fifteen and
thirty-live, showing that a large ma
jority were able-bodied. OF 47.426 males
who emigrated no less than $3.50 were
returned as simple laborers. As to farmers,
the figures for the past three years are {:
1850, 1891; 1881, 2,4lO; and 1882, 3,l40.
As TO the fourth question, whether the
Government guardians OF the poor or asso-
~oio,ions are ENGAGED i'm sending palpers 10