The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-02-17

II is scarcely within the recollection Of the
oldest inhabitant" when there prevailed over
the whole earth such time of general famine.
Terrible accounts come to us OF the reign of the
rtunt monster in Sweden and Finland, in
Northern and Eastern Russia, in Tunis and AL
gcfiA, and even in portions of Prussia II we
are to credit the accounts that come to us We
must acknowledge that many people are perish
Ing daily for want Of food. In Tunis they are
luryimg those who die of starvation in trenches,
SO great IL the multitude that is being swept off
ty this relentless dcstroyer-faminc. Like war
Iud pcstlcncc, its kindred scourges, II Is march
IaE through the world, and whole hecatomhs Of
Victims arc being offered up daily upon the |
altar Of this gaunt and relentless god, hunger. |
In the cold and more northern portions OF
Europe the people are, II is said, trying to pro-
tract miserable existence by feeding upon bark
aud the buds Of trees while in the more southern
and warmer climates they are subsisting them
selves as best they can upon the blossoms and
young vegetation. The idea that such things
are consumed by n starving people in professedly
Christian lands as articles of food Is almost too
incredible for belief. Yet these stories come to
US so well authenticated that we feel obliged to
give to them general credence. In portions of
france and Spain, and also in England the dcsti-
tuition is very great-far greater than has been
known for many years. The London Star informs
us that "men and women die in the streets every
day OF starvation. One is afraid not to relieve
the professional bcggar, knowing that yesterday
one who looked like him lay down In his rags on
the spot where you are now solicited, and died
Of sheer starvation. Whole districts are sinking
into one vast, squalid, awful condition OF help
less, hopeless restitution"
This statement OF the Star refers more especi-
ally to what is known as the east end of Lon
Ion. Still in many parts Of the United King.
dom the starvation and distress ID extreme.
Many pictures which are given us are too appall-
ing for contemplation, and we recoil from these
dreadful rectals In terror and alarm. And yet
the inquiry forces itself upon our mind, why is
all this The question is easier asked than an
swercd. In this country we are accustomed to
say to the suffering poor in our cities, 30 to the
country, and such advice here is, perhaps, wise,
because we have plenty Of lands, and II the able
bodied poor can once get to them and are willing
70 work they can In all times and In seasons Of
the greatest scarcity keep the wolf from the
door III England and other countries OF Eu'
rope this advice does not apply. There the
poor, laboring people in the country districts arc
In much restitution, and, as a consequence, are
hocking to tie city. Ffty.one persons Of this
class were arrested in London the other day,
md on examination only one penny was found in
their possession. One account states: The wo.
men.staggcfed with exhaustion, and some had
no other clothing than old sacks. One of the
sentenced to twenty ono days in jail as beggar,
died in few hours of starvation, though he hRd
been given piece Of bread and some Cruel"
To trace this evil back to the causes which
have produced II, and to suggest and point out
the remedies, would require more space than w
Anpossibly devote to-day to the consideration
of such topics. Our remarks therefore, must bt
general, and our suggestions must have refer
cucc TO the immediate though temporary relic
Of tho sufferers The benevolent must act, nnt
act at once. Men and women are starving ant
we must not stop, therefore, to PROFOUND new
theories, and say 1t is the fault OF this Govern
ment and that or of this state of society, or thu
other. Give relief, and discuss, modify and rev
olutionize Governments and society afterwards
In Europe, last year. there were evidentl
short crops, though early in the season 1t wa
given out that the prospects for an abundan
yield was never better. some say that there is
blast, something like the potato rot, which In
smitten some of the cereals, and hence the fai
ure. BE this as II may, there Is, doubtless,
minished quantity of God in the storehouses c
the old world at this time; and when we al
that prices OF all kinds Of food are unpreceden
edly high, and the wages Of labor small, tho pre-
cnt condition OF the poor will be accounted 70
1t has been the custom heretofore TO look /
America for relief; but just now the price ofpr'
visions Is higher in New York than in Live
uool The last resort, therefore, is TO the bene
client; and don'tlet the appeal be In vain VIII
we see to 1t that our own poor are fed, let US
what we can for the poor of Europe,