The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-03-02

II uOCS H0t St'lhS WIG pun sdOhO' INC
evil penetrates into the cottages of the
small farmers; into the homestead Of the
large tenants, and even into the mansions
of the proprietors of lands. 1t has grown
so great that there has been justification
for an assessment upon real estate to pay
men employed upon works of little impor-
lance, about which there is a diversity of
opinion, and simply for the purpose OF af-
fording employment. A million of pound
sterling had already been expended in
this manne In September last, 9l25,-
900 were paid; in October, 9300,000;
and i'll November g50O,O00. Four hun
dred thousand people are employed at e.
leven pence a day, and three-fourths of
these small landholders. The crop has
gone fatally for him as for the laborer.-
There is no means of paying rent or wa
ges' or producing a supply of food, and
he feeds upon his seed corn in the vague
hope that it will last until help arrives
from-God knows where.
That is state of things calling not for
a dole, but for large liberality, for liber-
al contributions here and elsewhere.
That is Ireland What is our own
condition! 1t is Just such that it would
be crying ingratitude to God, it would be
unexampled hardness of heart, if we re-
fused to give it to our superAuity. Our
harvssts have been regular; our graneries
burst with abundance; and our iron roads
bent beneath the weight Of passing trains
laden with the fruits Of the earth. New
er were a people SO blessed with abund-
ance-an abundance so diffused. There
is not a man-not a dog-from the Bay
of Fundy to the Gulf of Mexico, who
has not three meals a day, if be has ap-
petite to eat them; and even personal mis-
conduct does not avail to cause a depriva-
ton.
Look at the Irishman. He has not
three-no, not a half a meal a day, to di-
vide with his wife and children; and the
dog, the faithful guardian and companion,
is drowned and buried, that his master
may not have another appeal of hunger
to satisfy.
Can there be any hesitation to relieve
want when we have abundance? Is there
any thing that can be advanced to divide
the proposed action? 1t may be said, let
the friends of Ireland let the rich take
care of the poor; but it will 10 avail =
There is in her case a complication of E.
wills, which extends through and affects
all classes and paralyzes all.
Who are their friends we if are not ?
They are a part of our blood; their blood
flows in our own veins; our excellent ma
gistrates, our most eminent merchants,
have drawn their existence from that suf-
fering land; and, in continuance, the spea-
ker laid a beautiful and just tribute to
those who, in the ful6lment of domestic
duties, have exhibited the ever-ready SYM
pathy, the cordial heart, the untiring zeal,
and the i~ncorruptible fidelity which are
priceless. They are our brethren, and
we should renounce the name, dishonor
the nation, and be false to nature, if we
did not spring at once with generous i'm
pulse to their relief.
There is-he saw it in the journal Of
England-to be a painful! contest as to the
| causes of this affection. Many will attri-
butte to the improvidence. others to idle
ness, to bad government, to this or that.
There is a prying disposition in men to
look behind true causes, and direct and
pervert purposes o good, with evil intent,
against the sufferers; and he illustrated
his position by reference to the fall of the
Tower of Sloan and the Galleleans.
When we attempt to point His judg-
ment to a case or nation we pervert it,
and these calamities under which Ireland
groans can never be Just regarded as al
f~ictions brought on any one body Of Peo-
pie. They may safely be applied by IN
dividuals as monitions to perform the du-
ties of a brother-to improve the heart
and to deserve blessings by exercising
kindness to those in affection.
Mr.. Binney's speech was listened to
with profound attention, and his words
had evidently a deep effect upon his audi
tors.