Summary

William Frederick Bailey The Irish Land Acts — Movement of Population during the last half of the 19th Century (1917)

Teeming millions with a low standard of living, such as are found in some Asiatic countries, are no proof of prosperity. A healthy life and good social conditions are the most important elements in the well-being of a people; and it is to these we must look to decide whether the country is in a satisfactory condition or the reverse.
Where the national standard of living is low, and the population has multiplied to the limits of subsistence, there is no margin of economic safety. The lives of the people are at the mercy of the thousand accidents of human affairs
Source: Wikisource

William Frederick Bailey The Irish Land Acts — Movement of Population during the last half of the 19th Century (1917)

Between these two evils the population of a country may, I would suggest, be considered as having come to a happy equilibrium when it has reached the maximum number that will allow to each person a proper standard of living, that will give to everyone who can work good food, clothing, and housing, and a reasonable amount of leisure and enjoyment of existence. Measured in this way, there may have been an excessive population in Ireland in 1844, while at the present day it may be much less than the country is capable of supporting in comfort.
Source: Wikisource

William Frederick Bailey The Irish Land Acts — Movement of Population during the last half of the 19th Century (1917)

When, on the other hand, population is very sparse and too widely scattered to enjoy the benefits of social organisation, the country suffers equally. It requires a certain concentration of humanity to reap the full advantages of social life and the economy of time and effort produced by the division of labour. No one would deny, for example, that Canada, with less than two persons to the square mile, is much underpopulated.
Source: Wikisource

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