The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-23
TmURsDAY, IANrARY 9, Is7s.
The Terrible DIstresSNOw AmIetlng Eng.
land,

A late London letter to the New York
Herald gives a graphic account OF the terri.
bic distress prevailing in England; distress
40 deep and widespread that neither the
brilliant success Of Beaconsfeld's diplo-
macy, nor the victories in Aighanistan,
nor even the bright and blessed asscocia.
tons Of Christmas, nor all combined,
could drive II from the public mind.
Those familiar with English character and
history know that when such suffering
falls upon the masses, all foreign policy Is
Of small consequence compared with DOM
estic policy; and that unless rellefspeedily
comes, English statesmen and English
soldiers will find plenty Of employment at
home. The dullest mind can understand
the meaning Of such stories as these: A
few days before the Herald letter was writ
ten, woman dropped dead in Blrd-cage
walk, a fashionable promenade in St.
James Park, and within pistol shot dis
stance Of the royal palace. She was
starved to death. Her son had been out OF
work for five months, and there were cold
and hungry children athOmeto receivethe
corpse. In Wolverhampton a mechanic,
thirty.Gve years old, tried to cut his throat.
His vile had just brought him baby.
lie had no work, no money, no food. In
another town a laborcr was arrested for
stealing q bit Of cheese. lie told the judge
who tried him that no had been idle for
six weeks, had applied for aid at the work
house and been refused had even asked q
policeman to lock him up, so that he
might get a nights lodging. lie was sent
TO prison for fourteen days. In the Der.
wick country people attack butchers wa
CONS and bread carts, and rob because they
cannot buy. In Burnley the workhousc
Is full to overlooking, and the applications
for relief have increased fifty per cent
In another place the applications are two
thirds In excess OF ordinary times; ovel
fifteen hundred Of an increase in single
week. In London, close to I.anghan
Hotel and the splendid mansions of the
aristocracy, boy died suddenly. The
doctor at the inquest said it was starva
ton. The father testified that he could
not earn bread for his son.
The cases given arc merely samples
They might be multiplied indefinitely; al
having the same grim features, all pointing
in the same dismal direction. And the
sufferers do not submit with that resigna
ton which the rulers like to see. They
grumble and growl rs ii somebody OIL
something was to blame for the wretched
condition OF affairs. They put theil
thoughts in such rhymes as these:
The Curse Of God sweeps Ger the laud,
Lord, Lord, have mercy!
We die and feel no helping hand,
oh, Lord, have mcrryl
Famine aud horror plague aud blight,
Oh, Lord, have mercy!
EnwRp Us, rs In triple night,
Lord, Lord, have mercy!
The great arc .hrOned on seats Of Gold,
Lord, Lord, have mercy! ~.
The starving Poor are bought aud E1ld,
oh, lord, have mercyl
The swollen rich Cypress and slay,
Oh, Lord. have mercy!
While Million, cnrSo the light of Day,
Lord Lord, have mercy
The Mother1! weep In want and wOs,
Lord, Lord, have mercy!
The newborn Babe brings Joy no more,
Oh, Lord have nercyl
Disease, Starvation, Crime and Fraud,
Oh, Lord, have MeTCyl
Bear on their wings thy curse, oh God,
Lord Lord, have mercy!