The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3380, 19 December 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 1873

Thk unparalleled exodus now going on from Europe almost exceeds belief. Last year the British Isles “exported” the enormous number of 300,000 bouls, to which must be added at least a similar number from continental ports, making in all not leas than 600,000 persons, or fully double the number of the whole population of New Zealand. Out of this vast cjuantity the Colony received about 6,000, or aay 1 per cent of the whole number that crossed the Atlantic in 1872, and chiefly, if not entirely, at the public expense ; many of them perhaps were of a character quite unsuitable as colonists, and may in future years prove a burden instead of an advantage to the State receiving thorn. It is now about three years since the General Government initiated its emi gration policy, and it has had ail the necessary funds placed at its disposal for carrying out that policy; and in addition the Provincial Government is sending a Special Agent. Our loading states men aceui not to re disc that what suited a do/cn'y*ars ago will not suit now-a-days During the fasfc twelve years the whole w-.rld, and above all the European world, lias undergone most remarkable changes ' en or twelve years ago we <ould have oh t dned “any amount” of the very best “flesh ind blood” wo liked to a«k for from the United Kingdom alone, without dreaming o going to the Continent for it. Now, all this id changed. The British emigrant has proved himself so usefuj, aud to valuable id new

countries by his industry, skill, intelligence, and other national characteristics that tn> emigration agencies in the United Kingdom now competing for him may be counted by dozens, These agencies arc mostly from the Western Hemisphere, backed and supported by numerous and powerful steamship companies, whose interest it is to keep the s ream always flowing and increasing, it does seem a misfortune that so many hundred thousands of our fcllow-coun rymen should be flicking to the 1 nited States, when this and the adjacent Colonies of Australia offer so much attraction. To an ordinary English craicrant it is a sore trial that ho should have to sohet a country for his future home in which he will loose his allegiance to the i-rit sh Hag, and in which Ins children or his children’s children will grow to be “ foret ners ” In coining to new Zealand he will lind that he has only transplanted hitnseif to another Britain, ‘‘with m re elbow-room, less fierce competition, and more hope of making provision for age.” The drawback lies chiefly in the difficulty of access to this much-favored Colony, ft is true he may now obtain a free passage from Government in sailing vet-sels, but Englishmen are act to consider a ‘ ‘ free gift’' aa worth little ; and it is useless to deny the fact that the long sea voyage to New Zealand in sailing vessels is frequently attended with much discomfort and annoyance—sometimes with disease and death. We believe that the only true remedy for tapping the stream now crossing the Atlantic, and which serves chiefly to aggrandise the United States, is to apply ourselves vigorously and earnestly to establishing direct steam communication with the United Kingdom. It is probable, if not certain, that the Imperial Government would contribute a fair proportion of the subsidy towards establishing auch a line. The Horae Government is in fact utmost as much interested in our progress and prosperity as our own Government is. The Imperial authorities recently did their utmost to cheek English emigration to South America, and if it d.d not" go to similar lengths as regards the United states, it was partly influenced, as a French paper express d it, through “f ar of collision with a powerful people whose feelings are not very friendly.” ; Jt is to the manifest advantage of England that all her sons should settle under her own flag. They not only thereby consume more of British manufactures than they otherwise would do ; but above ali pecuniary or commercial considerations, they help to build up in the Southern Hemisphere a nation that will prove to be a counterpoise to that “ Mighty Republic,” which, by its pretensions and the consciousness of its own sudden importance, has on many occasions proved most troublesome and annoying to the Government and people of England. The ‘Times,’ in a recent article comuvnting on the enormous exodus now going on from the United Kingdom, remarks as follows :

While England is daily called upon to admit a long list of shortcomings, by the measure of her own lofty pretensions and in comparison with her numerous rivals, there is one point at least in winch it cannot he denied that she is the first among nations. To the British Isles it is given above every other territory or realm to increase and multiply, to people and replenish the earth. Certainly there is much that we fail to do, and much in which others beat us. We cannot expedite and cheapen the course of justice. Above all, we cannot frighten some of our neighbors into political moderation, others into civility and justice. We are told that our legislation is a perpetual muddle of spasmodic and abortive efforts; that we have little wars all over the world, entered upon without design, and concluded without profit or glory. We arc told that we cannot govern our Colonies or sustain their loyalty with the hope of present succour. In so many things are we suppoaed to offend, that in the number itself is the proof how much is expected from us. Against tiicse immense discredits may be set the enormous supply of the very best flesh and blood which we freely and cheerfully export to continents gasping for it, and to nations hailing and assisting. A"large part of the world would stand still, and have to declare itself betrayed ami insolvent, if this much-abused country did not feed it regularly with British hearts and hands. An ally failing to furnish the promised contingent of men and munitions of war in the hour of need, would hardly do a worse default than this country, should it suddenly fail in its annual outpouring. It would be less injury to withhold our cotton or our coal than to deny mankind the best items of our exports-English, Irish, and Scotch. In round numbers wc last year supplied the world with .’IOO,OOO persons, of course ot all ages and both sexes, but with mure than their proportion of strength, health, activity, and fitness for work. This was about 10,000 more than wc sent abroad in either of the years I*7o or 1871. While wages and prices have boon rising at Home, and when the working man's position seemed better than ever, emigration carried the day. People left settled employment, with good masters, the best expectations, gentlemen’s'service, and the supposed power of obtaining what wages they pleased by combination, in order to make a new start altogether in a new climate, and under circumstances not only new but foreign to their habits and tastes. The English part of the emigration is the most increasing, ami it is not unlikely that it will before long be even rateably as as the Irish. When we conic to the destination of this immense annual outpouring, wc have to accept, with what reflections we may, that of the whole 300,000, 233.000 went to the United States, 32.000 went to British America, 10,000 to Australasia, and rather less to other places. Perhaps some will wonder that 82,000 English and 12.000 Scotch chose the United States. Regard it as we may, the ■working Englishman, whether in the country or the town, is ready to abandon his allegiance and run the risks of unknown laws, in the hope of rising in the world. What he hopes to And is another England out there, but with m&re elbow room, a less tierce competition, and more liope of making that provision for age which is the one thing wanting to the lot of the British workman. Aye we to regard with any alarm a vast operation, which in the first instance increases and strengthens a rival and possible foe ? The English element we add to the .States, now on the increase, may be some counterpoise to that other element, which is sure to be vexatious and annoying for some generations more, w’herever it in,