The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-06-16

from Donegal Many spoke In tlisoouraeine
terms Of tho practical benefits Of the relief
committee. A man who said be was from
Foxford, in the county Of Mayo, spoke en-.
Enthusiastically Of what America had done TO-
alleviate the awful distress of tho poor, but
told q terrible story Of the misappropriation
of the charity by local relief managers who,
he said, were using it to make themselves
rich. He was exceedingly bitter in denounc-
ing priest who be said, was using the relief
money for the benefit of himself and relatives.
The reporter asked the man If he was Cath
Ollie, and he replied that he was, but he had
no patience when he saw how Father Mike
0'Donnell was acting. When he came
among as flrst," he said, 1--WE all had to SUBJ
scribe to buy him horse, that he might be-
able to carry spiritual consolation to his par
ishioners, and now he owns stock farm
while the people are starving. Why, sir"
added the indignant immigrant, " it was only
q few days before left home that this same
priest bought 40 bullocks, and put them on a
farm that he purchased for little or nothing
from the agent, who had rack rented q poor
family that lived on Il until they could not
pay any more, and were put out. An instance
of this priests conduct Is shown 10 how be
handled the seed potatoes that the Land
League sent him. He stored the potatoes in
the chapel, and during the night gave them
away to his own personal friends and rela-
tives. When the people learned that they
were all gone they were very indignant, and
raised hullabuloo about it, but that was all
the good 1t did them. The Protestant minis
ter, Mr.. jackson, went to him and asked why
he had deseorated the house of God by maxi
ing tia storehouse for his favorites, but no
satisfaction was given /; the potatoes had dis
appeared during the night, and that's all
there was Of It." This man spoke very high
ly Of Mr.. jackson, the Protestant Pastor Of
the parish, and said that all the Catholic peo-
pie loved and revered him. That's SO, sir, y
said another frieze coated immigrant, who
stood close by, i" and he deserves every bit of
it,
81 don't know what's coming over the
priests at home, at all, sir,' said the first
speaker sorrowfully. Education spoils
them. They come out Of college proud and
naughty, and they dsmineer over their fiocks,
using the poor people like dumb cattle to en-
rich their relatives. The intelligent people
generally rebel against 1t, and, as rule, they
are punished severely and denounced as dogs
for daring to protest against a wrong. / leave
wife and six children at home, sir, and q
father and mother, who depend on me FOR
support. And" he added, his eyes filling with
tears, II know they cant get bit of relief
until send 1t to them. God bless the Ouch
ess Of Marlborough and the people of Amer
ioa for what they are doing to save the starv-
ing people, but they ought to see that some.
body besides the priests have the distribution
OF the fund in Mayo where there is tho great
est distress. The people are glad to get half
plate of stirabout once day, but some Of
the committees who have the distribution OF
1t are so ayarioious as to rob charity of its
worth. "This man spoke very earnestly,
and frequently expressed wish that the
newspapers might take notice of the matter,
and wake up the priests to sense of their
duty and responsibility In this great emer-
gency. He said that the greatest distress in
the famine districts would be felt from this
time forward until the LIST of September. A
good many of the people were so very poor
that they actually sold the seed potatoes CIV
On them by the Land League to put in the
ground, and in good many places let their
farms go uncuItivated for this reason alone,
so that when the crops come in they won't
amount to much. Several of the immigrants
thought the worst features OF the Irish FAM
inc had not yet been witnessed, while they
were all conscious of, and grateful for, the
kind interest America has taken In the famine
stricken island