The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-06-28
The ASpeet Of Ireland.
organized

The Aspect OF Ireland.
Messrs. Bewley and Pimm of the Soci-
ETY. of Friends in ireland, have published
an Address in which they give an account
of their proceedings for the last two years,
as agents for the benevolent public, in dis
tributing contributions for the poor. Their
original circular appealed to their breth-
rem in religious profession in Ireland and
in Great Britain. 1t was responded to by
many unconnected with the Society in the
countries named, and also by ciuzens of
the United States, to an extent, and with
a muniicence unparalleled in the history
of benevolent exertions. The contribu-
tions in all amounted to about 8 ,000, 900,
of which sum more than one-half was sent
from America. The total number of
grants made by them exceeded ll,000.-
rhey made grants in aid of local manufac-
tures, supported industrial schools, advan-
ced money for the assistance of fisheries,
for the encouragement of green crops, and
also undertook the temporary cultivation
of about eight hundred acres of land. The
total sum expended by themselves and
others is estimated at million and i half
of pounds sterling, while the advances by
Government amounted to nearly ten mill
ions of pounds sterling. A large amount
Of relief was afforded, and many persons
were preserved, for a time at least, from
starvation.
But" the committee continue, and this
is the most melancholy part of the story,
''we are saddened by the conviction that,
with very few exceptions, no permanent
good has been done, We feel that the
/ 3 j
! that her prospects are even worse, because
her people have less hope. Many Of
those who were most active IN administer
ing to the relief OF their neighbors, have
fallen victims 10 exertions of mind and body
beyond their capability to sustain. Others
have Withdrawn from the work, in dispair
of effecling any good. The pressure of
private affairs, and in many eases, Of pc
Icuniary difficulty, has forced others to dis
continue their eaorts.-':'hus voluntary
Iexertions have almost ceased, and even for
the administration of the legal relief, paid
agents are necessary throughout large
part of the country.
the calamity fell first on the lowest
class, especially the laboring population of
the south and west. In losing their crop
of potatoes they lost all, and sunk at once
into hopeless pauperism. The small
farmers still preserved hope. With great
IeXertlons and submitting in MANY cases to
lextreme privations they again cropped
their ground.-A second failure of the po-
tatoes pauperized these also. Then came
the increased poor rates, heaviest in those
districts which were least able to bear
them; weighing down many who without
? !.,ef L 4 Il
Iground; alarming all by the unaccustomed
pressure of an underlined taxation; and
greatly reducing the ANAL amount of capi-
tai applicable to the employment of labor.
!, fhe landed proprietor, in order to provide
! tor the payment of rates. has been obliged
| to leave much useful work undone, thus
lessening the number of laborers employe ed
t In many cases his effort has been to d.
mlnlsh the population by frighdul sys-
! tenn OF wholesale eviction, and thus get rid
OF tenantry who under happier circum-
stances, would have been source OF
wealth, but whom his inability to employ.
alter the failure of the potatoe, had conver-
ted into hea burden. Despair OF sue
ceedlng at home has driven vast numbers
of the most industrious of the middle class
es 70 transfer their energy and consider
able amount OF capital 10 other countries,
which offer free scope for exertion.
'Ihe paupers are merely kept alive,
either by the crowded workhous S, or, in
alarming numbers, depending on outdoor
relief. But their health is not maintained.
Ihelr physical strength is weakened; their
mental capacity is lowered; their moral
character IS degraded. They are hope
less themselves, and they offer no hope to
their country, except in the prospect, so
abhorrent to humanity and christian feel
ing, OF their gradual extinction by death
Many families are now suffering extreme
distress who, three years since, enioyed
the comforts and refinements of life, and
administered to the necessities of those
around them. Thus we have seen the
Hood OF pauperism widening more and
more, engulfing one class after another, RI
sing higher and higher into its effects on
society, until it threatens, in some of the
worse districts, TO swallow up all ranks
and all classes within its fatal vortex.
| Meanwhile, there is much land Ivinr
waste which was formerly cultivated.
while the strength of the country is stand
ing by idle. anxiously asking for work.
and willing TO accept the lowest wages;
but finding no one to Inploy them. be-