The Irish standard., 1903-05-30
IRISH LEAVING IRELAND.

Irish Standard news article relating
to the number of Irish girls arriving
at New York. 1t was then said that
the number of arrivals per week was
1000. When we consider that-this
number includes only young women
we are struck at the large figure
The population of Ireland is now
about four and one-half million. In
1902 there were 4O,4O1 emigrants leav,
ing Ireland, which was about 1 pei
cent. of the entire population. OF
course they do not all come to the
United States. 1t must not be thought
that 1900 per week is the average
weekly arrival of Irish girls in New
York. This is the time of heavy Irish
immigration, and the number greatly
decreases after the month of June. 1t
appears also that the number of
young women coming to the country
just now exceeds the number of male
immigrants. This is the reverse of
what has been true in the past. Fa-
Their Grogan, who is in charge of the
mission for the protection of Irish
immigrant girls, ascribes this condi-
ton to the lack of industrial pursuits
in Ireland. The boys can he to some
extent employed on the farms, but
there is nothing at which the girls can
work, and they are forced to emigrate.
1t appears therefore that Ireland needs
something more than solution of the
land question. 1t needs Il removal of
legislation and conditions which have
suppressed Irish manufactures and
trades. Ireland has supported a popu-
lation two and one-half times as large
as the present population, and under
fair conditions could more than do
so now. Undoubtedly right solution
of the land question will have direct
effect upon industrial and trade pur-
suits.
The Chicago Tribune, speaking edi-
torially upon this phase of the situa-
ton, says:
The urgency of the Irish land legis-
lation introduced in parliament is
shown by the recently published statis-
tics of Irish emigration. In 1902 there
were 4O,4O1 emigrlits, or about per
cent. of the whole population. a slight
i,,n hnfnrn In m
fifty years that cmigrant statistics
have been kept the exodus has reached
the enormous total of 1921 ,222. of
which over half were males. AS emil
grafton reached 10000 in 1852, the
highest figure since the collection of
statistics was begun, it is fair to infer
that the loss of population between
1916 and 1851 was proportionately
large Mr.. NIulhall estimated that the
loss due to famine and to typhus. su-
perinduced by lack of nourishment,
amounted to about 100000 between
1876 and 1919.
In short, the population of Ireland
has been halved in half a century. 1t
is noteworthy that If the loss by fam
inc and disease was naturally among
the aged and the weak. the loss by
emigration was almost entirely cOnfin-
cd to the flower of the population
young men and women who turned
their faces westward to seek Il living.
The figures naturally fluctuate, but
those who saw n permanent diminu-
ton of the drain on the population
when the number of emigrnnts fell Off
to 32,24l in 1888 must consider the
latest figures. American statistics of
immigration for the first four months
of this year show that S.2O6 Irish land
cd in the United States during that
period. double the number which
landed during the same period yeal
ago.
In the face of such figures it is not
astonishing that the English govern
mcnt proposes radical legislation tC
remedy the conditions which caus,
emigration. 1t is incomprcilensible tc
any but Englishmen that nothing
should have been done before. Under
the most favorable conditions it vii
take generations for the 4,OOOO0O peo
pie who remain in Ireland to restore
the population to it's former numbers
The Irish land bill will afford relief
but the English government cannot
undo what has been done. 1t car
help. 1t can remove some of the
causes for emigration. but remedial
action in 1908 is like shutting the
stable door after the horse has been
stolen. England has been more nearly
successful in overcoming the Irish PEG
pie through their enforced cXpatria
ton than in any other way. But Ire
land without the Irish is of little use te
England. The repressive laws which
have forced the Irish to leave theil
country have also prevented Other
people from taking their place. In
thus forcing people, proverbial fol
their love Of mother country, to leave
that country. England has Frustrated
and we'll nigh ruined Ireland. If the
Irish people were to be granted home
rule by this parliament, it would take
many generations before the popula
ton would be replenished and Ire