The New York herald., 1879-12-24
FAMINE IN IRELAND.
Terrible Pictures Of Distress in
the Western Counties.
THE NEVER ENDING RAIN
Manufactures Needed to Counterbalance
Agricultural Shortcomings.
PLANS FOR RELIEF FROM AMERICA,

The subject Of the prevailing distress in Ireland is
exciting wider and moro emphasized consideration
from thoughtful people of Irish birth and SYM
pathies the situation becomes more fully under
stood from day to day. Leading English papers
denied the existence Of any unusual privation cali
ing for the serious attention of the government or
the public Of England. but the HERALD has pub
lished enough already on the subject. more
especially the evidence of Archbishop Lynch
of Toronto. given from actual observation of the
scenes he describes to convince most minds that an
alarming state Of distress exists at this moment in
Ireland demanding the watchful attention Of all
friends of humanity. sure indication OF this
act found in tho great increase in the amount OF
money transmitted to Ireland within the past few
months a. compared with the corresponding period
last year. Private correspondence from the
,ther side must have brought many
tales Of want. and the generous responses
that are now being made show that the poor Irish
people remember with affection the relatives they
left behind them. One agency alone. the Irish
Emigrsnt Society. sold recently in week s7.00o in
drafts on Ireland bought in most instances by the
humblest class Of working people 1t is not believed
by those who best acquainted with Ireland that
the present condition Of affairs will improve the
advances but rather that each recurring day
will show worse record than the preceding A
good deal Of apprehension is felt for the crisis
that may come when the spring sets in. About that
time 1t is calculated the present resources of tho
people will be entirely exhausted. and. as no crops
ripe and At for food till the summer Of the year,
the possible consequences may be appreciated. The
best class OF representative Irish citizens In New
York are giving the subject Of organizing scheme
to meet any emergency that may arise their earnest
attention. Should famine unhappily set in they
tn ho abI tn do all That m and
hands can do to mitigate its horrors.
RICHARD o'aoRMAN's VIEWS.
To ascertain the feeling among prominent Irish
men HRnALD reporter called yesterday Mr.
Richard OGorman. and said. ''The HERALD would
Of asceranng the real extent and nature Of the dis
tress In Ireland, and what you consider the best
.sI am in correspondence with several persons in
Ireland. but ! have not been advised SO far
Is to the actual extent CT the distress pre-.
parts Of Ireland 1t Is most felt, but expect
TO receive detailed and definite information these
points. have already written to Ireland to suggest
the formation OF relief committee there. and
In conversation with several bankers and others In
this city the subject Of forming relief committee
here was talked over. and doubt proper steps will
be taken without delay. My idea is to have central
relief committee both here and in ireland, corre-
spending and cooperating with each other. that
; proper and intelligent application of the funds
raised to relieve the destitution may be made. This
was the plan adopted in 1862. and it worked with
WAS ,hsrs organization of the kind in exist
II rather think not The famine of that year
broke on the country most unexpectedly and at o
tisno when the population was 900 greater
than 1t Is now. It caused by the almost
total destruction OF the potato crop. which was
almost the sole sustenance of the people. The per-
relief measures in that terrible time were the
Quakers. They established depots in different parts
OF tho country communicating with central
agency. which systemzed the distribution of sup
plies that there was little or no waste anywhere and
the limited amount OF money and means at their
C0ro m md WA made tn n n 1OUU Vnv
Ireland this wintery"
must in the nature of things be great deal Of stern
want. Many of the farmers have money in the
tngs banks and this will bide them the present.
but there is great multitude composed OF laborers
and the like, who have money saved and who live
from nana 70 mouth anu on these the prevailing
with little manufacture. where the people depend
wholly on the products OF the soil, which are SO
largely at the mercy of the elements seasons Of hard
ship and scarcity may be expected. Where the peo-
pie have to sell cattle to buy clothes and other COM
modities which their own labor does not produce
the conditions OF life must be precarious"
ARCHBISHOP LYNcH's sUG0RsTIoN.
bishop Lynch about providing for the direct landing
OF food supplies in Ireland from American
'rhe Archbishop's views regarding the distress in
establishing depots for American supplies In Ireland
aud landing them thore direct fear that it will
will enter into 1t or not according as they think
It may pay. Whether Il would pay l, OF course, am
0ecermlu0.
"Do you expect any beneficial results from the
land agitationi"
II think IL the subject be calmly and wisely con-
sidered in Parliament, the farming and laboring
classes both In England and Ireland being deeply
interested in this problem of the soil. and IL ILL
advised utterAnces indulged in, efforts made
to excite the passions OF suffering and angry men.
that the Legislature will be compelled to devise
and landlord without injustice to either. What
Ireland needs most Is manufactures. With the
spread OF intelligence and technical education 1t
of n Aoufh hIo IN nVnRh ehAaA fndD
which Ireland might excel AZ she docs in the
northern part in the linen manufacture. Switzer-
land, for example, at one time had only the manufac
OF watches to depend on. the country being for
the most part barrena land of mountains. lakes and
glaciers-but now the Swiss have other industries,
especially that Of lace and they happy and
tented people You know that at one time in Ire
land the making OF wSosn goods was large ana
posed to it, and by most jealous and unjust lcgsla
tion 1t was crushed out OF existence.
condition Of the Irish and the English peasantr
''The chief difference is tina. one is Irish and the
other English. In ireland the ownership OF the land
has In it still some memories and stains OF ancient
conquest and confscatons. and the rights of the
tenants are hardly YET as saua @ IN ssnS
pier and tier Of the soil has the force OF various
bcncncent local. traditional and social usages to pro-
oppression. He is generally allowed compensation
for the improvements he makes on his farm. Those
comforts OF the two."
THE AGITATION"
"Do you approve Of sustaining the present politi-
cal agitation IN IrelandY'
81 would prefer to say nothing on that subject
now. The most pressing duty is to provide for the
immediate nccesstics Of the pcopleto feed them IL
they are hungry. Those who have made u study of
Irish politics In Ireland will doubt attend to the
rest"
Mr.. James Lynch. President Of the Irish Emigrant
Society aud Tor years Commissioner OF Emigration,
In answer TO the question. Do you favor the propo
siton to bring the distressed people of Ireland OUT
TO this country" sad.-"I do. Why should thoy
continue to suffer In Ireland year year, toll
ing hepelessly In rags and misery, living pota-
toes aud turnips, soaked in ran to support rapa-
cous landlords in idleness and luxury, when q
great country like this has land and opportunities
In abundance to give themT
'Thsn you think emigration would help to solve
the present dfhcultyw
eft would help to better the condition of a mass
Of people who. under present circumstances. have
hope under heaven OF improving their pros
pects"
"But is there no hope of utilizing such material
In possible struggle for Irish libertyT
That's all nonsense. People cant Tight on