The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-01-01
IRELAND
From the London Spectator.

The report of the registrar general
fDr Ireland for the year Of 1912, o n
eains a record Of progress which will
surprise most Englishmen. Judged by
almost every test that can be applied,
ireland has now reached a condition Of
rapidly growing prosperity. The test OF
vital statistics is as good as any and
better than most, for it is based upon
tacts that seldom have more than one
Interpretation. The first point to note
10 that in the year 1912 the population
OF Ireland increased. The increase, 1T
y true, Is small-only 1,102, according
20 the registrar generals calculations;
put still 1t Is an increase, and thus fur
hishes a striking contrast with the al
most steady decline which has been
gong on since the middle Of the last
century; The increase In population is
0ue both to a decline in the death rate
and to a decline in emigration. The
Death rate last year in ireland was 1916
Per 1000, which is the lowest record
esnce 1877. Specially satisfactory is the
decline In b death rate from tuber-
eular disease which fell to 2.15 per 1000.
1hts decline a beeAs progressive for
many years past, and last years figure
- the lowest on record. In the same
way infant mortality has been pro-
G~ressively declining.
Equally significant from another
point OF view is the decline in emigra-
bon. The rate of emigration In 1912
was " per LOCO, as compared with z
Par LOCO in 1911 and ~, which was the
average rate from 1902 to 1911. These
ngures clearly show that the rapidity
81 emigration from Ireland has been
arrested, and the fact can only be at
ufDuted to the improved prospects
available for Irish men and women who
etay at home Parenthetically, it is
worth wh{ln "a 49, = Il,
o0untr1eS. The larger number Of emi-
eTants are young people In the prime of
1Ie their outgoing leaves e larger
proportion OF old people to the total
population, g fact which explains the
relatively high death rate stiu pre-
auctions.
ythsr information, we cannot AZ hattar
gnan take as a test a speech delivered
II Mr. Devtin member Of parliament.
. Leeds In the month OF March this
yser. In this speech Mr.. Devlin became
e1nost lyrical in his description Of the
Z achieved in Ireland during the
Isl 40 or 15 years. THOUSANDS Of
Mrstched novels have Disappeared and
t~nousands OF excellent laborers' cot
have taken their places.
quarter OF q Million OF Irish laborers
Were now comfortably housed in clean
weli-lighted and sanitary dwellings
And, above all, two-thirds OF the soil
q ireland had been transferred e. tha
Swnership OF those who filed II. Az
~ me economic effect OF this trans
Ds6cnce there is almost universal
ASreement. It has resulted IN i'm
PROVING The agriculture Of ireland ana
ne prosperity of the Irish farmer
AucAiy, TOO, Tor Irish farmers who are
g q way to become u ira
progress OF land purchase has ayne
with q rise in agricult,ira,
gG!ces throughout the world. Il ras
eult ~ that tenant purchasers baya
eeen able TO take advantage q tha sise
"a prices In lind, and Irish newsnanars
ere now constantly noting record r,yicas
SDtained for farms. p1aees
TO take another test. ~ Nav. ~
erorfth IN theSdeposits In the nnstofane
11vIn8n aDank, and a similar large In
800 ~ the balance OF the Joint stock
$3.50 - IEere 10 also an e~xtraordinarv
ssss e the i1gures OF Irish importa ma
s1ports simultaneously, railway 70.
Xespts nave risen. and the anno,,r+ -
income accessible to d far M
80, zone up. Less than q year 40
dlii, the secretary OF the Irish
APARTMENT OF agriculture. atafad n,,p-
11oly tnat In his opinion ssIreIand ~
~ IL 10 only q progressive nation
- Wltnln her w limits is amnnr *,
rapidly and soundiv nrnnras. ny
0uons IN the world" al s~in,sIar atatn
msnt was made by n. ~ Is,,.rssSr %
Govcmper last, 70 the effect tfat arr
- Tho empire" 1uS phrt