Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-19
TIDE IN IRISH NATIONAL LIFE
TURNS AFTER ERsING SEW.
ENrY.FIvE YEARS.
POPULATION SHOWS INCREASE
FIRST TIME SINCE 1s41
Emigration and Adverse Legislation
Cut Population BY Half Since High
Mark Of 1884, Baek-to- the-Land
Movement Benefits and Agitation for
Irish Language.
Especial correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Sept. 19.-That the tide
of Irish national life which has been
steadily ebbing for seventy-five years
has turned and that the old sod prom
Uses to take on new vigor. is the claim
made by Francis J. XII Kilkenny. or
iginator of the Irish home going move
, ment. In a statement to the press a
year ago, he asserted that a new era
had already dawned for ireland, which
is now substantiated by figures of the
recent Irish census.
For the first time in more than
seventy years. according to official re-
i'ports.'' said Mr.. Kilkenny. the popu-
lation of Ireland shows San Increase.
During the fiscal year ended June 80,
1912. the birth rate exceeded by l,1D2
the loss by death and emigration. For
the same time the deaths from all
causes were the lowest since 1871, and
the infant mortality the lowest ever
recorded. being only eighty-six in
every one thousand.
High Mark in 1s41.
The population Of Ireland was al
high water mark in 1841, the official
figures for that year being s,175,124.
Between 1871 and 1851 the loss by
death and emigration amounted to over
!, SOC. 900. Census statistics for the ten
years ended in 1861 showed a decrease
Of over II per cent; In 1871, the re-
turns showed a 67t per cent decrease;
in 1881, about AZ per cent; IN 1897,
per cent and in 1901. per cent. For
the decade ended 1911. 1t was about
III per cent and now. for single
year. there Is shown an increase IN
stead of the constant decrease. am
satified that the next ten year census
figures instead of showing decrease
will display a most satisfactory IN
crease in the population Of the island.
The census returns OF April z, 1911
make the total population 4.3So.21s,
viz: 2,192. 046 males. 2,19s.171 females.
being a decrease from the prior census
of 6s.55s. or the smallest since the de-
cade 1s71-1Se1. However. in one prov
ince doinster) there was an increase
OF e.215, or nearly per cent So it Is
shown that Ireland at the time Of her
low tide has about half the population
that she had seventy-five years ago:
and that she is therefore the only
countrv in the civilized world whose
population has been terribly depicted
thru restrictive legislation.
.srhe largest relative decrease during
the last census decade was in the
province of Connaught where the loss
was So per cent or about $4,000 out OF
a population OF Gil. 900. More than one
half of the decrease in Ireland's pop
,,lation during this period was in that
proyince. where industries are lacking
and the soil impoverished.
Trend Toward Large Cities.
"As in America. the trend Of the
population of Ireland has been to-
wards the large cities. In 1916 over sG
per cent of the population was found
in the rural districts. while in 1911 this
nercentage had decreased to about &c,
hit the back to the soi' movement is
making progress and many are now
returning from the congested cities.
"In the matter Of density OF popula-
ton II appears that the number OF
acres to each person has increased by
nearly three -fourths of an acre with
lin the last thirty years. The arabic
acreage per person has increased from
about three acres in 1881 to nearly four
acres in 1911.
ireland has suffered a heavy loss
from emigration. The drain upon her
population in this direction even dur
| ing the past five years averages 30
900 annually; in 1907. $4,000 left Ire
land for other countries; in 1908, 23,-
900: 1909, $4,000; 1910. $4,000; 1911
80, 900: 1912. $4,000.
',F'rom May 1, 1851. to March 81
1911. nearly 100000 natives of Ireland
emigrated to other countries. The
| larger portion of these emigrants were
batwaen tho ages of Is and 35 wears
Remunerative employment in ireland
for men and women will help largely t.
check this drain upon her population
Growth Of Education.
Census returns indicate also thu
the people of Ireland are keepine
abreast of the times in education. This
fact is hopeful sign of progress, fol
| it is a we'll recognized axiom that the
prosperity of country increases II
the same proportion as its educationa
and industrial advantages.
| 1.-The Irish race everywhere is no"
taking a great interest in the reviva
of he Gaelic language and its GUS
toms. At the present rate OF progress
Ireland will be bi-lingual country
within the next twenty-five years I'm
It'll there is full restoration of the ma
Tive tongue there can be no complete
national development in harmony WITH
native instincts and ideals.
'erhe financial outlook for 1relant
continues to be bright. Deposits ant
cash balances in the joint stock banks
increased s2.7S0.000 in 1912. over 1911
savings banks deposits increased 81
923,0 600 during the same period
E.lL aad. q .1oh