Evansville weekly journal., 1848-06-01

DEsTITUTIoN AND DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
We have sometimes thought il sin to re-
main cold lookers-on at the destitution and
degradation of Ireland, brought on as II was,
by The rapacity ofihe British Government
of the adherants and pampered officials of
The English crown Although claiming no
affinity 10 Irish blood, or Itsh land, we have
in dark solitude, shed many tear, when the
awful situation of that unfortunate people
rose up in our Imagination. A heart must
be heart ofstone indeed, that can look cold.
ly on, Witnessing the DISSOLUTION, distress and
degradation of The unfortunate poor OF Ire
land For our own part, we wonder that
the world-all men of sympathy and religion
do not interfere TO free that country from
the CALLING slavery, robbery and murder of
her innocent men, women and Children
Surely something terrible will follow her
oppressors, or the principle of right has
changed. To show yividIy the distress of
poor Ireland, we give the following: 1t is an
extract of the speech delivered by Mr.. Rey-
nolds in the British House of Commons, April
IL, during the discussion on the bill 10 pun
ish sediiuus speaking, with transportation
Tor seven years, or for life.
"All the towns Of large population 10 Ire
land were quiet and obedent TO the law ;and
yet honorable members, who knew no more
OF that country than of New Zealand, said
they would vote for this bill because Ireland
was disturbed. He denied the allegation, as
libel upon his country. Let honorable
members consider the distress that existed.
Let him remind them iha. in Ireland, l,000,-
600 ofhuman beings had sunk into iherg graves
from starvation within Is months. Let them
remember the horrible case that within fort
night has been brought before the Galway
Assizes, in which man had been convicted
of sheep-stealing, aud Mr. Dobbin, siipen-
dary magistrate, had applied in favor Of The
prisoner, on account of The extenuating cir
cumsances in his case. One of bis children
had died of starvation, and the wife of the
man had fed upon the flesh of that child be-
fore he violated the law 10 procure food,--
Mr. Dobbin had caused the body to be disin-
tered, and the limbs were found picked to
the bone. In that case the judge and jury
shed tears, and the man was discharged. That
case was an illustration of the widely. spread
nHu uuuCI WutSu tiS SVuu'
trymen were suffering"
Bring this desiitution home 10 our own
dwellings, and the Imagination can picture,
family, the anguish, the distress OF the poor
in Ireland. See them parting daily with
loved ones, who are thrown into unhallowed
dtches, amid The weak bowling OF starvation
from those friends who must soon follow -
1t is subject that "unnerves us quiue," and
while we write we tremble 10 approach and
mention the state Of misery which caused a
parent to feed upon the flesh of her child
No wonder the 'judge and jury shed tears!"
The universal world, it seems TO US, would
weep at such sight. Speak not TO US Ct
"obedence 10 British laws'' to be expected
from people oppressed as the Irish are! Obe.
dience 10 such state Of things is hateful
We wonder that quie!ness has been so long
| observed. One million human beings have
met death by starvation, and still the living
are quiet! The people are cannibalizing on
their own offspring, aud still quiet! Is il not
wonderful! Who will mol say the Irish are for
bearing? very forbearing?- more forbearing
than there is reason in-more "obedient"
than any other people would be, and more
oppressed than any other people can be-
Will they continue quiet? We shall see!-
Gin. Com.