The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-10
IRELAND SUFFERS FROM EMIGRATION Many Such Went Down
 With the Titanic RECORD OF 60 YEARS Emigration in That Time Almost Equal to Present Population.
 A Gradual Decrease Is
 Setting In
RECORD OF 60 YEARS
By AUSTIN F. MEGu1RE


 the Titanic the Irish Anti-Emigration lea que finds new, if sad. argument against the continued assertion of their country by the young men and women of Ireland. When the great ship plunged under the waves, a large proportion of the third class passengers who were lost were sturdy young men and women, mostly of the farming class. who joined the IT, tanic at Queenstown.
 Though there is evidence of a down. ward tendency in emigration statistics, still the fact remains that several years must pass before Irish emigration will be reduced to proportions that will be more in accord with the normal. or natur- al, overflow of the population of any well regulated nation.
 Emigration has been one of 1relands most acute afflictions for more than six ty years. The great exodus of the peo- pie from their native land came first in the fearful years of 1s47-s when land lord-made famine decimated the land, while plenty regined within her borders
 That a people did suffer famine while the landlords, backed by British bayonets
 
 sold in English markets. so that the landlords nights have their rents. enough cattle, eggs, butter, poultry and farm produce to support every man, woman and child, who died for want of food, is known now and cannot be denied by all the statisticlans the landlord gang ever hired
 How Ireland has suffered since then from emigration may be judged from the following returns for 1911, just Issued | from the office of the reglstrar-general: | From 1851 to 1911 the number of people who left Irish ports as emigrants was A. 21so16.
 According to the census figures the pop | ulation of Ireland last year was 4,3S1, ,95l. In 1901. by the preceding decennial census. the population was 4,45s.775 a loss in the 10 years of 76,S24
 The figures are, of course, deplorable. But those who are working with might and main to alter or decrease them are met by the lure of America, which, to thousands of the young people of the rural population is simply irresistible.
 Last year. 30,573 young natives of Ire land turned their backs upon their own country and their hopeful, optimistic faces toWdTuS the great republic. MOSt or these will never set foot on Irish soil again, for which the pity is great Ireland needs them all to help her with the work in the coming days of her regeneration.
 The census commissioners say that al- though the shrinkage of the population, which has been continuous since 1S4s, has not yet ceased, the percentage of loss of population for the last decade is the small est yet recorded. This. at least Is a crumb of comfort But the turn in the lane is yet long way off
 Of the 30.573 who went away last year, P per cent declared on leaving that their point of destination was the United States of America. The remaining 2s per cent | to Canada and Australia, with small | sprinkling to the colonies of South Africa | But the most of them were lost to Ireland, | wherever they went.
 What this loss really means will be ap- preciated by the fact that of those who emigrated in 1911. S5.7 per cent be- tween the ages of 15 and 35:
 The providence of Ulster which is so frequently held up as the one prosperous section of Ireland, furnished 1902 of last years emgrants. Most of these went to Canada.
 Expressing it's regret at the continued outflow of the young and energetic of the population. the, Freemans Journal says that monthly returns, so far this year. do not warrant hopes Of a favor able variation of the figures of last year.
 The month of May, June and July com prise the emigration season. says the Freeman. and those three months will supply the vital figures. The great re- public in which millions of our race have settled and made their homes. will continue to call to thousands every year. But the peace and security which the | homeland affords now are finding in- creased recognition among the people and | there is hope for the future.
 Residents of America who are natives interest of the appointment of the Right Rev. Canon Higgins. the revered parish priest of Castlebar, to be auxiliary bishop to Rev D. Healy, Archbishop of Tuan.
 He returned to St. Jariath's and be- came It's president, advancing the status of the colleges greatly during his admin istraton. In 1910 he was appointed parish priest of Gunner in succession to the Rev. William McHugh. Rev. Cannon Cor ran, formerly parish at Abbey, is now in charge of the Gunner parish to succeed | Bishop Higgins, who on his elevation, selected Castlebar as his parish of resi- dence.
 Another item of interesting Comnemara 1 news is that Mir. J. A. Johnston, who | for seven years was cashier for the bank | of Ireland In Balinrobe and Galway has | been transferred on promotion to Belfast | MT. Johnston is a most courteous bank Ing officer who has legions of friends In