The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-07
THE POVERTY OF IRELAND.

THE POVERTY OF IRELAND.
In special cable sent by Arthur L.
Clarke from London to the Chicago
Tribune it is stated that not in hun
drcd years has Ireland been SO tranquil
and contented as at the present time.
The Englisman says that several things
are responsible for this changed state OF
affairs. Gerald Balfour, the Secretary
for Ireland, has become exceedingly
popular among the Irish, probably be-
cause he sends armed policemen to
break up the meetings of the United
Irish League, as he did recently in
Mayo. The Irish, according to this
Cockney, arc contcnted and happy be-
cause they can elect their own county
councils since the government bill went
into effect last spring. But the chief
cause OF their happiness and content
lrent is the formation Of companies and
associations for the growing of farm
produce, such as butter, eggs and poul-
try, to supply the British market An
other reason for feeling Supremacy hap
ny is that Englishmen in the last year
have been taking more interest in Ire
land than ever before. Thousands OF
them spent last summer in the country
and pronounce it an ideal place for a
vacation. So concludes Mr.. Clarke,
with Ireland actually becoming happy
and contcnted and its subjects in all
other parts OF the world satisfied for the
time being with their lot, England is
happily free to devote its entire ener-
gies to the Beers"
Now. let us hear the Dublin Free
mans Journal, which is better posted
OH the state Of Ireland than any Lon
don correspondent OF American papers.
In its last issue to hand it devotes a
leading article to Ircland's poverty, in
which it says, in part:
The number OF migratory laborers
that crossed from ireland to seek work
at the English and Scotch harvest this
year is 6I5 more than last year, and
2,577 more than in 1897. Except for a
fall in 1897, when many could not afford
the passage money, the annual migra-
ton has been increasing steadily since
1891. In 1880 the number OF migrants
was 14,827; in 1895 it was 1913; this
year it is $3.50. This gives an increase
OF forty per cent in five years and Of
over ninety per cent in the decade
Legislation has done much to diminish
the evil, for up to 1880 the annual mgra-
ton exceeded fifty thousand, and in 1861
it was 57,65I, or over 100 per cent more
than in the present year While united
country was forcing England to yield
some share Of justice to this country the
annual drain OF the people during the
best months OF the year steadily de-
clined until it had been reduced to a
fifth OF its former dimensions. Since
disorganization AMI strife amongst the
leaders left the people without an effcc-
tive weapon OF defense, migration has
again increased until it is now nearly
double the figure to which an effective
agitation had reduced it.
The number now away from Mayo
is 40 per cent OF the adult male popula-
ton, Sc per cent OF the entire agricul-
tural population, and 50 per cent OF all
the farmers and graziers in the county.
Almost every house in the county has
sent man to the English harvest fields.
The number OF migrants from Swine
lord Union is I2,ooo-nore than hall
the entire male population OF the Union
and representing an average OF two male
persons out Of every household The
number from Westport Union gives an
average OF one and half male per-
sons out OF every household.
In no country in the world does
such state of things exist. Starting
in June and July and not returning till
November, this enormous proportion oil
the population remains at work in the
English harvest fields during the four