The New York herald., 1873-12-29
SIR BARTLE FRERE ON THE INDIAN
FAMINE
from the Pali Mall Gazette. !

FTOm tne Pau MAIL GaZeCLe.I
In the course OF an address on the apprehended
famine in Bengal recently, at the Society Of Arts,
Sir Bartle Frere observed that a main topic OF
inquiry in connection with the subject was, Why
was death from want OF food so much more fre-
quent in India than in Engands
We knew that even in our own country death
from starvation was not actually unknown. lt
deaths by starvation came by the thousand. and by
the million when season OF want set IN. by o
S1Vtnns Ike with the sad State OF
AFFAIRS we have had SO often In India, conclusions
OF good practical value would be arrived at; but
for an explanation OF this phenomenon no single
cause had been yet definitely assigned. Among
the causes Of Englands immunity from similar
vlsltations OF general distress were her superior
agriculture, her power to import foreign grain,
and her superior social and administrative organi-
cation. The great difficulties which Bengal had to
contend against in an emergency like the present
were what was known as her permanent Settle
men. ne, wans ol hare was o natnra or IN.
herent incapacity in India to prevent its being
protected from famine as completely as England.
beyond the vastness Of the country and the conse-
quently immense organization necessary. The diff
fculties OF communication and the transfer OF food
diffculties connected with the caste system were
the greatest obstacles to be overcome but serious
not see why they could not be overcome. He now
came to the measures which should be taken
to mitigate the evils Of famine. First OF an the
or the mistaken notion that the Secretary Oh state,
and those this country by whom he was assisted,
were the governors of India No doubt, Paria-
ment and the secretary OF State exercised
superior power but the real work was done by tho
Governor General OF India with those under him,
and TO these should be entrusted the work oil deal
ing with the famine. To realize the danger. 10
some extent they should eau 70 @ mnd the Iae NINE
railway or water communication-aAd the suffer.
ings it brought about and compare 1t to country
about five times larger, as Bengal was, with moth
ing like proper means OF communication or the
same powers OF organization. and imagine to them,
with this herculean task he did not know THAI
there could be two better men tnan tne
'efSy CSerno o Bengal but
tlemen would BE- powsrless WI without mIs. very bs
at once declared against the famine ana all the
necessary steps taken to prosecute that war with
energy and skill The want OF accurate statistics
ments must be made for tue storage OF grain at ne
places where 1t wgs most likely TO be needed an
existing social snd admnstradve org
OF food must pe facilitated as lar as possible ana
public worN might be set on foot with great uiti,
Northbr0ok that to put stop to exports , would
have no good enect on the food supply and That u
He hid no particular fear about the making up OF
the necessary money ana 'ne s as@ causa
aer dea WIN as sns fhe want Of proper Organization
and means OF transit OF food througnout tne coun.
Try The 10 be el se ssainst lie
next came to the questions 'Wnat coulu ue uons
| in ENGLAND 30 meet the present emergencyr a,,,
vnot sould be done TO prevent famine In futurcfh
wnns nerwanent administrative machine must be
organized for Bengal aud means for internal com.
recent changes in England's policy as regarded pro-
yiding capital for Indian communications and
honed II would be reconsidered. IL was important
| that works OF irrigation and internal navigation
| should be carried on In India, and these work.
| would 90 far towards providing employment,
( and money for those who were certain to sunei
from the famine It was easy to see that. m grea,
| emergency like the present, great measures wers
absolutely necessary, and he hoped that our states
| men and the public Of this country would not onn
not fail to to see this but would act without los
of time on the knowledge. One Of the nrst thingi
| to be done was to provide as much work as possh
have the full Management W tue fehe{ Pr9yl4f3
t0f the sufferers. L1t We not confuse tnem WIN
any impractieas.s Suggestions: Those IN poWs p1wss
worthy-tney were well acquanted. wtn ;n wna XIV,
needed most attention, and the pest sn,ng 8 sn
TO battle with the famine. ana tnen leave sno so''
tsst In their hands. M