The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-21
The Affairs of IreIand-The Doleful Pros

The Affairs of IreIand-The DoIerul Pros
pect.
The wall offamine rises louder and Louder from
unfortunate Ireland, and still the ports are closed,
and still there is no restriction on exporters, no
measures of relief save the appointment of relief
committees, and the expressed intention of the
government to dole out few thousand dollars in
driblets round the country to purchase food for
the most INDECENT, that is, when the people prove
TO the satisfaction OF the officials that they are in
dlgent by dying OF starvation lis true the board
OF public works have, in some half dozen places,
employed some unfortunate beings at task work,
for which they pay them hardly sufficient to keep
body and soul together; but this is mere drop in
the bucket. The evil has been allowed to gain
such Roadway that it threatens to undermine the
foundations of society, and instead of applying
props and stays sufficient to arrest the impending
crash, the government, after the manner of those
dots mentioned by Juvenal, stop up the chnks
with little plaster, regardless of the rum that
may ensne, so that every thing be for the present,
20 outward appearance. fair and smooth and
stable.
Lord John Russell has written long letter to
the Duke OF Leinster, defining his position, and
plainly ntimating that no relief can be expected
from England. The minister talks wisely ofwhAt
must be done in future years to supply the people
with food, but virtually acknowledges his ownin-
capacity to meet the present crisis. He advises
the purchase OF grain by proprietors of property,
and the disposal of such food, in shops furnished
on purpose with -four at fair price, with mo-
derate profit. Now all this would have been ex-
oellent advice SIX months ago I; but now, in the
very pressure Of famine, it is lamentaby out of
place-lt is more-itis trfng and contemplate
in the first minister of the crown
Where is now that energy, that iron will which
should command the ports to be opened. and
which should prohibit in breweries and distilleries
the use OF grain, thus preventing the consump-
ton Of the peoples food in dstillation, and per-
uniting the free importation of every species of
fooa necessary for daily sustenance, indiscrimi-
nateiy, from every country. Alas for the starving
millions of Ireland, such energy does not cb:rrac-
terise the present premier of Ems land, and the
only man With nerve to meet the present crisis is
no longer minister of the crown
In Galway the people are in such distress that
the corn IS escorted to and from the mill by
company OF dragons, and on one occasion such
was the desperation Of the populace that they ac-
tuaiiy broke through the guard, and tearing open
the sacks took away the -four by the handful
deputation of gentlemen from the counto of
Cork, headed by Mr.. O'Connell, has waited on
the Lord Lieutenant, and reported the state of
each district The aggregate reports of the de-
putahon showed an appalling extent of destitution
The Lord Lieutenant received their suggestions.
and made vague promise, on the part of the
government, that every thing possible should be
done for the relief of the people. What idle
mockeries are those Populations to Lord Lieu
tenants.
The corporation Of Limerick have memorial
lied the government to open the ports, of course
without success.
AT a late meeting in Fermoy, at which an i'm
mense number OF landed proprietors attended, it
was resolved, as the sense of the meeting, that in
the barones represented the owners and occu-
pants of land have exerted themselves to the ex.
tent OF their ability to provide employment, for
the laboring population, at the same time solemn
ly declaring, that instead of facilitating the pro-
jects submitted to them, the government officials
have created difficulties and delays and have
proved themselves wholly unequal to the emer.
gency. This is not an isolated or individual
opinion, but the unanimous opinion of several
hundred of the most respectable gentlemen in
Ireland, of all CT eeds and political opinions AT
this meeting, Mr.. O'Connel, who is known to
be well disposed towards the existing government,
used the following language
We have heard sad tales tales of horror this day
from the Rev, Mr. Disney, the Rev. MIR OBrien, the
Rev. Mr.. DAILY, and the Rev. Mr. WaIsh-taIes that
make the heart shrink within ITSELF and despair look
with impatient anxiety for some mode solution Of
relief Matters coming to a dreadful pass Do YOU
authorize to tell the that the peace of
the country IS not secure Ves yes) Do you autho-
spread and UNIVERSAL yes yesJ That starvation is
stalking over the land and that he will be responsible
LOT the loss Of countless human beings, something be
not done. Yes yesD"
Meantime, in the midst of all these wordy pro-
positions for theoretical and distant relief, the
people are, in the agony of their despair bring
ing themselves in contact with the laws The
saore oil the dragon and the policeman's bullet
are hastening the work which famine has begun.
some again, not possessing even the strength to
challenge death at the hands of the soldiery, lie
down by the wayslde and die On the 2Sth of
September, man named Michael Fleming was
shot down In food riot at Dungarvon At Tenn
plemore, riot took place on the 18th of October.
in which several bakers shops were forc,blv en-
tered in despite of the presence of the police and
n the collision that afterwards ensued between
the populace and the military, several persons
were injured.
The Rev. Cornelius OBrien, of Lurrah, in
letter to the 7ippeary Yindicator, relates an APP
palm instance of death by starvation.
These are but few of the many dreadful signs
of the famine which is already busy in thinning
the population Of Ireland.
We wonder much that something has not been
done in this country for the relief of Ireland
There are one thousand men in this city and Bos-
ton wealthy enough to send ship loads of corn to
Ireland, but we have as yet perceived no move
ment OF this nature This was not the conduct of
Inc people Of Ireland in the time of our need
Ihey We're the first to supply us, at the outbreak
Of our revolution, with money, food and arms
The voice oil their sympathy reached us across
the waters, although to speak word of sympa.
thy for us at that time was to endanger their own
lives. Let us now repay that debt while il i, in
our power.
Where are the repealers with their remit