The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-03-07
THE CHINESE FAMINE.
4 Vivid Statement of Facts as to the ORR.
gin and Nature OF The Great Calamity


the starving millions in China, Prof
drawn rp memorial to Congress from
the citizens OF New Haven, Conn, parts
of which we copy below, praying that
the surplus from the fund known as the
Chinese indemnify Fund, which surplus
amounted in 1867 to $4,000, shall be
applied to relieving the famine stricken
Chinese. The objections which have
been made in the United States senate to
the carrying out of this scheme are that
such proposition would give rise to pro-
longed debates, and that before the
money could be sent, the pressing need
for it would have ceased. The facts con
tanned in Prof. Williams memorial are
extremely distressing, and are contained
in the following paragraphs
1.-THE undersigned, cit zens of New
Haven, respectfully ask the attention of
congress to the present distress in the
northern provinces of China, caused by
the failure of the usual rains during the
past summer. The region over which
the dearth exists comprises parts of the
four large provinces of Chilli, Shansi,
Honan and Shensi, contiguous to the
Yellow river, and measuring altogether
not less than one hundred thousand square
miles. The province of Shansi, west of
Picking, is sn upland region, the noun
tains bare of trees, no means of irrigation,
and dependent on the rainfall for its
annual harvests; and now this Is the
third season in which little or no rain has
fallen in its southern districts. The har-
rewing details of the extremities to
which the furnishing inhabitants were
reduced two months ago have been re-
4
Catholic missionaries, so that there can
be no doubt that it Is one of the most
serious and widespread calamities o.
modern times. The governor of Shansi
reports, in his appeal to Picking for
aid, that between three and four
millions of people are dependent on
official support. In the southern part of
| that province ttere remains neither bark
of trees nor wild herbs to be eaten; and
ordinary food stuffs, grain and meats
| have disappeared. In some places the
| people have been eating earth to prolone
| life, while husbands were selling their
wives, and parents their children, to pre-
serve, if possible, all from death. AS
may readily be inferred, all who were
able had lett their homes to seek a preca
rious subsistence in other provinces, and
| the roads were thronged with hosts OF
beggars.
| I'm the midst of this sudden and ire
mendous woe the imperial government
has been more than usually alert in doirg
what it can to relieve its subjects, nor
has private philanthropy among the PEG
| pie been idle; but the urgent demands
| for help far overpass their means to re-
lieve them. The population of the entire
| region suffering from want of the usual
| harvest last year is estimated at not less
! than rs, 900 900; and of this vast number
of our fellow men there can hardly be
less than 100000 now in a condition
of utter restitution. 1t is inevitable,
therefore, that before the winter
| be gathered in next Nav aad
| lions of tie sufferers must inevitably
perish. No human agency can reach all
| of them, and no rhetoric can add
strength to the facts which describe the
sufferings endured or the dreadful means
taken to allay them.
In view of this unexpected visitation
your memOrialists respectfully represent
to your honorable body their belief that
the present call for help is one which
commends itself as q national affair. In
the recent famine in India the means
skill and power of the British govern
ment were taxed to the utmost to save
life, while private benevolence was moi
lacking to supplement public aid. But
the Chinese government cannot com
mand the means, the skill or the power
to meet this call gifts distressed subjects
and it is chiefly the necessities and dis
tresses of a common humanity which givt
force to this appeal for aid. A little ha
been done by private charity, aud be
tween $4,000 and 50 900 have been Sent
to Shanghai. 1t is not necessary to sent
out food, for there is enough in China t,
relieve the Vanishing; the funds ar
needed to get them. They can be trans
mitted by telegraph so as to be immedi
ateIy available"