The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-02-05
A unionist Lie Nailed.

October was not within the "emigra-
ton season; yet the rush from Ire
land during that month was sadden-
ing, says the Belfast Irish Weekly. No
less than 2,799 emigrants departed-an
increase of 403 as compared with OCto-
Der. 1908. Last year we saw slump
in emigration; and although 23.2S5 peo-
pie left the country. we COnsoled our
selves with the thought that this was
the lowest number for any one year
since the early 'forties of the last CEN
fury, and we hoped for a further fall in
the total during 1909 The hope has been
disappointed. Already 1856 emigrants
left our shores this year; and the total
of so. 600 may be reached when the year
closes.
1t must be borne in mind that these
official figures are always more favor
able than the reality. as very many
leave the country who are not clasSed
as emigrants, while it is quite impossi-
BILE to enumerate those who travel to
Great Britain: and Ulster contributes
enormously to this particular tide
The official returns, however, show how
horribly this prosperous northern
province is suffering from the drain
During the ten months ending October
81. tie emigrants were from Leinster,
$3.50; Munster 1893: Connacht, 6.2l5;
Ulster, 9,647. Thus listers nine coun-
ties contributed very nearly sc per cent
of the emigrants who fled from a coun-
try capable of supporting in comfort
thrice it's present population.
Belgium area is 1873 square miles.
listers area is $50 square miles. Bel
GUMS population in 1901 was b,603,54S-
Now it is probably S0UU,UU0. Ulster
population in 1901 was ,5S2S26. Now II
may not be fully 100000. Were Ulster
populated. square mile for square mile.
as Belgium is, its people would count
6 200, 600 in 1909. They are scarcely one
fourth of that number-and the young
and healthY-"the bone and the sineW
of the population"-are deserving us at
the rate of 1000 a year, leaving de
caying race behind them-Old men and
women. candidates for state pensions OF
five shillings a Week-yOuths destined
for the emigrant ships-a rapidly de-
creasing body of farmers on land more
rapidly passing out of Culuvation-an
ever-increasing horde of officials; and
hosts of poorly-paid female workers in
a big city. There are. of course, other
elements in the population: but those
enumerated are steadily growing in rel
alive numerical Importance.
Belgium is a free country. 1t makes
it's own laws and abides by them. An
absolutely overwhelming majority of its
people are Catholics. All creeds are
equal in the eyes of the state and of the
law. "Bigotry" is unknown. It's land
is utilized-to the last square perch. The
products of its factories-in which toll
ers work for fair wages under healthy
conditions-compete with the best work
of England, Germany and America in
all the markets of the world. Ulster is
not self governed. 1t is ruled by stran-
gers-by $40 British gentlemen. of
whom not half q dozen underntand Irish
business, as we have been assured by
Sir Edward Carson. Therefore Ulster
like Ireland of which it is parts los
ing its popula tion-the source of all
wealth and prosperity. We leave the
contrast to the careful consideration of
the people who remain in our prosper
Gus" province.