The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-10-11
BY THE
ORLEANS RELIEF COM MITTEE.
CUSTOM HOUSE. !
New Orleans, October 10. 1878. !

To our Fellow Citizens Of the United States:
For more than two months our city has been
afflicted with most destructive epidemic and
to all Appearances It will be many long days be-
fore it ceases Its devastating work.
a population of over two hundred thousand
Is confined to the close limits Of city; the fear
Of contagion has caused the outside world to
close Its doors against us as against lepers.
Strong men, that would gladly work, are forced
to stand all the day idle" for the workshops
and the marts Of trade are closed.
Our homes are being desolated by plague
which has thrown the shadow Of its horror over
the whole world. Even beyond the Atlantic the
vail OF woe has been heard. Believing that an
appeal would be favorabiy received II all the or
ganizations that have for many years devoted
themselves to doing good on earth to their fel-
low men whom Providence has afflicted could be
united In one common effort, thirty OF these
representatives of organized bodies met and
selected the undersigned to take the necessary
measures for relief and chose the Orleans Cen
tral Relief Committee to receive and distribute
all contributions, this committee having just
effected the distribution of government sup
plies with general appreciation. The erroneous
| impression created by the published statement
| of the Howard Associations noble but small
| band Of Samaritans, that they had sufficient
funds for their PURPOSES. has arrested all efforts
! for our relief but this association has stated
| in its published reply refusing our demand
| upon them that their statement does not and
cannot prevent any association or associations
! from putting forth its or their own appeals Tor
| aid to relieve the poor and destitute"
| Whatever unexpended balance the Howard
| Association may have In its hands, and OF
which we can obtain no knowledge. they de-
| clare that moneys so intrusted to US" them
ARE held as trust fund under the supervision
| of our" {their) membership" Therefore our
humanitarian movement failed In that diree-
| ton. The appeal that we have just made to the
| Secretary of War has failed and for the reasons
assigned by him as follows: r am still Of the
opinion that 1t is possible for you to get relief
from private sources, and that it is therefore
not q case for the extension Of government aid
In the absence Of authority"
| You who have already nobly responded to the
calls Of others for relief, know only that this
city is filled with the plague smitten and dying
but another affliction scarcely less to be dreaded
| follows disease into many homes and smites
the strong and WELL Hunger and want claim
many whom the pestlence spares. To the sick
is given medicines, to the dead burial, and we
| appeal to the humane Of our country to save
from starvation those who are we'll.
| FRANK L. RICHARDSON,
| Chairman Of Committee.
| ISAAC n. MARKS,
President Flremen's Charitable Association.
AUGUSTUS REICHARD,
Vice President Louisiana Association Army OF
Tennessee.
YORK A. WOODWARD,
Commander Grand Army Of the Republic,
| A. o. BOYLE, Secretary. oc11 3t 2dp