The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-02-25
In Spite of All That Has Been Said
to Discourage Emigration, the
Drain Goes on.
Glowing But Unfounded Accounts of
Success in America Large
ly Responsible.
Fifteen per Cent of the Mortality in
Ireland for the Year Due
to tuberculosis.

At various times during the year I
expressed the opinion that, notwith-
standing all opposing forces, emigra-
ton was OIL the increase. Unfortun
ately. the figures just published by
the registrar general bear out that
forecast. The figures TO-: 1909 were
2S,676, while those for the year 1910
were 32,457, which gives last year an
increase of 3,7S1 over that of the year
previous, writes the Dublin cores
pondcnt OF the Catholic Columbian.
1t is a sad showing and a sad tale,
afte: all that has been done and said
by bishops, priests and politicians
and the press to discourage cmigra-
tion. The greatest number, compar-
ing provinces, was from Ulster, which
showed also the largest increase. But
even from Ulster it is the Catholic
and the Gael that is going from such
rural districts as Monaghan and Done
gal. The figures may not seem alarm
ing in America where we are ac-
customed to count the immigrants by
the hundred thousand, and where a
quarter million Italians land at the
port Of New York alone in one year.
But these people come from large
countries already ove:crowded.
=" Ireland, on the oyller hand is a
small country. It is already over
drained. 1t could, il cultivated after
the manner OF Belgium, Holland OF
parts Of France, produce abundance
to feed five or six times it's present
population. 1t is the young, the
strong, the healthy who are going
leaving the very old, the very young
and the feeble in mind and body be-
hind in proportionately excessive mum
bers. OF the $4,000 and over who left
the country last yea-, $4,000 went tc
the United States, and Of these 1000
had their passage prepaid by friends
in America.
How Americans Can Help.
It is the lack of steady employment
and the absence of opportunities il
life for the young that encourages, il
it does not force the more ambitious
to emigrate. Such people cannot be
kept in Ireland by patriotic motives
while they believe they can succeed
better and have fuller opportunities
abroad. There is, however, one thing
which, I believe, Irish Catholics ir
America should take seriously in thi;
question and make matter of con-
science. They should not encourage
their relatives to emigrate by writing
them glowing accounts Of the op.
portunities that await them in Amer
lea, and Of the ease with which for
tunes are made there-accounts that
in 80 cases out Of 100, have no founda-
tion in fact BY personal experience
and knowledge I know this to be ar
evil that works to the detrment o,
both countries, leaves sorrowful heart:
and ruined lives when it is too late tt
apply remedy.
I have come into districts in Ire.
land where have met friends ant
relatives of people whom I knew il
America and learned then for the frs
time Of their wonderful success OF
fabulous fortunes-outlandish storle!
with no foundation whatever in fact
and no purpose, that / could see ex.
cept the desire on the part of tn,
writer's to create the impression a
home that they had done better thar
some others from the same neighbor
hood. Parallel to these letters arr
others describing New York city ant
the conveniences of life there, as i
the more fashionable parts Of the cit,
and its means of rapid transit repre-
sented all America and were common
to every part of the country.
Prevalence Of Tuberculosis.
In America, where we have sucl
variety Of climate and so much labo
and money are expended on means t.
prevent consumption statistics Of
tuberculosis in such a climate as Ire
land may be of interest.
This climate is certainly very damp
or would rather say, ve-y moist. TIL
humidity arises not from the earth
but is blown in in the form Of cloud
and foEs from fha western ocear