The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-01 00:00:00

etrening

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1846.

FAMINE RIOTS IN IRELAND.
PEASANTRY SHOT DEAD B Y
THE MILITARY.

Unhappily the patience of the unfortunate Irish is
at length exhausted. We have now before us that
most appalling spectacle of national agony—a people
driven to desperation by the pangs of hunger, and
braving a violent death rather than endure the bitter
torments of a more lingering dissolution ! After
sustaining the direst woes of starvation with a most
noble fortitude, after pining in their hovels under an
accumulation of all human miseries, penury, inanition,
neglect, and despair, and after bearing these extreme
sufferings with a meekness and a tranquillity l.yond
all praise, the labourers of Ireland have been tasked to
the uttermost limits of endurence, and have now risen
against their more affluent neighbours. Towards the
conclusion of last week a slight glimmer of the ap-
proaching insurrection was observable in the vicinity
of Crookhaven, where a vast concourse of the
emaciated peasantry assembled together in the village
of Golen, to proclaim that their wretchedness was no
longer endurable. The sullen anguish depicted on
every one of those melancholy faces is described by,
an eye-witness to have attested sufficiently the ex-
tremity of their distress. " A more appalling spec-
tacle could not be witnessed," writes one
correspondent. Want and despair were the
pervading characteristics of the multitude.
That dark pron lie of violence and in-
subordination has been fulfilled. At the very com-
mencement of this week, namely, on Monday morning,
the peasantry at Dungarvan assumed such a threaten-
ing aspect, and congregated together in such danger-
ous numbers, that the military were called out—
several shots were fired upon the mob—many of the
starving rioters were wounded, and on Tuesday two
of them died from their mutilation ! By the context
of this miserable intelligence from Waterford, we are
informed that brickbats and other missiles were hurled
at the dragoons ; and that notwithstanding the
recent discharge of musketry, a dwelling-house at
Cappa was assailed, and that knots of the insurgents
were scattered over the country intervening between
that locality and Cork. Reading these awful tidings,
and conscious that the evil is spreading momentarily,
both in extent and intensity, we can only turn with
greater submission and supplication to that Osmiro-
TEINCE, " at whose bidding," in the simple and affect-
ing language of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, "the
earth hath withholden the wonted provision of food,
and turned abundance into scarcity." The rage of
famine has now goaded on the wretched peasantry of
Ireland to an outbreak, characterised by so much vio-
lence, that it cannot fail to increase their own suffer-
ings tenfold. Seeing this, we would hereby conjure
the Government, in GOD'S name, to stir themselves
betimes, or the consequences will be more calamitous
than the most morbid imagination would dare to con
lecture !

If we remember how many and how grievous have
been the afflictions of the Irish population, if we
consider within ourselves the awful details of that
national privation the dreadful whole of which has
alone reached the public observation, we shall be
compelled to confess to ourselves that we cannot re-
gard this deathful disturbance at Dungarvan with
anything like sentiments of indignation. Sorrow
and commiseration are the only feelings aroused by
a spectacle which might otherwise be only charac-
terised by the attributes of brutality and lawlessness.
What is this insurrection but the struggle for self-
preservation ? What is it but the outgushing of
the domestic affections—of that awful and enduring
love which is stronger than death ? The peasant has
experienced the pangs of inanition himself, yet he has
valour enough to continue peaceable and uncom-
plaining. His household is one nest of misery and
destitution—his potato-field is a waste of corruption,
poisoning the very atmosphere he inhales—his swine
are sold to satisfy immediate cravings—his future is
all poverty—his present existence is one of intense
desolation ;--still he submits with an admirable forti-
tude, and remains silent and impassive while his very
heart-strings are breaking with grief. When, however,
he sees his children and his wife grown haggard with
the duration of their penury, and finds no probability
of allaying their sufferings by remaining inactive
and " biding his time," his mind is impervious to
reason, his heart is hardened against justice, and his
arm is nerved by the potency of despair. Factors are
hoarding up wheat and barley in their cellars, with
the diabolical hope of extorting famine prices in the
market—farmers and cattle dealers have their stalls
filled with oxen—pigs and poultry are not unplentiful
in certain localities, otherwise visited by the scarcity
—the provision stores are plentifully furnished—a
resolute heart and a strong hand are alone necessary to
feed the starving creatures at home, and the peasantry
rush out together into the streets and byeways to
seize by violence what they cannot in any other
manner obtain. While endeavouring to save them.
selves and those endeared to them by nature and as.
sociation they are repulsed by the soldiery and sho
like malefactors.

We are ready to acknowledge that nothing but
some strenuous interposition from the armed servants
of the law can ever save a population under such cir-
cumstances from incalculable miseries. The calling
out of the dragoons is one of those vigorous but
deadly remedies which can alone preserve the com-
munity from still greater wretchedness. It is losing
a limb to retain life ; endangering an unit to
save a million. Nevertheless, the very conscious-
ness of the necessity of resorting to such a mortal
remedy is only an additional inducement to eradicate
the causes which have led to its requirement. Let
the Legislature proceed upon its measures of allevia-
tion with the utmost alacrity, for, morally, Ireland is
on the verge of a precipice.

A subject so important as a contested election for
the civic chair of the greatest city in the world can-
not be permitted to pass without comment from the
press. The circumstances of the case are peculiar.
They are also so well known that we need but glance
at them here.
For several years Alderman THOMAS WOOD
has been declared by the Livery of London to be the
man whom they would delight to honour. Being
senior Alderman, the custom of the city of London
would entitle him to the civic chair. But as has been
shown, by the non-election of Alderman WOOD,
(luring the five years his name has been at the head
of those who have not passed the chair,. the Livery
have only a nominal power in the choice of their
chief nrigiArate. The custom of the Corporation
is that the names of two aldermen shall be returned
by the Livery to the Court of Aldermen, and the
practice of that Court, as shown by their re-
jection of the most popular man, has been
to set aside the decision of the Livery,
and return, as Lord Mayor, the second person--how-
ever unpopular with the Livery. Thus, year after
year, have the Court of Aldermen put their veto on
the popular choice. Thus have they made the elec-

tion by show of hands a mere nullity. Thus--we say
so with consideration and deep regret—have they de-
prived a worthy man and an excellent magistrate of a
distinction to which he is most fully entitled. Thus have
they been the means of preventing the city of Lon-
non from the presidency of a gentleman in every re-
spect qualified to sustain its privileges and administer
justice in the best manner.

Two years ago we expressed ourselves warmly
upon this subject. The opinions we then expressed
we still entertain. Indeed, the silent track of time
has brought round many corroborations. The impu-
tations to which Alderman WOOD has been subjected
have gradually passed away before the sun of Truth,