The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-18
Our Answer to the Macedonian CRY.

Our Answer to the Macedonian Cry.
FtsEwBERE in THE EVENING TELEGRAPH to-
dav will be found list of the Chairmen of the
various Collection Committees which are to
procure funds for the starving people of the
South. The gentlemen selected are all of
them representative men of the various profess
sions and trades of our city, and have been
chosen because of their high standing in
the community. The plan of organization
adopted is similar to that so successfully tried
at the time of the Sanitary Fair. By giving
each occupation a committee and placing as
chairman one of them who thoroughly under
stands the business, not only is an efficient
system secured but a generous rivalry springs
mn between the various guilds which is highly
beneficial to the common cause. We therefore
warmly commend the plan, and can entertain
no doubt that under such efficient leader
ship as the chairmen announced, fund will
be raised which will do honor to the City of
Brotherly Love, and make her name well
merited,
There seems to be no room for opposition to
the idea of giving food to the starving. We
care not what may have been the crimes of
the needy, that man is absolutely dying for
want of food is enough to appeal to humanity
to give him wherewithal to sustain life.
Those who oppose such gift must, indeed,
be influenced by feeling at once unchristian
and criminally malignant. From all sections
of the South come to us tales of suffering and
threatened death. Pestilence stands waiting
to follow on the heels of famine, and famine,
as is so frequent is the immediate successor of
war. If no help be extended them, all the
land, already scourged with blood will become
a victim of starvation, and then infectious
disease. The theoretical borders of State
will not act as barrier to stop the pestilence,
and North as well as South will grOan beneath
the same rod Self-preservation, the safety of
our families, as well as that charity which is
due from man to his suffering fellows, alike
demand our liberal gifts to those who ask Of us.
1t has been said by some that the condition
of affairs is the result of crime on the part of
the sufferers, and it is stated that it is the
hand of God chastising the sinful We do
indeed, recognize it as a punishment and a
Providence; but it is Providence allowed, in
order that we Christians of the North can
show to the deluded sons and daughters of
the South that those whom they have been
traducing, and in their mad wrath cursing
and seeking to kill, will act like pitying
brothers, and extend the hand of fellowship
and charity, forgetting the past, and thinking
only of the needs of a common humanity. 1t is
to unable us to heap Goals of fire on the heads of
our enemies by deeds of Kindness, that the
opportunity is afforded US now.
The enemies of the Northern people boldly
declare that they are influenced by a desire to
Oppress the South and be revenged for the
by our actions, without distinction of party.
Let the claims of pity for our fellow country
men alone influence us, and out of our
abundance let us give to those who are in
penury and want. 1t will be a sufficient re
cOmpense when the Master shall say hereafter,
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these, yO,T brethren, ye have done it
unto me-" The city of brotheTly love, loval
to the core, most patriotic throughout the war.
and to-day most liberal of all the municipali-
ties in the land, will, by her munifcence, merit
the name her founder gave her, and secure
for her sons other laurels besides those of war.
We have been the bitterest opponents of
traitors, and on our heads were heaped the
anathemas of the South. Let us then follow
the teachings of the Apostles, where we are
told, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; il he
thirst, give him drink" That the Committee
mean immediate work is attested by a call for
all information in regard to particular sections
of the South which are in want, all of which
information will be received by the Secretary
of the Committee, at the Board of Trade
Rooms, from II to 3 o'clock P. NJ.