The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-14

who, after going near to death herself
at the tragedy with which her brief 70.
nance had terminated, lived, almost
beyond the memory of it, to be wife
again, and, perhaps, carry with her to
the grave last week only half-credu-
lous recollection of the piteous story of
her distant girlhood. Orpheus C. Kerr,
in NJ Y. Graphic.
The Famine In China.
Late mails received in Sah Francisco
bring heattfendihg reports of the fam
inc in China. Husbands are selling
their wives and parents theft children
to obtain food for all. Three or four
millions of people are dependent upon
the Government for support. At least
100000 600 are in extreme destitution.
The four Provinces In which famine is
felt, in greater or less degree, are
Shensi, Shansi, Chilli and Honan.
They have an aggregate population of
75, 100000. Since the average OF
wealth among them is very low, it is
probable that the additions to the num-
ber of the sufferers will be rapid and
large. No relief from the crops can be
looked for before May or June. Mean
while, there are only three sources Of
relief open to the starving people, and
none of these seem to be either stiff
cient or certain. First, there is the
Chinese Government, which; with the
best intentions to care for its subjects,
is unable to deal with an emergency of
this description. The resources of the
British Government, which are many
times larger than those of the Chinese,
were taxed to their utmost to meet the
demands of the Indian fannie; and the
latter was much smaller, both in the
extent of territory covered and the
number of sufferers, than the one which
now prevails in China. Moreover the
Chinese Government labors under the
difficulty of having to make its distri-
buttons through corrupt and inefficient
servants. The dispatches In yesterday s
papers state that the e4ertions Of the
Government are to great extent nulli-
fed by the dishonesty of officials. This
dishonesty has been so Hagrant in many
instances that outbreaks have occurred,
and at Houching a Mandarin was
beheaded for speculating on the
necessities of the people. Another
source of relief, suggested by the
philanthropists of the United States,
Is the return Of the Chinese
Indemnity Fund, now uhappropriated
in the Treastiry, fof tise in the relief Of
the sufferers: The objections to this
6sseac 6ss egacssE5 sEs 5Ts hgt i cannot ann. receive
and, SECONDLY, that the United States
have not the right to specify how the
money shall be used when it is returned.
If the money was unjustly extorted
from China, it ought to be returned
without conditions; if it was not extort-
ed, it ought not to be returned at all.
There is no room for casuistry in the
discussion of SO simple question as
this. The third source Of relief is vol
untary contributions from the coun-
tries of the civilized world. This is
manifestly the one upon which, next to
the Chinese Government, the principal
dependence ought to be placed, and
which the benevolent friends of China
| in this country ought most eagerly to
avail themselves Of. Our commercial
relations with China are closer and
more profitable than those Of any cotih:
try except Great Britain, and a moral
obligation rests Upon us to contribute
liberally to the relief fund. Let the
lists be opened at once. Those who
are clamoring for the return of the in;
dcmnity money can prove their SINGER
ity and iberality quite as well by max
! ing practical and personal appeals tt
the people for subscriptions. All thai
can be obtained in this manner will mo-
be too much for the purpose. Tht
Indian Famine Fund in England was
mere drop in the bucket, and the Chi
nese Famine Fund in the United State.
will scarcely be more. But, whatever
it is, It should be applied rigidly apt
exclusively to the purpose for which i
is collected. This will be comparative
ly simple matter, if the distribution
is made through special agents say tn
American Minister or some well-knowl
firm in the Pekin trade.
| The primary causes of this famin
are worth inquiring into. They fur
nish an instructive commentary upol
the policy which Is now extensivel,,
pursued in the United States, of denud
ing the soil of its natural protectors
the forests and undergrowths of timber
Shansi and Shensi-the two Province
which are now the principal seats
the famine high table-lands. The
were formerly covered with ric
growths of timber. These collecte
moisture and acted as cloud-arresters
As they were gradually cleared away
the climate became dryer. There wa
less rain. The crops began to fai
The soil grew parched and arid. !
J spite of all the warnings the peopl
had, they continued in their improvideI
policy, and they are now suffering tn
natural consequences of their foil.
The soil is less fertile and less capabl
of supporting the population which o.
cupies it now than it was 200 years ag.
Part Of this failure is due to natural e.
: haustion, but by far the larger part
due to the irregular and insult
cient rainfalls. Still another eau.
of the famine. closely connecte
! with the preceding, is the emo
nous increase of populatio
, in the rural regions of China followin
upon the primitive habits which pr
!; vail there. This increase, taken
> connection with the positive decreai
3 in the capacity Of the soil to suppo
/: life, has brought its legitimate result
The phenomenon of famine arlslr
t from such causes is observed, NOR
! over, first of all, where we would 9