New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24
EMIGRATIOV FROM SPAIN.

The famine in Spain is evidently serious, and
is threatening TO have the peculiarly sad effect
of driving multitudes into exile. The changes
have been rung innumerable times upon the
piteous lot of the Irish who in the days of the
great famine were driven by thousands and
tens of thousands to fee from the land Of their
fathers in quest of bread. and the like lot Of
others, in other lands, who have suffered a SIM
liar fate. There are few things that appeal to
sympathy more strongly than this, and there are
few that excite stronger protest when, as Is
usually the case in famineS, the apparent neceS-
sity is really unnecessary. Under proper sys-
tenn OF industry and administration the Irish
famine would never have occurred Under
decent system the almost yearly famines in
Russia would be impossible. Under a more
progressive and enlightened rule than that of
years past, Spain would not have come to the
present dire and disastrous straits.
1t may be question whether in such a case
emigration is to be encouraged or discouraged.
On the one hand it seems sensible for those
who can do so to forsake a land of scarcity for
one of plenty. leaving the scanty supplies at
home to the diminished number of those who
cannot or will not depart If country is
really not able TO support so large population,
a part of the population would better emigrate.
But, on the other hand, it is not true that the
country is unable to support them Well TILED,
the fields of Spain would support in plenty
twice or thrice the present population Of that
land. For the vigorous young industrial ele-
ment now to emigrate-and that is the class of
which emigrants are largely composed-wouId
be TO diminish to that extent the prospect of
rehabiiitating the old fatherland The vounr
men and women who would expatriate them
selves are the very people who are needed to
remain at home and make of Spain the rich
and prosperous land it ought to be and could be
It would, however, certainly be far better for
them to so than to stay at home to sack and
burn, as some are said to be threatening +o do
and If they do go, they can easily find a new
home where they will be welcome and whore
their prospects viii be bright We are not 1Ire-
ing their migration hither, though they would be
not unwelcOme addition to our conposite ma
ton. But among our southern neighbors and
especially in Panama, Spanish settlers in large
numbers would be peculiarly welcome They
would there be among their own countrvnen
and where their own language is spoken. They
would be i'll a climate, too, which they are far
better fitted for than are people Of more
northern lands. There are in Panama TODAY
thousands of Spanards, many of the families
dating their settlement there back to the DAYS
Of Balboa and Cortez. They show no racial de-
generation through influences Of the tropcsI
climate, but in mind and body are as robust and
as efficient as any of their kinsmen in the
Iberian Peninsula. a few thousand immigrants
from Spain would be a welcome and bene1cent
addition TO the isthmian population and their
there would probably be more felt in
pront than their departure would be felt in loss
TO Spain