The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-15
LETTER FROM FATHER MCVERRY


held in the Mayors Office ON Tuesday evening
January 13, $780, for the purpose of raising funds
to relieve the people in Ireland, resolution was
adopted that should portray briefly the causes
of their distress. Before entering upon the sub
| iect, wish to say that the move made in the di
| rection OF relieving this people sprang sponta'
neously from the promptings OF several OF the
best citizens of Staunton, and I am convinced
that this is sufficient to speak volumes in favor
of their great charity towards those who are in
distress. am also convinced as long as an Irish
mans heart throbs. who ever heard OF this noble
work, it will feel grateful to Stanton. This is a
sure sign that there exists between the Irish and
American people truly fraternal and Christian
feeling.
think, however, before making mention of the
causes Of the distress, that it will not be out OF
place to prove that it actually exists in a great
many sections OF the country.
We can cite the authority of the Duchess OF
Marlborough, the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of
r,land who is not apt to exaggerate. She says
in her appeal published in the Times (the organ
OF the English government), that the motive that
impelled her to make itwas that There is no
doubt that in parts of Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Ros-
common, Donegal, and in the southern part OF
the County Cork. in fact, in most Of the western
districts of ireland, there Will be extreme misery
and suffering among the poor, owing to the want
of employment, loss of turf, loss of cattle, and
failure OF the potatoes"
Most ev. Michael Logue, Bishop Raphoe
says: Here in Donegal the poor people make
very little noise, but they are already suffering
very much, and the prospect before them is ap-
palling. 1t is only those into whose ear they can
pour their tale of woe without woundiEg their
Celtic pride, who know the full extent of theiI
misery Then. h says, 1.-THE ring at his door
bell is almost incessant, and that words are moi
needed to tell the sad tale that awaits him." In
conclusion he says his "poor means can do little
to comfort the sufferers" Mitchell Henry, NJ. p.
in his letter to the Duke OF Marlborough, dated
the 18th of December, 1879, says: 1.-The condition
OF the west is becoming daily worse. The people
have neither food, nor clothing, nor credit te
buy them, nor work to earn them.' Thenspeak
ing of the men that came to market there to sell
their OATS he says 81 can truthfully say that
have never seen men so changed; pale, thin
bloodless, and without smile. Their cond itior
is absolutely without hope. Flour and Indian
| meal they cannot get, for they have no credit
and yet the men who come here are the best
among them. am assured by many persons Of
the most reliab lie authority, that there are
many who have not left their mountain huts
for weeks, because they have no clothes to cover
themselves with,' The Parish Priest OF Boher
bee, County Cork, says IF aid does not soon
to $500 OF his parishioners, that tie lately
cheerful and happy dwelling of labor will become
an abode of want and suffering in its crueles1
| shapes. The father that used to sit after his
days toll. so supremely happy in the bosom Of
his family, will have the torture to see his loved
ones wasting away in the horrid agony Of hunger
before his eyes, whilst his strong arms, that
ought to bring tn EN- bread. are idly hanging by
his side, or losing their strength piece-meal by
the grip of want" 1t is not necessary for me tc
cite any more authorities to prove this fact, as il
| is so evide mt.
The principal cause OF the famine is the fail
ure of the crops then the exhorbitant rents thai
some landlords exact Of their tenants, and in ad.
dition to these. lack Of employment for the Ia
boring class. All these causes combined have
brought about this sad state of affairs but, as
have said the failure of the crops is the princi
pal cause, for it is well-known fact that thu
farmers of Ireland depend from year to year OF
the production Of the soil, and should season
pro We inauspicious, famine, with all its accompa
nying evils, follows. From the testimonies allow
| adduced, we can truthfuliy conclude that Their
| is sorrow, sadness, and much suffering in man.
a once happy home. If, then, there is scene
calculated to move the Ceristian heart to charity
it is the spectacle that suffering Ireland now pre-
sents to the Christian and prosperous nations Of
| the earth. In this sad hour OF need, she peti
| lions this charitable Republic to send portion
of its ample means, hoping that the day is no
far distant when He, who rules the destinies o
men and nations, shall lift from her beau tifu
hills and valleys the dark cloud OF famine, whlcl
is heavily freighted with suffering and death. T.
the charitable people Of Stanton this appeal l
made in the name of suffering ireland, knowing
that they will nog, as they have done in the past
sustain their weil-known reputation for chris
tian charity,
January IA, 1850. JOHN MCVEkkh