Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-04

every test that can be applied, Ire
| land has now reached condition OF
rapidly growing prosperity. The tes
of vital statistics is as good as any
!, and better than most, for it is based
upon facts that seldom have more than
one Interpretation. The first point to
note is that in the year 1872 the popu-
lation of Ireland increased. The in
crease, it is true, is small-only
1,l02, according to the registrar-gen
erals calculations; but still 1t is an
increase, and thus furnishes strik-
ing contrast with the almost steady
decline which has been going on since
the middle of the last century The
increase in population is due both to
decline in the death rate and to de-
cline in emigration. The death rate
last year in Ireland was 1916 a thou
sand. which is the lowest recorded
since 1871. Specially satisfactory is
the decline in the death rate from
tubercular disease, which fell to 2.15
a thousand. This decline has been
progressive for many years past, and
last years figure is the lowest on
record. In the same way infant NOR
tally has been declining
Equally significant from another
point of view is the decline in emil
grafton The rate of emigration in
1912 was 81 a thousand. as compared
with a thousand in 1911 and II,
which was the average rate from 1902
to 1911. These figures clearly show
that the rapidity of emigration from
Ireland has been arrested, and the
proven prospects available for Irish
men and women who stay at home.
Parenthetically, it is worth while to
notice that, as in all countries, the
larger number of enigrants are young
people in the prime of life, and their
outgoing leaves a larger proportion of
cid people To the total population,
fact which explains the relatively high
death rate still prevailing in Ireland
in spite of recent reductions.
Passing from these vital statistics
to ether information, We can not do
better than take as a test a speech
delivered by Mr.. Devlin, member of
parliament, at Leeds in the month of
March this year. In this speech, Mr..
Devlin became almost lyrical in his
description of the progress achieved
in Ireland during the last ten or fif
teen years. Thousands of wretched
novels have disappeared, and thou
sands of excellent laborers' cottages
had taken their places. quarter of
a million of Irish laborers were now
comfortably housed in clean, we'll
lighted and sanitary dwellings. And,
above all, two-thirds of the soil of
Ireland had hQpn transferred the
ownership of those who titled it. AS
to the economic effect of this trans
ference there is almost universal
agreement. 1t has resulted in improv-
ing the agriculture of Ireland and
the prosperity of the Irish farmer.
Luckily, too, for Irish farmers who
are on the way to become owners,
the progress of land purchase has
synehrenized with a rise in agricultur
al prices throughout the world. The
, result is that tenant purchasers have
| have been able to take advantage of
the rise in prices in land, and Irish
newspapers are now constantly noting
lreeord prices obtained for farms.
| To take another test, we have the
growth in the deposits in the post
Office savings bank, and a similar
large increase in the balance of the
I joint stock banks. There is also an
extraordinary rise in the figures of
| Irish imports and exports. Stimuli
itaneously. railway receipts have ris-
, en-, and the amount of income assess
able to income tax has also gone up.
. Less than year ago Mr.. I. p. Gill,
the secretary of the Irish department
, of agriculture, stated publieally that
| in his opinion ireland today is not
only a progressive nation, but within
her own limits is among the most rap
idly and soundly progressive nations
in the world" A similar statement
was made by Mr.. T. w. Russell in
November last, to the effect that
Ireland is doing quite as we'll as
lany part of the empire. London
Spectator.