The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, JAN. 14, 1893.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3207, 14 January 1893, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14, 1893.

Enual and eiact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or penuuion. religious oi political.

Mn T, W. Russell has selected as a subject for an article in the "Nineteenth Century," the Irish census of 1891. It is particularly worthy of note for the reason that the real position of Ireland is little understood by the. general public. The professional political agitator for Home Rule, who is the most prominent depicter of the position, of course, uses all his powers to convince his hearers that Ireland, under English Government, is gradually going to the bad, and argues that were Irishmen allowed to govern themselves in their own way, a tide of prosperity, peace and happiness would commence to flow. Mr Russell, in regard to this assertion, writes, alluding to the census returns:—" It is here the real facts about Ireland and.lrish life, about progress or retrogression in that country, are to be found. It is to volumes of this character, and not to the ephemeral and partisan literature ,of the hour, statesmen and politicians must go if they wish to know facts and get at truth. They certainly give no countenance to the wail of those patriots whose jaundiced vision distorts everything to the detriment of what is called English rule in Ireland." It is true that the population has decreased by nearly half a million during the decade covered by the census. This ' fact, regarded from a sentimental point of view, the steady exodus of Irishmen from the land of their .birth, appears a mournful fact, the population today being little more th.«i half what it was 50 years ago. The census of 1840 recorded a population of over 8,000,000, but the writer asks, Was that a time of prosperity for Ireland? Misery and destitution were so rife, conditions of living were so deplorable, The famine may be said to have come as a blessing in disguise. It brought misery to themselves, but it forced attention. It was a great catastrophe but it compelled action. As most men are aware, immediately after this the exodus commenced, and Mr Russell maintains that it has only now just reached its proper limitations—limitations that is, in accordance with the resources of the country. Half a century ago Ireland was deplorably over-popu-lated, to-day with the exception of certain parts of Cotmauglit, which can still afford a leakage, her population is about what it should be. It is satisfactory, therefore, that during the last three years of the decade, the, number of emigrants considerably decreased. . The writer points out that it is a great mistake to suppose that Ireland has suffered from the fact that so many thousands, nay millions have left her shores during the last half century. It is to be regretted that the country is not richer, but the conditions being what they are, due limitation of population is absolutely necessary to national prosperity. As regards educational statistics satisfactory progress is evidenced. The proportion of the population five years and upwards who can neither read nor write is now only 18 per cent,'in 1887 it was 25 per cent, in 1821 it was actually 52 per cent, The facilities for education, however, were not availed.of to a satisfactory degree, the census shows that a little more than half the children between the age of 16 and 5 were attending school. The Irish language is gradually disappearing. There were still 38,000 who spoke no other, and over half a million who speak both languages, the number of those able to speak Irish had decreased by nearly 250,000 since 1881. The house accommodation of the people had improved, and as Mr Russell remarks, "the tourist will soon have to search for the mud cabin." As regards agriculture the census records that the amount of land used for tillage is gradually decreasing, but Mr Russell points out that climatic phenomena has rendered that "impossible" and flax " precarious," That the question lias two sides is evidenced by the increase of land under grass, and the extraordinary increase in live stock of all kinds, The weakness of the Irish farmer as compared with his English brother is that he lacks scientific knowledge and equipment. Pauperism has largely decreased, but the number of lunatics has increased by leaps and bounds, there being 5000 more than in 1881. Mr Russell remarks that probably whiskey and politics are responsible for this fact. The conclusion Mr Russell has arrived at by the consideration of the facts lie deals with is:—" The state of Ireland to-day attested by this volume, and by the clearest and plainest of proof, is the best vindication of a policy which has in recent times been at once wise and generous,"