The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-06

The public meeting recently held in New
York to extend relief to the starving, house
less and half-naked people of the south,
should be followed up atonce in other places.
We were advised, on reliable authority when
the crops of last year were harvested, that
there was deficiency that would work the
widest suffering, if not the depopulation of
entire districts, after winter fairly set in; and
now the prophecy is fast making itself terri
bly, true, so that its realization surpasses
what those who uttered it then ventured to
fear. Ministers are hurrying away from their
people to lay the facts of their sad condition
before their fellow countrymen of the north,
and ask for that charity which is not IN the
hearts of truly christian men and women to
refuse.
This is no time to keep alive old political
animosities let them be buried out of sight
when gaunt famine stalks through stricken
land II is the extreme of cruelty to charge
a starving population with nursing designs
of war against the only people, their own
countrymen, who have it in their power to
aid and save them. Their rebellion is long
ago over, and It's spirit is crushed out for
ever. Those whom we met i'll arms, and van
pushed only after four years exhausting
contest are now smitten sore with hunger,
without houses to hide them from the rough
ness of the weather, lily clad, furnishing from
hunger, and holding out their hands to us,
their brethren, for instant relief. If we open
our ears to their CRY, and let our hearts warm
to them with pity, not day should be lost
in organizing the means to help them. 1t
is not permitted to mortals to comprehend
the inscrutable ways of Providence, but the
thought will rise to many mind, that In no
more effeetual mode could the fraternal SYM
nv ~ hot ha hpf,,
sharing our bounty with their present woful
need. Their only cry is for help, and with
out help they must perish. 1892
Their corn crop was a lamentable failure,
full of the most dreary omens when the fact
was originally announced. Of ordinary farm
stock they possessed but little. and of cattle
and stores they were notOriously destitute
The war ruined them. Large districts were
given over to desolation. If the effort to
raise Just corn enough to sustain life was
earnestly made BY the inhabitants, it has re-
suited in a failure so pitiful il the recital as
. move people to tears. We read in let
ter from northern clergyman in Atlanta,
Ga, that the people all around him are half
naked and perishing that they live in tents
along the railroad, or huddle in shanties
made of rough scantlings, timed on the roof
with the debris of the confagration of that
devoted town; that they are to be found in
"hoyels, part canvass, part old blanket, part
oldlstrips of board These novels many of
them, have nothing but floor of EARTH
These people have sunken features, livid
faces, and ewes in which duh craving is all
that manifests an expression. On their feet
they fasten the cast-away shoes which we
have some day thrown away. "There are
families"-he adds-"which have not the
slightest idea to-day where the corn-cake,
stirred up with water, and baked in the ashes,
for tomorrow, will come FROM"
This distress, let us remember, is the dis
tress of our own countrymen, not of men and
women, widows and orphans thousands of
miles away. they speak our own tongue !;
1--we under our own government; have our
own blood in their veins; cherish the same
hopes and memories. Itwould be more than
uncharitable, or selfish, to turn from them
with hardness in our hearts. If not on our
tongues; itfwould be positively Ainhuman.-
When the cry of distress was heard in Ire.
land, many years ago, our generous-minded
people loaded vessel with all possible haste
and poured Of their plenty into the lapg Of
those who were dying of hunger It is but a
few days ago that meeting was held. before
which several of Our prominent citizens urp.
ed the claims of the destitute families of.tbe
distant Cretons upon us for assistance We
have heard of the sweeping off of million
of the natives of India last season by the re-
sistless march of famine, with pestilence nee
.AEa9 .EaSSaA1s8@ yib52ts5