The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-03-24


whistled down the wind by the Sun or by Mr.
Oowdan. with or without the assistance Of Mr.
Lesseps'
j THE FAMINE In BRAZIL.
Il A letter from Mr. Herbert II. Smith 10 the
New York Tribune gives some important In
formation relative TO the terrible famine pre-
vailing IN the northern portion Of Brazil, tt
which brief allusion was made In the DEM.
ouRAr Of Friday last. Mr.. Smith derives his
knowledge of the matter from personal Oh
servatlon, having visited Brazil something
over year ago as the representative oi
Snibner's Afdgaziac and extended his trip to
the famine stricken provinces In the northern
part OF the empire He states that the
famine district is comershended between tho
rivers Parnahyba and San Francisco. Id that
part of the Brazilian Empire known as Ser
tho. where the year 10 sharply divided into dry
and rainy seasons. Before the drouth the
country was populated about az thickly ~
Ohio or Indiana, and the provinces were
regarded as the most ilourishing IN the en-
plre. The whole population was directly de-
pendent On agriculture; there were no manu-
raising Was principal industry, and sugar,
coffee and cotton were exported In consider
able quantities. The drouth began Id 1877,
when all crops failed and the cattle died for
want Of food and water. BY November Of
that year nlne-tenths of the cutie had died.
and rich and poor alike were suf-
fering from hunger, Following this
tlrst year Of drouth came q second
one, causing the whole population to
desert the interior and crowd to the coast
cities. In the single province Of Ceara the
exodus comprehended 100000 people, and at
least 10000 died on the road. strictly speak
Ing, Of starvation. At one time no fewer than
10000 refugees were gathered at Fortaleza, o
city. the normal population Of which Is no
more than $4,000. Mr.. Smith says: Z" / have
some photographs which were taken In Fort
alexa at this time-picturee Of men and wo-
men piclSsd up ut random from the crowd
and they speak more eloquently than words
can Of the terrible effects Of starvation. Moet
Of the figures are perfectly naked, just az they
were found In the streets; protrudinR bones
and fleshless limbs tell the story OF suffering
After seeing these pictures could believe the
account Of shopkeeper "A refugee came to
my house and asked permission to kill the
rats that he might eat them" Attempts
were made by the government to relieve these
refugees, but as the Brazilian finances were
In a wretched condition, the effort was
greatly retarded. BY this means some OF
the destitute people were supplied with
work On public buildings or railroads,
while others were supported In camps. being
allowed to draw rations daily like 30 many
soldiers. TO add to the terrors OF the situa-
tion. In the early part OF 1878 fevers and other
epidemtcs appeared among the refugees. and
later In the year these gave way to smallpox.
from which disease the mortality was enor-
nous. The secretary Of the province of Ceara,
In letter dated December 20, 1879, describes
the situation as follows:
More than 2So.ooo refugees are now fed BY the
government. 0i these. 80. 900 are employed ON
the railroads OF Baturite and Sobral. which are
there are 10000. and the rest are scattered In
various towns Of the coast and the interior.
Each camp ts under the as g control OF govern m
tribute such provisions rs are absolutely neces-
cary 70 keep the people from starving. The
riiices Tor he stricken provinces. and private @
aid has swelled the fund. But fear that the
government will not be able longer to give US
rassed. and It's difficulties are reflected In q
most unfavorable manner on our national
finances.
In commenting upon this letter Mr.. Smith
refers particularly to the statement that
government aid is likely to be withdrawn from
these unfortunate people simply because the
treasury cannot longer Withstand the strain,
In which case the 250, 900 persons who are now
fed at the public expense would have abso-
lutely nothing to subsist upon. They will be
unable to work, for there will be no employ
ment for them, and agriculture is destroyed.
In this terrible condition Of affairs there can
be but one result -starvation-unless the
world shall hear and heed their great cry for
help. Mr.. Smith concludes his article as fol-
lows:
The Irish sufferers have found ready hearts
and long purses among the American people.
bue ont o. her has not
Ireland appeals more Directly to u.s. beoause s1se 50
many OF her children are with us; and no one
more heartily approves OF the aid we have given
It cannot be--one.tenth as great as that OF
Ceara.. In Ireland q few cases Of death from
starvation call forth the tears Of plying
fading the dread reality Of famine. Out Of 9oo-
COO people who Inhabited this province In 1876.
tisnce: Of those who % are left tWohirds % are M fed
at the public expense. II this aid Is Withdrawn
all must die. Gould the Case be harder2
A STATES RIGHTS REPUBLICAN.
A brief synopsis Of the Edmunds bill to
regulate the counting Of the electoral votes
for President was given In our Washington
dispatches yesterday, and the subject being
one OF the highest Importance, In view Of the
approaching presidential election, 1t ought
to receive careful consideration from Con-
gress, from the press, and from the people