The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-03-21
The Bengal Famine.
FORTY MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS IN
DANGER OF sTARVATIoN-ENGLAND ST.
PREMACY THREATENED.

FORTY MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS IN
DANGER OF sTARvATIoN-ENGLAND ST.
PREMACY THREATENED.
The latest intelligence from the East
but too certainly confirms the apprehen-
sions which have for months existed of a
terrible and widespread famine in Hindoo-
stan. Again and again have the London
papers depicted the foreshadowed horrors
in all their CHASTITY detail, and implored
the Government, both at home an in Cal
cutta, to spare no effort, and stint no
money, and hesitate at no law, which
might lessen the extent and check the
ravages of this vast misfortune. 1t has
been seen from the first that the rice crop
OF Bengal would fail that in many places
it would be below quarter of the average,
and that in the most of the provinces it
would fall below one-third. Thus the
primitive and staple sustenance of millions
OF HindoOs must inevitably be cut off; and
Bengal. instead of exporting must import
immense quantities of the nutritious grain.
There can be but little doubt that at least
forty millions of human beings-a popula-
ton equal to that of the United States
are to be in DANCE" of death by hunger.
Compared with this the great Indian fam
inc OF a century ago, that more recently in
1866, and the late famine in Persia, were
bagatelles. Lord Northbrook, at Calcutta,
and the Indian Office, in London, have
probably used untiring diligence to- at least
lessen the giant evil. Seventy thousand
tons ofgrain have been sent every week into
the Ganges valleys; and nearly million
tons of material for food must by this time
be collected in the great storehouses of
Calcutta and Madras. But even these ac-
cumulatiaRs can feed but a very small por-
ton of the afflicted multitudes; and it is
strange to learn that the Governor-General
has omitted to take one step which II light
have had beneficial effect. At the very
time the Bengalees are starving for want
of rice, Bengal rice is being imported into
Liverpool. At the moment that the Cal
cutta authorities are strainfng every nerve
to accumulate and dispense food, and are
demanding it from Australia, the Dutch,
and Malay islands, and the West Indies,
Calcutta merchants are coolly shipping rice
to England. A vote of the council might
place prohibitive duty upon such export
ations; but as far as has transpired no such
action has been taken.
England may well view with alarm the
impending danger of a calamity so mighty
The aspect of a terrible death overhanging
such multitudes is awful. Moreover. it is
for England's profoundest interest, not
only philanthropically, but politically, that
this famine should be, if fitpossibly can be.
averted. She has taken upon herself the
guardianship and care of that great teem-
ing peninsula; she has gathered inealcula-
BILE wealth from her dominion there; her
commercial and military Importance has
been largely derived from her Indian as
cendancy; and upon her now lies the re-
sponsibility of feeding the dependent race.
Should she fail, and famine desolate the
land, and thousands die under her eyes, her
prestige and power in Hindoostan will be
in serious danger. The superstitious rev.
erence of the Hindoo for the omnipotence
of the Englishman viii perhaps altogether
vanish. England has to fear, after the
famine, instruction; and insurrection
now, spread over territory so vast, and at
time when Russia is posted, watchful,
jealous and ready to seize every advantage,
just over the Hindoo Koosh, may not un-
likely be fatal, and must at least be terrible.
-Roefo91 Post