Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-02-07
SUFFERING IRELAND.

lanQ is GAZING IOTLn generous re-
sponses from the people of this coun-
try, as it should do. In giving their
contributions the people do not stop
to inquire into the political compli-
cations suggested in some quarters.
In fact they do not care snap of
their fingers about any such supposed
complications, when furnishing thou
sands of their own blood and kin
stretch out famine hriveled hands
to them, appealing for help and food,
or for the disopproval by any one
here-or on the other side of the
water, either-of any help or sympa-
thy which may be given to the starv-
ing people of Ireland. We envy not
the mind or the spirit which would
stay the generosity of our people,
when God and our common human
ity are urging them to feed the hun
CRY, helpless women and little chill
dren of Ireland, and to give a word
of good cheer to the gaunt and ema-
ciated white slaves of that land, in
their efforts to strike the shackles
from their limbs.
We append the following appeal
from speech of the late brilliant
and gifted s. s. Prentiss, of Missis-
sippi, made on the occasion of SINH
lar distress and suffering in Ireland
thirty years ago. 1t is applicable to
the present time, and stronger or
more touching appeal could not be
made. Mr.. Prentiss spoke as follows:
"There lies upon the other side of
the Atlantic a beautiful island, ia
nous in story and in song. 1t has
been prolific in statesmen, warriors,
and poets. 1t has given to the world
more than its share of genius and of
greatness. Its brave and generous
sons have fought successfully in all
battles but its own. In wit and hui
NOR it has no equal; while its harp,
like its history, moves to tears by its
sweet but melancholy pathos. In this
fair region God has seen fit to send
the most terrible of all those fearful
ministers who fulfil His inscrutable
DEGREES. The earth has failed to give
her increase; the common mother
has forgotten her offspring, and her
breast no longer affords them their
accustomed nourishment. Famine,
gaunt and CHASTITY famine, has seized
nation with its strangling grasp,
and unhappy Ireland, in the sad
woes of the present, forgets, for
moment, the gloomy history of the
past.
"In battle, in the fullness of his
pride and strength, little recks the
soldier whether the kissing bullet
sings his sudden requiem or the
cords of life are severed by the sharp
steel. But he who dies of hunger
wrestles alone, day after day, with
his grim and unrelenting enemy.
He hath no friends to cheer him in
the terrible conflict; for if he had
friends how could he die of hunger =?
He has not the hot blood of the SOL
ulCl W iitlubdlu ulll, lOl ITO lOC,
vampire-like, has exhausted his
veins. Who will hesitate to give
his mite to avert such awful results?
Give, then, generously and freely.
Recollect that in so doing you are
exercising one of the most God-like
qualities of your nature and at the
same time enjoying one of the great
est luxuries of life. We ought to
thank our Maker that he permitted
us to exercise equally with Himself
that noblest of even the Divine at
tributes, benevolence.
go home and look at your fami-
lies, smiling in rosy health, and then
think of the pale, famine pinched
cheeks of the poor children of Ire
land, and you will give according to
even as bountiful Providence has
given to you-not grudgingly, but
with an open hand; for the quality
of benevelence, like that of mercy,
is not strained;
1t droppeth, like the gentle raiu from
heaven
Upon the place beneath 1t is twice
blessed,
1t blesses him thst gives and him that
takes