The New York herald., 1879-12-11
IRISH DISTRESS.
Facts and Figures Showing the
Approach of Famine.
CAUSES OF THE MISERY.
Testimony Of Clergy and Parlia-
mentary Representatives.

That there is great distress in Ireland just now
and prospect Of still greater. consequent on the
continued rains Of last summer and the severe
storms Of the autumn. is conceded by all who know
the country. But just how much distress there is'
whether famine is approaching and what classes OF
the people likely to suffer are the points about
which there is fierce conflict of opinion and much
quotation Of statistcs-which can be made to prove
anything when sklfully used-on either side OF the
Irish Sea. Irishmen have rightly or wrongfully,
got the reputation of being given to exasgeration
and of being fond Of psrading their woes before the
world. and this reputation really prevents as much
attention being given to the first of distress as 1t
might otherwise receive. The American VINO taxes an
interest in the subject and who wishes to get at the
truth naturally hesitaes to accept as exact state
of fact the strong and perhaps highly colored
assertions of Irish popular orators ana Irish national
journals and he must be equally careful of the dog
atic and sweeping denials of the English press and
OF English public men. 1t requires close and care
full study OF both sides OF the question to ascertain
the exact state of things prevailing in ireland.
WET AND DREARY SUMMER.
There is one thing which cannot be denied. which
English. Irish and French papers alike verify, and
which is still further borne testimony to by the
weather reports Of the HERALD-viz.. that it
cessively wet all summer. Looking over the fles Of
London. Dublin or Paris papers for the months Of
May. June. July and August last. the story is told
in mournful language day after day, and the most
gloomy prospects are found to be predicted
in the editorial articles. A gentleman who
travelling in Western Europe during
that period and the previous winter and
spring thus describes it:-"The winter
usually severe. the spring excessively dry and the
summer the wettest have seen anywhere. In
France England. Scotland and Ireland alike people
were calling out for rain all spring. Farmers are
proverbially grumbers, but this time every
ceded they had reason. was through large por-
ton of the north of France. through much OF Eng
land and Scotland and all over Ireland, and every
where the prospect the same. The few light
showers that fell during February and March wero
not worth counting. and the month Of April. which
is invariably wet. went by almost without any rain
ct all. The country looked dreary and scarcely
green leaf was to be tree or bush till about
the middle of May. Some copious showers then
fell. and in few days everything began to look
fresh and green. The rain stopped, however, and
toward the end OF May everything looked as though
we were in the beginning of March.
BRIGHT PROSPECTS DESTROYED.
At last the rain came again in q regular down.
pour, and the whole face of the country
was changed The thickness and luxurance
OF the vegetation surpassed anything remembered
by the oldest living man. Every one was hopeful
and experienced farmers said that il the sun only
out ordinarily strong If little late. there
would be magnificent harvest. The prospect was
the same in all Western Europe; but Ireland. from
her peculiar position gets the lions share of tho
rains coming from the west. She is favored more
by HERALD storms than England, for tho simple
reason that she Is nearer the Atlantic and receives
the hrst vigorous embrace As the SUNNI or went
the rains increased and nothing looked natural.
It rare thing to get glimpse Of the sun
through tho thick Of dark clouds and people
had to wear overcoats in July. have seen this in
London. Paris and Dublin late as the middle of
July. The hopes of the farmers were dashed and
people began to realize that there would be
wretchedly bad harvest. Tho grain was just
couple OF inches ground. but thick and heavy.
At the period when the rst reapers generally begin
to ply their sickles. Nothing was in good condition
and the fields we're in many cases quite flooded.
I have walked through fields that knew we'll.
where the sod used to be firm and elastic. and sank
up to my ankles. never saw anything SO gloomy
in my life the dark. dull leaden look of the sky
snd the soaked and dismal aspect of everything
around. But when the fearful storms and floods Of
the autumn all hope vanished. and it was pitt
able to see the look of blank despair on the face OF
every farmer You met.
AN UNUSUALLY BAD HARVEST.
That the harvest was excessively bad Is admitted
by the best authorities. As early July the French
Ministry of Agriculture estimated the probable de-
fcency in the wheat crop in France alone at 900
quarters, and the prediction has been moro than
verified. 1t has been short in Spain. Italy. Germany
and the Netherlands, not to speak of the British
Islands, and the best proof of this is to be found
the enormous increase in the export to Europe Of
American produce. without taking any account Of
official government returns in the various countries
affected. Ireland is not much of a wheat growing
short the loss is felt more keenIy. but when
the potato fails. the last hope of the peasantry is
gone. even though they do not now depend so much
OH that article of food formerly. In 1886 the
potato alone failed and much grain was exported
~ would have fed twice the number OF people in the
country. This year the failure affects almost every
thing-gran green crops. potatoes aud hay-and
cattle. sheep and pigs are Of much less value from
insufficient nourishment and the incement weather.
The number of pounds OF meat avaiable per head.
IN fact has been decreased propotionately with the
decrease in meat producing food Leaving aside the
speeches of agtators and the
OF the special commissioners of Dublin liberal
papers lest their testimony might be considered too
highly colored. gnnce at evidence of another
character will show how far the distress consequent
on the bad harvest has reached up to the present.
But must not sbe forgotten that 1t is the certain
prospect Of widespread distress in the winter and
spring. which calls up vividy the memory Of
lS41 to the minds OF the people, not what Ii laid
before their eyes. Tho Local Government Board is
sort of central poor law board, and, being ap-
1t made report on the distress last October which
has only been recently published. from which the
following extracts are taken:-
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
In regard TO the potato crop will bc that there
mot much variation in the reports aud that described
almost everywhere deficient In quantity inferior
quality and affected by blight, and that upon the whole
there will not De than half an average Tho
general appears bo inferior, the crops
deficient and below those of last Tho how
ever is everywhere reported to be good and plentiful.
This applies all the four Provinces the exceptions in
o. Donegal LoadoSdsry province Ulster;
parts OF Cork and Lmerck In the province OF Munster
aud parts OF wicklow, In the province OF Lenstor Tho
supply OF turf appears TO bc everywhcro greatly
dshcient, and much suffering and sickness Is
tiep patod from this cause. considerable quan.
ty Of turf Is stated to have boon this year but
to
although much has been done in that during the
past Tow weeks OF line weather. s be feared that In
general the supply is not sufficient to last through the
kintcr and spring In of each of tho four provinces
stated that coal easily obtained at reasonable
prices but this will not benefit the poor districts
IN the western and midland where turf is the
pniy fuel used In regard 60 the Of the
classes during the coming winter and spring, II will 10
that In Ulster considerable distress destitution
well Increased demands for relief may expected
owing to tho failure OF tho turf supply and to
scarcity OF empoyment; that in Munster much
suffering and want Is anticipated, ,and demands
foe relief expected during
the of employment which to the strait
iiIr. talaG. IL ilafs is.-