8 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 



apart from other considerations, the demand for manu- 

 factured goods naturally expands as the world's popu- 

 lation increases, and prosperity spreads. It therefore 

 follows that had British agriculture remained in a 

 prosperous condition, manufacturing wealth must have 

 been greater than it is now, because of the greater pur- 

 chasing power which such prosperity gives. 

 Then in regard to manulactures being : 



" The only possible mode in which the population of 

 this country can largely increase," 



the actual facts of the case appear to be in direct opposi- 

 tion to the contention. 



The Government Emigration Records show the fol- 

 lowing figures : 



From 1853 to 1904, when trade was not so flourishing 

 as at the present time, 9,773,704 persons emigrated from 

 Great Britain and Ireland, of which Great Britain 

 accounts for 6,294,954 and Ireland for 3,478,750, or an 

 annual average for that period of 187,956 persons. 



Later figures show that during the five years ending 

 1905, upwards of 1,700,000 people, or an annual average 

 of 340,000, emigrated from the shores of Great Britain, 

 excluding Ireland; while in 1906 the enormous total of 

 557,815 persons emigrated from the United Kingdom. 



If these figures prove anything it is this, that despite 

 the vaunted trade expansion and the growth of our 

 manufacturing industries, the people of this country 

 find the necessity of emigrating in alarming numbers 

 every year, while the millions that are left behind ex- 

 perience ever-growing difficulty in obtaining employ- 



