The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-31

which, if the same rate of depopula-
tion goes on, will in few years be
politically blotted off the map. At the
end of the year we were favored with
the emigration statistics for the last
year of the century, and they supply
the all too painful evidence that the
steadily increasing drain upon the
Irish population was in no way dimin-
ished. The number Of emigrants who
left Ireland during the past year was
no less than 45,91s, being an increase
Of 3,012 over the figures for 1899.
These figures are for the summer
months only. Some time ago OBJ
tained the figures for the months Of
October November and December, and
I find that 3,1O7 young men and ALL
young women-a total of 7,218-left
Ireland-mostly for America. The
majority Of these emigrants are be-
tween the ages of Is and IS, and the
drain being perennial it means that
the very young and old are left behind
in the country. The total number of
emigrants who have left ireland from
May, 1851, till December, 1900, is
3,S41, 1914 young men and
1,S3S,O75 young women. In Gods
name when is this traffic going to stop?
If Ireland is to be saved and take her
place once more among the nations of
the world this increasing drain must
be put an end to, and that in very
effective manner. Here we have a ma
tion with an an-pervading love of
their country compelled to fly to alien
lands for the sustenance necessary to
support life-a nation not only refused
the common necessities of life, but de-
barred from the rights and privileges
of every other citizen born under the
flag Of the British empire. In Ireland
there are millions of fertile acres des-
tined BY GOD for the benefit of the
Irish people, and yet they are denied
the right to cultivate them. So strong
ly do 1 feel on the wrongs which Ire
land has endured for the past century
that I have no hesitation in Saying
that feel convinced, had been born
an Irishman, would have been
hanged or in Jail many years before
this. About the only thing England
did for Ireland during the past CEN
tury was to hang or imprison her patri-
OTIS, and she undoubtedly proved an
adept at the business. We have been
brought up in the belief that the Brit
ish empire is a benefcent power, a
champion and exponent of civilization,
beacon to enlighten the world; yet,
let any Irishman be sufficiently active
in his country's cause, Dublin Castle
will Immediately muzzle him. The
patriot of today will be criminal to-
morrow. The unjust and intolerable
system of government, of which Dub
lin Castle is the head, would not in any
other country be tolerated for single
year. The rights of the nations lead
ers are resisted by force; the police
and soldiery are ordered to charge and
baton unarmed citizens; men, women
| and children are driven into the work
house and the grave by the pinch Of
hunger. All this is being done at the
present time, and has been done for
the past century. Would Scotland tol-
crate this? Would Canada tolerate
this? Would the newly federated col
onies Of Australia tolerate this. I say
they would not. Then why in Gods
name should Ireland tolerate 1T? We
have heard great deal lately about
the open door in China, and the open
door to Lord Rosebery to the leader
| ship of the Liberal party, but what
| want to see is the open door to the
freedom of Ireland. If the English had
a Majuba Hill to wipe out, the Irish
have also, in my opinion, Majuba to
wipe off the slate. They have got to
wipe out a century of cruel misgovern-
ment, which has brought the country
to the verge of ruin, and driven mil
lions of Ireland's best sons and daugh-
ters to alien lands. The United States
contains 100000. of Ireland's sons