American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-11-26
From the New York True SUM-
THE IRISH FAMINE.

The late accounts from England, although
greatly exaggerated by political partizans for
party objects, are of a very serious nature, and
one that is scarcely understood in this country.
A failure of the leading crop in any country
would be a serious calamity to that portion Of
the community which have no means of
changing their diet or of paying exorbitant
prices for small quantities of food in any shape.
Fortunately in the United States the number
of which that class is composed is so small as to
place them beyond danger of severe suffering
in such an event, and the probabilities of its
occurrence are very remote. In any Of the
North Western countries of Europe the Gala
nifty would be very great; much greater than
1t would have been quarter of a century since.
But the inhabitants OF those countries and Of
England, although they are far from being 30
well situated as we in the United States, have
still many resources. Potatoes form only part
of their diet, and the produce of their industry
is always more or less available for the pur-
chase of foreign grown food. They have ac-
cumulations of money, ofstocks, and of greater
or less depots of food.
In Ireland all this is true to very limited
extent, and potatoes are the sole dependence of
a large portion of the population-not alone
for their r.! being, but for their mere exis-
:ence. = le wretched msgovernment Of that
hapless c ,lry has reduced the inhabitants TO
20 the las as-3 Of poverty and distress. The
wealth of and has for 60 years been drawn
from the vast estates Of the mobiles and gentry,
10 feed the pornp Of their owners at the gay
court of England Whatever of wealth has
been produced by the labor Of lrishmen has
been expended for the benefit of Enghshmen
No capital has accumulated or been suffered
to remain in the country to employ her sons in
honest industry. The result has shown itself
in almost total loss Of market for Irish la
boz In the south and west of Ireland this is
more particularly true and the want of en-
ployment has compelled each one for himself
to hire, at an exorbtant rent, patch of an
acre or two-or even foods-from which to eX-
tract sufficient food to keep himself alive from
wear to year. This patch is made to yield as
much food as possible. Potatoes are therefore
almost solely to be depended upon in vast dis
tricts. The whole population is thus provi-
stoned for a year only; and with food which
no human ingenuity can preserve longer than
year. 1t manages to raise just enough to
last d year, in time of good harvest
What then, must be the distress and horror
which overtakes such a people when vas;
district finds its sole dependence destroyed by an
all-peryading disease? Some OF the accounts
is to say, the whole crop will last six months
For the remaining six months not an eatable
thing is within grasp Of these poor people, who
stand each upon his patch, destitute and desc
late. At such moment political quacks pro-
pose their remedies. "Open the ports to Tree
grain cries one. Alas of what use is free
grain TO those who have not wherewithal to
buy; "Repeal the Unon," cries another. The
disunon of the spirit with its earthly tenement
is nearer at hand. The only remedy is for
pampered and bloated England to disgorge and
give back to famished lreandthe 81 900, 100000
She has drawn from her desolate sons during
the present century without an equivalent
The annual tribute paid by Ireland to England
in taxes and absentee rents is e7,000,000, OF
sS5 1000, 900. What nation on earth can eXis
with such tremendous drain upon its resour
ces? There are in Ireland 80 counties, whose
population is 1874, 1865, and whose superfce
is il, s4s, 900 Irish plantation acres. The fol
lowing are the counties where the distress ii
greatest: