The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-09-26
The Impending Famine in Ireland.

The Impending Famine in Ireland.
The " Calamity of AZ is no longer menacing
probability" says the Freeman's Journal of Sep
TENDER I'd. "We have passed probability-we
have arrived at certainty And again. The
potato crop may be looked upon as lost" e The
wheat crops one fourth below an average produce"
OATS TOO, owing to the ncessant rains, seri-
! ousy damaged Poor Ireland The crop that
her people looked forward to for support in their
anticipated struggle with England, will be INSULT
Gent to furnish subsistence under the forced quiet
that pervades the country. One year OF scarcity
or two might be borne, but three years famine III
succession, must produce the most appalling caiam-
tiles To whom are the miserable people OF that
island to look for aid and succor 10 the land
lords of their own kingdom The most OF these
have long since mortgaged all their incomes to the
menev-enders for the purpose of raising the means
TO lead idle luxurious and riotous lives. The Irish
landlords as class almost as poor as the tenants
whom they strip of the last wheatsheaf and the pet
pig Will they starving, turn their eyes to England?
The London Times, in an article bearing semi
official air, informs them that they will look in
vain "What the estimate for Ireland, - it says,
twill be next year, Heaven only knows There
will be the lawyers bill for going to law with her;
the soldiers bill for accepting the challenge to
fight her; and then-last and largest Of all-the
bill for feeding her in the hour of famine" Butt
gives them notice that help need not be looked for
to any extent Gas matter Of State economy some
relief aDiU be giUen 10 Ireland an she needs it,
says this English organ Of opinion, but we warn
her that such relief will not be carried to the ex-
tent, nor dealt forth after the measure of former
years. We are hard-pressed at home ourselves.
Trade is dull, commerce lethargic, the horizon of
politics cloudy and overcast We cannot afford to
give millions with one hand and lend millions with
the other. We cannot afford to pamper jobbing-
boards or begging agents at the expense of our
taxed and hard-worn worling-men 1t would be
unjust and cruel TO do so. Private charity will,
doubtless, do much, it has done before. But the
Government aUU not be aUoDed to aUtSh the proceeds
of English industry on cumberOus organization of
Improbable idleness and clumsy reproduction of
the AtelierS Nationaur." The whole tenor of the
article is that Ireland may starve without pity, for
the English Government has neither the will nor
the means to furnish food. Were millions wanted
to keep up an idle, worthless, unproductve police
force, to watch mems actions, listen to their words,
tempt the enthusiastic and thoughtIess to deeds of
desperation and then fill the prisons and the huks
with their victims, the millions could be found.
Were money wanted to subsst an army of hireling
soldiers to overawe the people and put down free
thought and speech, the money would be forthcOm-
ing. Whatever is required to support either the
substantial power or glittering tinsel of British
misrue can easily be furnished. But when the
enslaved and abused millions calling aloud for
food to keep body and soul together, then it may be
matter of State economy TO give some relief but
no Government will be allowed to give much
Alas what prospect is presented to nine mil
lions of people. Nothing to eat. Nothing to buy
it with. Those who owe them assistance, from
their natural connection with them, reduced by
their spendthrift habits to condition so destitute
that they cannot afford it; and those who hold
political dominion over them refusing any adequate
aid, and calculating, perhaps, that famine is
cheaper agent of destruction than the bayonet,
and as such rather to be encouraged as means of
getting rid of troublesome subjects The cry
want will again reach our shores, and we will
again be called upon from our abundance to give.
Let US not give grudgingly. Let not disappoint-
ment, consequent upon the failure of the promised
political revolution, harden our hearts against the
suppIications of want and hunger. Let us rather
devote the money raised to arm the bands of Ire
lands patriots, be spent to fill the stomachs of the
starving women and children of that stricken
land Corn is better than cartridges, and bread
will do more good than batteries. If we wish well
to the land and its people, assist them not in destroy
ing their rulers, but in saving themselves. The
cup of bitterness to them is ful-there is hardly
curse known to earth which they do not endure.
Let it not, in addition, be said
They found no generous friend, nor plying foe
Strength in their arms, mercy in their noe.