North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-11-21
Stuff ring at the South.

There seems no room to doubt that &C.
tual destitution is imminent throughout
large part of the South. The Carolinas,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Loui--
siana, are represented as the scenes Of
wide spread suffering, arising from the
failure of crops upon which the people of
the interior counties relied for their years
subsistence. Some of the crops have al
together tailed others are so shor. as to
be inadequate to the wants of the Winter
months; and as no large results exists in
any part Of the South, the prospect is to
immense numbers appalling. Nor is there
aLy resident wealthy class to minister to
the necessities of their destitute neighbors.
The yield of cotton falls so far below ex-
pectation that the planters are unable to
meet their own Indebtedness. Even now
we hear of applications to the State and
military authorities for assistance to avert
impending famine; and the rigors OF the
approaching season portend misery and
disease unless the Official action be both
prompt and effective,
Unfortunately, the Southern state gov
! ernments have not very extensive re-
sources at their command. Their ureasu.
ries are empty, their taxes uncollected and
uncollectabp, and their facilities for rails.
ing money by loan far below power. The
Freedmen's BuI eau may have more avail.
able means, but there are reasons for re.
strictiag rather than extending its eleemo
syn ry operations, if other means of relief
can be ma1e available.
Such being the condition of thousand;
and tens of thousands at the South, and
such the inadequacy of Southern power:
of relief, duty devolves upon tie NORTH
! that should neither be underestimated mol
deferred. 1t is not case for Congress NJ
the President, nor for the Governors OF
Legislatures of the States wthrut the
! Union. 1t is case in which the benevo.
lence of the North should spontaneously
come forward. to assure the starving mul-
titudes of its readiness to cooperate with
trustworthy local organizations that may
be formed for their relief. The North i:
able of its bounty TO take care that suffer.
ing, however extended, shall not culm
nate in famine; and IFS liberaIity when ap.
pealed to from other qua'ters, should be q
guarantee of what it will undertake to dc
when The Southern authorities shall SCI
forth the data of an appeal, and the man.
ner in which they propose to apply the
assistance that NAV be rendered them.
The famine now raging in Indla has cast
a blot upon the escutcheon of England's
civilization. 1t has appeared almost in,
credible that a nation whose missionaries
penetrate the rcmotest rcccsses Of hcathen-
ism to preach the gospel of charity, should
permit millions of its own subjects to per
ish from sheer honger, without one vigor-
Gus effort to succor them. Let US take
care that similar horror be not repeated
on smaller scale il. Alabama and other
districts of the South. The plea of igno.
rance will not be available. The fact tha,
destitution extensively prevails, has been
promulgated through toe many channels
to admit of controversy; and the inability
of the South to cope WI the suffering
which weekly spreads within borders, IS
equally Susceptible ofproof. We ought
not to wait until famine actually begins It's
| work -NeW York Iimcs