The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16
Milwaukee Sentinel.

Milwaukee Sentinel.
Heading an article in a recent issue of
the Leader, from the zen of William Red
mond, Nationalist, are the following fig
ures:
Population of Ireland in 1874, S,196. 5g7.
Population Of Ireland in 1901, 445S,5ls.
Under the caption of THE Bleeding Of
Ireland" Mr.. Redmond comments on the
story that the figures of the last British
census tell-a story from the truth of
which there is no escape, since the cold,
hard facts are duly set forth in a census
authorized by the British government.
The figures were presented In parliament
by Minister Wyndham. and, commenting
on the incident. Mr.. Redmond says:
i have myself for close upon eighteen
years sat in the house Of commons, wit
Messing and participating IN many stormy
scenes, and 1 give 1t here as my opinion
that the few words in which Mr. Wynd-
ham told the story of the present cen
sus had greater effect In a quiet way
upon the Irish members than any words
spoken, certainly for tho last ten years,
in parliament OF course, we anticipated
that the census would. as usual. show
that the people Of Ireland are flying
from their country. Still, there was
something heartrending in the calm state-
ment Of the minister responsible for the
government of Ireland which powerfully
those who are the strenuous opponents
Of the Irish members to blame them for
their vehement action In the house OF
commons from time TO time. l should
like to know, however what would be
the feelings of Englishmel or Scotsmen
or Welshmen. II, decade after decade,
they were obliged to listen to the terrible
tale Of depopulation which Is now the
inevitable record Of every census in re
gard to Ireland. If, instead of increasing
in population, England and Scotland
showed the same steady decreasN which
is unhapply the case with Ireland what
would the action of English and Scottish
representatives be. l venture to say that
it would be more fierce than any action
in which the Irish members have ever in
dulged. Surely 1t ought to give pause to
those who still insist upon maintaining
the system of government imposed by the
union to find that under that system
the best and the strongest of the Irish
people are flying to every part OF the
world, and those who ara hard-hearted
enough-and I presums tSere are some
to rejoice in the di1ninTtion OF the NUM-
bers of the Irish people, should remember
that II the Irish race is decreasing in its
island home, IT Is increasing and growing
in influence in the United States, 10
which. all thoughtful Engllshmen should
well remember, the vast majority OF
elnigrdnts go.
at Is the merest affectation on the part
of anyone to assume surprise that the
Irish representatives should feel ind.g-
nant at the story Of the census in Ireland
No need to go at length into the causes
OF the dwindling Of tho Irish population
They are to be found, in our opinion, In
the system Of government under which
we are obliged to live, aud re Of the
strongest arguments in fav5f Of the IDEA
of the creation Of g. peasant proprietary
by compulsory sale Is to be found in the
fact there are tens Of thousands Of the
richest acres Of land IN the whole world
in Ireland as devoid of human beings as
the widest prairies of America or Aus
tralia.
MANY REASONS FOR DEPOPULA-
TON.
'Tn 1874 the population Of ireland was
considerably over 500 600. Decade after
decade it has steadily decreased until
now, at the end Of sixty years. we find
upon Irish soil. That the country is alb e
to maintain, under fair conditions Of land
tenure, population much larger, viii
hardly be denied. Rackrenting. intoIeTa-
BILE misgovernment. heedlessne SIS upon the
part of those in authority as to how the
people live in Ireland Industries de-
stroyed by law-these are the causes of
Irish dePopulation. and If the census
her lifeblood is cbbing away is sorry
reading for Irishmen, it should also be
reading calculated to bring the bF=Eh Of
shame TO fair minded and thoughtful
Englishmen, and ought to stimulate ef-
forts upon their part to inaugurate some
new system under which Ireland might
thrive as well as every other portion Of
the empire of which We hear so much.
"Of course We are frequently told that
If agitation would but cease things would
improve in Ireland. My answer to that is
the expression of my solemn conviction
that but for the agitation Of the last
twenty years the census of today would
not reveal as much as 100000 Of people
on Irish soil. Contented and prosperous
people will not in Ireland any more than
in any other country. indulge in agita-
ton. Tt is not the agitators. so-called.
who create agitation, but 1t is the agi-
tation arising by the discomfort OF the
people which creates the gttat tors. And
not only have we to complain now of
the decrease in our population shown by
the present census but we also have to
complain that while the numbers Of Irish
people go down. the taxation which the
people who remain have to pay goes up.
I'm 1854 the population OF ireland was
about 4,6O0.599; the taxation Of the coun-
try was Ell. 56S. SAG. Today In 1901 the pop
ulation Is 10000 less, whereas the taxa
ton is e9. 521 eco, showing IN increase In
taxation of close upon e2.00,COo In the
last five OF six years. If with these fig
ures before US we Irish members occupy
the time of parliament, II We agitate for
reforms which we believe would keen
our people at home, and If we resisS the
imposition Of fresh taxation upon our
country, who can blame us2 No fair
minded man, am convinced, who thinks
over the matter will find any fault with
US for doing what 1t Is most absolutely
certain Englishmen or Scotchmen would