The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-02
DECEMBER 81, |

DECEMBER 81, 1879.
Editors Dispatch: Gentleman,-In the
interest OF starving Ireland, i ak you to
publish the enclosed, clipped from the
New York Freenan's journal OF December
9th. May God forgive us being so slow in
responding to the cry that has been going
ND TO heaven all thee weeks Respect
fully, r.. Nj.
Rev. a.. j. Canon Burke Depicts the
Sorrows and Sunerings of the Irish
Fnrmers--A Pathetic Appeal.What
Can be Done?
WASHINGTON, November 29.-The follow
ing is the copy Of a letter received here a
few DAYS ago by Miss ESmeralda Boyle,
which, as will be seen, makes a sad exhibit
ton OF affairs among the tenantry in Ire
land. Canon Burke is, | understand, re-
lated 80 the eminent Dominican frar Father
Tom Burke, and is priest OF considerable
influence in Mayo. Miss Boyle has decided
To place copy Of the letter i'm the hands OF
every senator and representive when Con-
gress meets next week, with the hope that
something may be done to alleviate the suf
fering at present felt in Erin:
CLAREM0RRIs, COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND,
November Eve, 1879.
NV Dear Miss Boyle,-!t is now six
months since you had a letter from me.
Last May our people were hopeful that,
after the unusually severe winter which had
passed, the summer would be very fine and
the harvest would come 10 crown with an
abundant return the labOrs and II al. OF the
year. The contrary OF all this has come TO
pass. Since 1915 the Irish people have not
had so bad a failure in the potato crop. In
some districts 1t Is at present one half, in
Others three fOurtbs, and | have been told
that some farmers have lost even more than
three iourths OF the normal return. The &C.
real crops are not all that one could wish.
fhe cold Of winter Is felt already in the chill
northern blasts, and even in this, the last
evening OF October, there are many corn
fields unreaped and few not wholly ripe.
Peat or turf is, in Connau9bt, the only
fuel; this years peat for firing is not yet
dried. A fuel famine threatens. Along
with these misfortunes sent by God for the
chastisement and improvement Of our peo-
pie there exists also great commercial de-
preston. The price for sheep, cows, oXep,
and all kinds OF live stock, is only one half
what ii had been two years ago; and this
depression is notably low in regard TO the
poor mans stock, because there is no de.
mand for animals that are not marketable
or in good condition. American farm pro-
duce has cheapened our markets immensely.
Hence you will see that our people can
not psy the high rents which they are ac-
customed 10 pay-nay, some OF the small
farmers cannot continue 10 hold on TO the
farms they have hitherto titled. They will
have quite enough TO do this year to exist
merely. They will not be In position to
support their sons and daughters aud pre-
pare them for the battle OF life.
Already the cry has gone forth. What is
to be done for the reduction OF rents I
Most OF the landowners in this parish have
RENTED 20 per cent CHOSE landlords who
hold extensive property have givea no re-
duetion.)
FUTILE APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT.
Abatement such as this, however, Is not
sufficient. AL the priests and people Of
Connaught have, under one form or an
other, memorialized the Lord Lieutenant
who rules Ireland to give the people en-
olcyment at some remuneratiye work. Yes
erday the Bishops OF Ireland implored her
Vicegerent to save the peoples |
lives. This days Freeman's Journal con. |
.ains the strange news that his Grace the |
Lord Lieutenant has turned o deaf ear TO |
he appeal OF the Irish Bishops. To-day the |
Of Dublin lays The prayers of a |
nation ut the feet Of its governor. |
ibis day will witness the same csllous re-
ply.
! must express an opinion which Is known |
~ many TO be true: that bis Grace the
luke Of Marlborough personally feels for
DC peoples wants, but as fDeMber OF the
Earl VI Beaeonsdeld's government be will