OCR Text |
Show o THE RECRUDESCENCE OF THE IRISH NATION. (From the New York World.) Dublin, April 24. There is no parallel par-allel in history for the marvelous change that is taking place at present, pres-ent, both in a material and sentimental sentimen-tal way, in this country. On every side there is inspiring evidence of the recrudescence of a nation, and throughout the land there is a spirit of hopefulness such as has not existed for more than a hundred years. The most striking evidence of the changed condition of affairs is the remarkable re-markable falling off in emigration. Agents of the big transatlantic steamship steam-ship companies that sail from Queens-tnwn Queens-tnwn iWlnxA that the decrease, which has been gradual for several years, has this season reached a depth that means but one thing, and that is that the era of abnormal emigration has passed forever. - Of course this is easily accounted for by the fact that there is a definite prospect of the passage of the land purchase act, which will in effect throw open for cultivation millions of acres of land which are now idle. These lands will be accessible to the thousands of sturdy young men and women who otherwise would have to seek employment in the United States; hence the falling off in the sorrowful procession to the emigrant ships. Aside from this prospective view of the good times ahead, there is a tangible tan-gible evidence of progress in every field of industry. Coincident with all this fnmfts the revival of the old Gae lic tongue. To the latter revival may be attributed the stimulus that has been felt in many kinds of Irish manufactures, man-ufactures, notably wearing apparel. Irish poplin than which there is no richer or handsomer dress fabric Is being turned out in quantities immensely im-mensely in excess of the products of former years, while the demand for Irish tweeds and linens Is exceptionally exceptional-ly gratifying. There Is a notable improvement In the paper trade, the shipping industry and the export trade, so far as It applies ap-plies to butter, cheese, eggs and other farm products. Thanks to the high price of American meats, the farmers of this country are realizing better returns re-turns for their cattle, sheep and pigs. The example of solidarity set by the United Irish league and the victories vic-tories which have followed tie well-directed well-directed efforts of this organization - 7 " have stimulated the somewhat moribund mori-bund trades unions into renewed activity. ac-tivity. The result of the awakened interest in this direction is shown In many quarters and among many trades. Advances in wages and improvements im-provements as to working hours are frequently recorded in the daily newspapers, and in most of these cases the results have been accomplished accom-plished without the bitter heartburnings heartburn-ings of strikes or lockouts. The mud cabin of the poorer peasantry peas-antry is fast disappearing in fact, It would need a guide to point out one of those wretched abodes now to the visiting tourist. Instead there is the comfortably built cottage of three or four rooms, with neatly thatched or slated roof and with a decorative bit of foliage or shrubbery in close prox imity. With all these changes for the better bet-ter both for the artisans in the towns and cities and the farmers and their laborers in the - rural districts comes the announcement that Lord Iveagh of Guinness' Dublin stout fame, and Sir John Pirre of Harland & Wolff's great shipbuilding firm in Belfast have agreed to a plan- that will cost them about $2,000,000 .to perfect the carrying carry-ing system In the rural districts so that farmers may get their produce to market with more celerity and at less cost than hitherto. Recruiting fop the Royal Irish Constabulary Con-stabulary Has Ceased. But perhaps the most gratifying evidence evi-dence of the changed condition of things is the fact that it has been decided de-cided by the government to reduce the number of Royal Irish constabulary men, who are undoubtedly the most bitterly hated part of the machine that has helped to keep Ireland in subjection. subjec-tion. The fact that recruiting for the "peelers" has practically ceased i3 accepted as an evidence of the good faith of the government in its intention inten-tion to harmonize the Irish and English Eng-lish people. |