The Irish standard., 1904-01-02
IRISH IMMIGRANT GIkLs.
Twentieth Annual Report of Mission
at New York.


Rosary. State street, New York. has is
sued it's twentieth annual report-a
melancholy recital enough. and vet Il
record admirable and commanding re-
spcct and sympathy for the services
rendered to the cause of humanity,
morality and religion. The mission is
an agency of benevolent institution. Il
voluntary effort sustained of public
charity to extend the hand of friendly
hospitality to Immigrant girls and
guide them on their way to their rela
tiveS or dcStinatiOn-un arrangement
of incalculnble advantage to those con
ccrned, warding off grievous dangers
from the unwaly and doing Il world of
good. The name and work of the mis-
sion are familiar on both sides of the
Atlantic, but it may lie doubted if at
home with us here the value of its
services are held in us active apprccia-
ton as it should be. The idea of found
ing the mission suggested itself. indeed
pleaded of its urgency out of the con-
temptation Of the sad spectacle which
the hapless and helpless Irish imm-
grants presented. We need not go into
details now; but little reflection is
needed to impress the thoughtful what
the plight of many must have been
twenty years ago as they stood friend
less and unadvised on the landings
stages of New York, swarming in
those days with "land-sharks" of the
most undesirable type. The mission
came, a blessed boon, as it's vigilance
and protection in all it's useful course
have so well proved. Let us see what
had to be faced? From July LIST, 1888,
to July LIST, 1903-the current year
how many immigrants do our readers
think have arrived at various Ameri-
can ports? The numbers are within
a few figures of nine millions; and of
these. nigh seven millions landed at
New York. The Irish, sad to say, bulk
largely in the lot. AS many as &c.,
Oi9 exclusive of sccondcabin passcn-
gers were from Ireland--mllcs, &c.,
T17-females, 29S.332. And saddcr,
too, and of fatal Importance to Ireland,
is the fact that the average ages Of
the Irish eXilcs would not exceed %
years-thc flower of the land, in fact,
gone past recall. The Ireland of to-
day is in painful realization of what
all this mcans-the outgoing of Il
country's vital substance; the England
of to-day feels it in bitter reckoning.
and strives in the newer and better
ways of government to conserve what
remains. What has gone down the
outrushing stream may not be called
back, but to be commended and aided
in every possible method of encourage
ment and inducemcnt are the efforts
now being made to make Ireland for
Irish men and Irish women worth liv
ing in. Land legislation, at long last
broadly enlightened and fast reaching
on to adequacy of remedy of the evils
of Il land system rightly described the
worst in Europe" gives hope some
what for the future; and yet one can
not-howevcr vastly changed the pros.
pcct-Slut off the fact that the people
still are going, and these the young
and strong, turning their steps and
their hearts to the west, following in
the track of their kindred gone before
Is it too late, has the day Of amclio-
ration been too long delayed? We
have asked ourselves this question ere
now, and it is forced upon us again in
the report before us 1t is IL question
which everyone to whom our colnrry's
welfare is Il concern must have present
to the mind urging in its Importance
the need for wise. resolutc. and SYM
pathetic action, for. as the notable
Chicago resolution declares. when the
determination OF Il people is threatened
there is no room for faction"
What. then. is the land reform do
ing for us presently? Is it putting
stay or check on the Irish exodus:
The answer comes to us in pathetic
eloquence from the crowded decks of
the tenders speeding day in and day
out from our ports to the stately liners
i'll the Otfing, prowS SEWARD. 1T was
generally expected the Mission Re-
port naturally says. that with the in
PRODUCTION of the land purchase bill Il
material reduction in the number or
immigrants would naturally result; the
contrary, however, has been the case,
as the follwing figures show:-During
the fiscal year ending June 3Oth. 1908,
24,356 Irish people arrived ut this port
New York;, as against 1891 for the
year 1902, giving an increase Of 5000
more persons this year than last. OF
these 12,919 were females. During the
last six months 15OSG landed. as
against 11,536 for Il corresponding
period of last year, giving once more
an increase Of some thousands for the
present year. Thus, in spite of reso-
lutions and land bills and royal visits,
the tide of immigration still flows I'M
checked from the Green Isle beyond
the sea-" 1t is the truth attested in
the irrefragable statistics of immigra-
ton. The work of the mission. there.
fore, is still to do. Irish youths, girls