The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-01
Affairs Of Ireland.

Our last advices from Ireland represented the
condition of the poorer classes Of that wretchsd
country, to be at the very lowest ebb. Starvation
was staring them in the face, and the pangs OF
hunger were urging them to reckless despair.
There is no spectacle more appalling than that
Of nation on the verge of famine, and that spec
tacle Ireland now presents. The fears of the a,l-
thorties have been excited from several acts of
violence committed in some parts OF the country,
and troops were despatched to prevent out
break-a bad remedy for starvation. To be sure,
there are presentments, and orders for public
works, and other specious means of that nature
devised to check the evil, but the prospect is still
very alarming
The Irish are IA very patient people, but
they cannot hive on air. A large portion Of the
population has for years been on the very verge
of want and they cannot be worse conditioned,
unless in state of actual starvation To alleviate
the present Distress it would require an enormous
sum of money, such sum as the English govern
ment will not be willing to advance. The Repeal
Association has as yet taken no steps towards
medying the evil. Why is not the fund in the ex-
cheauer of the association expended in feeding
the furnishing peasantry1 Towhat more glorious
end could that fund be appropriated? Mr..
O'Connel has written long letter to the associa-
ton, in which he deplores the awful calamity inn
pending over the country Speaking of the pres
sure of the evil he says
Let lit be remembered that there is great reason to
fear and not only to fear but to believe that the evils
that press upon will not have spent their
force in single year or between this and next harvest
What will be the condition OF the country il there shall
be another Of bghted crop without adequate
paration being made TO meet the calamity and what
sufficient preparations should and be made, it is
Likely that individual sagacity could foretelL
IL ever there was case requiring consultation, con
sheraton and deliberate and dspassonate discussion
tbs that in hand. II requires the concentrated in
vsng plans suited to the of the peril and the
enormous calsmities that menace us.
But whilst the association and the government
are employed in making long tediou. reports on
the enormity Of the evil, and offering theoretic
plans of relief there is little practical good being
accomplished. Nor will they be aroused from
their lethargy until some awful CONFUSION of So
ciety shall have awaked them to a sense of the
fact, that soft speeches have virtue in feeding
the hungry. They will then be obliged to have re-
course 10 the bayonet, and the unfortunate people
will have the alternative presented them of diving
by violence, or wasting away day by day, under
the inroads of famine.
1t will scarcely be believed yet it is fact, that
Notwithstanding the hightful state Of the country,
Mr.. John O'Connell and his coadjutors, consumed
a great portion of the last meeting of the associa-
ton, of which we have intelligence, with denun.
Citations OF the Young Ireland party, and of the
Nation newspaper. The principles so boldly
maintained by the latter, in defiance oil the pro-
sciption of Mr.. O'Connell, are becoming trium-
plant The people speaking out on tho ques
ton. Mr. Smith 0'Brien was too popular to be
crushed, and now they are trying TO court him
back to Cancellation Hail. Robert Kane, late
Mayor Of Waterford. has written most power
fu and temperate letter to Mr. Ray, in which he
expresses his dissatisfaction at the of the
association towards the Young Ireland party,
snd maintains that such policy must end in the
destruction ofthe association. Mr. Kane is one of
the most talented men in Ireland, and the letter
has the more weight from the fact, that Mr. Kane
is a warm personal friend Of Mr.. O'Connell.
The next news from Ireland will be of great
importance. The condition of the peasantry is
very critical, and the insurrectonary spirit that
has been Wondering so long, may at any moment
burst forth in fnghtful confagration. The Irish
news will therefore be of the most interesting
features in the intelligence by the next steamer.