The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-12
70 THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
BY THE -
ORLEANS RELIEF COMMITTEE.
CUSTOM HOUSE, !
New Orleans, October s, 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 1t will be many long days be-
fore it ceases It's 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 rs 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
| wall of woe has been heard, Believing that an
appeal would be favorably received If all the Or
CARNATIONS that have for many years devoted
| themselves to doing good on earth to their fell
| 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 Gen.
trail Belief 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 Association, 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 for
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 direc-
ton. The appeal that we havejust made to the
Secretary of War has failed, and for the reasons
assigned by him as follows: I am still of the
opinion thatit is possible for you to get relief
from private sources, and that 1t is therefore
not 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 affection scarcely less to be dreaded
follows disease into many homes and smites
the strong and we'll. Hunger and want claim
many whom the pestilence spares. To the sick
is given n edicines, to the dead burial and we
appeal to the humane of our country to save
from starvation those who are well.
i FRANK l.. RICHARDSON.
Chairman of Committee.
ISAAC N MARKS,
Presi dent Firemen's Charitable Association
AUGUSTUS RICHARD,
Vice President Louisiana Association Army Of
Tennessee.
YORK A. WOODWARD,
Commander Grand Army of the Republic
Since the above appeal was made the honora-
bic Secretary of War has furnished the 1880
rations asked for, but these supplies will not
last more than four days.
By order of the Orleans Central Relief Com
mttee.