The Irish standard., 1906-09-22

AoSAAASA " Iuc SuIldC0 AISL, anu
while those above were untiring in
their efforts to get the farmers out
quickly, now that this work was ac-
complished they expect that the al
ready relieved farmers will help them
with a will to aid the laborer in his
ascent. I don't mean to convey that
the Irish farmer is SO ungrateful or
selfish as to forget the claims the la
borer has on his assistance, but it may
be necessary to NDint out that they
should not wait to be asked. They.
with their now brighter and broader
outlook, should see the necessity; they
should forever bear in mind that to
them the laborer is indispensable.
Some may think that I am unduly la
boring the subject of the farmers
duty to the slaborers,, Or. that.'I wish
it to. be inferred that. our peasant pro-
prietors will ! display an inclination to
shirk their duty to their country, now
that their own battle has been won.
Nothing is farther from my mind. I
merely want to- Set out clearly what, in
my opinion, their duty is. Whatever
the British House, of Commons may
do in the way Of legislation, as well as
what is best outside, the bounds of
Acts of Parliament must be carried
into effect by the>farmers. They as
class are coming in for their just
rights slowly but surely. At present
they are the administrators Of most
important enactments and but a brief
period must elapse before they are the
actual lawmakers, SO the claims which
the laborers have on their help and
sympathy cannot be too strongly driv-
en- home. If the laborers' cause de-
mands sacrifices, then sacrifices must
be made, for it would be better. say,
that landlordism had been allowed to
flourish, with all it's concomitant evils,
than that the laborers should con-
tinue to flee from our shores as from a
plague spot. Facts must be faced, and
In dealing with them plain speaking is
necessary. During the last half CEN
fury circumstances conspired to en-
courage emigration. Farmers had to
half starve themselves and their fam
lilies in order to satisfy the demands
of rackrenting, absentee slandlords,
consequently the wages paid to labor
ers rarely exceeded sixpence per day,
80 per week, the present maintenance
cost of paupers in our warehouses;!
He was, indeed, p fortunate man who
got sufficient fisShey together to take
him out of the country. Any other
place under the sun could have no
more terrors for him. Every man that
left meant an acre Of ground
out of cultivation. The so-called
economists of the day declared that
the country was populated and
emigration was further encouraged
and advocated as means to gain
prosperity. This fallacy has been ex-
pl2ded, but has the awakening come
too late? Not If we work together
and with will, by word and deed to
stem the tide and repair the ravages
Of the past.
So far have dealt with the cause
and circumstances that are directly
responsible for the emigration Of our
rural youths. I will now turn my at
tention to indirect causes or contribu-
tory agents-accessories before and af-
ter the fact. First Of hese comes the
shipping agent. potted all over the
country they are more numerous than
our National ~ schools. and their
haring and seductive posters are more
aggressive than those knlisting pla.
cards whose influences have already
brought into being an anti enlistins
crusade. Do these emigration agents
ever ponder .fol : moment on the un.
y patriotic side Of their occupation;