The Irish standard., 1905-04-15
LEAVING HOME
Population Of Ireland Dwind-
ling at Alarming Rate.
william Redmond, n. P, De.
plores Heavy Emigration.

dent. Mr.. William Redmond. M. P,
who is brother of the chairman of
the Irish Parliamentary Party, and
whose visit to Pittsburg few years
ago is well remembered. writes in
part:
When is the fearful stream of emf.
grafton to be stayed, and unless it is
stayed, and that soon, what is to be-
come of the nation? And what be-
comes of the emigrants?
may speak on this matter with,
perhaps, some little authority, for l
have been on five separate occasions
in the United States, and in almost
every part from San Francisco to New
York, and have naturally with deep
interest looked into the position of OUT
people in the great republic. That
millions of our race have done we'll in
every walk of life across the seas, it
is pride and a glory for us to know
AT the same time, it may be questioned
whether the most successful Irishman
in America would not have had hap
pier life at home in Ireland had a fair
opportunity been afforded him. 1t is
true many of our race have done nobly
and we'll abroad With hardly any ad-
vantages in the way OF education or
capital they have surmounted all OBJ
Stacles. and by sheer force of charac-
ter have carved their way to fortune
and success.
But let the truth he said, many,
many and very many of those who
left the old land with high hopes have
lived to rue the day they ever crossed
the sea. In the crowded cities of
America, where people from all over
he world congregato. the struggle for
life is hard, and the slums of many 4
place hold Irish men and women who
would barter q portion of their lives to
ne at home once more. Even those
who do get good employment have to
work in so wearing a way that health
soon gives out. | have seen in the
piS HotelS ol Allellca our enlSflnt
girls at work. and have spoken to
many of them of their lives They
earn good money. but how hard and at
what q sacrifice of health and happi-
ness they alone know. 1t is the same
%ay with the men. They may if they
are lucky, get we'll paid for their
Ii,t n IA; 4
labor is not healthy. and as for the
money. though it IlaE seem consider
able, when the cost Of living is count
cd, it will be found that Il man may be
better off on Ealf the amount at home.
The fact that the leaders OF the Irish
race in America ;t-" doing their best
TO discourage emigration from ireland
is eloquent of what they think best
fer our people. In Australia il is the
same. Labor is no, easy 10 get: and
ave never met an I.ishmHn from
Australia WHO failed to advise Irish
en- to remain at home, if possible,
much as they would be welcome if cir
cumstances drove them abroad.
| say here. as one who has been for
tllnate in having opportunities of see
ing the chance OF our people in almost
every part of tie world that if the
IDung people of ireland can earn =,
tair living at lome that il would be
madness for them to drift abroad,
Where harlShDs and troubles which
they little dream OF may await them,
and where they will be, after all,
strangers in Il strange land. no matter
how many friends they may make The
organization for staying emigration is
doing a splendid work. of this no man
can be more assured than one who has
visited the fields OF emigration as |
have done. The English contention
that Ireland is overpopulated we all
know to he part of a deliberate design
to drive or induce the Catholic Irish
from the country, SO as to anglicise
the old soil, and in that way conquer
the land more effectualy than perse
cution over could do.
That this will happen if the tide of
emigration is not stayed is as certain
as anything can be in this world
Hence is it not the first duty of all
lrishmen to do something, no matter
low little, to keep the people at home?
1t is the most important thing we have
before us, and it is a work in which
patriotic men of all parties and creeds
may join on a common platform. 1t
is true, really. that work cannot be
found to keep our youth at home.
Lave met young men in this country
who have said to me, "Oh, it is very
good to talk of not emigrating, but we
must live, and where is the work to
be had at home?" 1t ought to be pos
sible to provide work, surely. Great
and splendid efforts are being made
to revive Irish industries, and all hon
CT to such efforts and to the men and
women who are making them.
Are such efforts being seconded by
the people at large as they should
If every man who hates emigration
were to contribute little it ought tt
be possible and even easy to provide
with a good chance of successful EN-