Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-24
Helping Ireland-A Contrast.

II there were no other justification
Cor the agitation In which Mr.. Parnell
and his friends are engaged, sufficient
excuse for II would be found in the ex.
asperating apathy which England mani
tests towards the ismine- stricken Irish
peasantry. 1t is scarcely conceivable
that a people 70 rich, and with O certain
reputation for generosity, could be 80
indifferent TO the cry Of distress from
starving people at their very door. Aud
that they are indifferent the facts but
too clearly Indicate. In the face OF the
most trustworthy reports from the af.
ilicted districts, telling Of restitution SO
terrible that IL would awaken sympathy
in the hearts Of savages, the British gov
eminent and the leaders Of the English
people have gone their way with the
calm nonchalance that the Ieyite dis
played when he passed the wounded
man who undertook the unfortunate
pilgrimage 10. Jericho. The government
has been shameiully negligent In the
performance ofits duties in the premises
and the people, from the royal family
down, have been sadly wanting In chris
tian generosity. The Queen, IL in true,
has given E50O, or, as an exchange COM
putes il, about ones days pay. The
policemen OF New York, who propose
To give their wages Tor n single day, will
make relatively u very much more gen
erous contribution. The other mem-
beers Of the ruling family, and some Of
the titled gentry, have given much
smaller sums, but the amount is W in
significant when compared with their
means that their gifts suggest only the
appearance OF u handful Of pence aud
small silver Hung to u crowd Of impOr-
tunate beggars. No general movement
has been made among the people in be-
half Of their hungry neighbors, and il il
evident that il the relief Of the sufferers
depended upon what was sent across the
Irish channel the deaths from starvation
would be neither lew nor far between,
But II England has been wanting In
generosity. the same cannot DO said OF
the American people, though even here
IL has not been 80 general as the neccs-
stiles OF the case appear To- call Tor.
Naturally the movements began among
the natives Of the afflicted island aud
their descendants. Even before the cx-
tent OF the misery began to he known,
thousands Of dollars had been sent by
individuals to friends in the old country,
aud To this aid is doubtless due, as Mr..
PaTnCll says. the fact that the call Tor all
was not made six weeks earlier. The
visit Of that gentleman an Ills cOmpan-
ion, MIR. Dillon, 10 collect money Tor the
sufferers, awakened pubic interest, aud
both native Amcrlcansand Irish Amer
cam pooled their issues aud their coin
for the destitute people. Then Cametho
muniGcunt gift Of 5000 M IRON the New
York Herald, u contribution which
should make the wealthy aristocrats OF
England blush Tor their parsimuny. Tho
Herald followed this with the establish
ment Of n relief fund, which, with its
own subscription, will probably amount
to a quarter Of million. Mr.. Parnull
has collected u good deal OF money and
thousands Of dollars have been sent 10
Ireland through the medium OF the
bishops aud priests. Mt. Parnell since
his arrival. has been carrying ON a wal
with the Herald, and even since lts great
liberality towards the poor was shown
has not ceased to lmpugn the glycr's mo
tiycs. Such u policy has been u poor
one to adopt, and the a~gitator has made
one or two other mistakes which must
have served to reduce the amount Of
cash hc expected to obtain. But in spite
OF all the mistakes, which might have
been taken ~ an cACuSu lor keeping
their wallets closed, the American pco-
pie have been opon-hcatted IN their w
sistancc, and their generosity stands out
in conspicuous prominence against the
hcartlcssnrss Of the English people aud
government, aud II amply proves, II has
been suggested by different writers, that
"tho Irish Channel is wider than the.At
lantic ocean,. IA a communicating modi'
nm. where Ireland IL concerned.