Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The Perverse Effects of Emigration to America

As seen from the House of Commons in the 1870's:
There is another point to be considered. Lately, the emigration from Ireland has very considerably diminished in comparison with former years, and in place of that we have returning to Ireland people of whom I fear it must be said that during their residence in America they have acquired a good many Western vices and forgotten a good many Irish virtues.
The context is a debate over the need for continuance of special laws (curfew, control over arms, etc.) with regards to parts of Ireland, given the agrarian "outrages".

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