The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-12
THE FAMINE IN IRELAND.

Since Sir Walter Raleigh bequeathed
his fatal legacy of the Potato to Ireland
that country has seemed to be doomed to
the blight at recurring intervals, of fam
ines more devastating and dreadful than
have fallen to the lot of any of the other
people of Europe. Concerning the ear
lier ones, of which we have the details,
that of 1922 and 1923 was the most ter
rible. In those years the potato was al
most the sole dependence of the Irish
people and failed, as it also did in 1S47
and again in 1879. Wehave no exact data
as to the total number of persons who re-
quired to be provided for in the entire
island, but in Limerick out Of a popula-
lion of 81. 900 there were not less than
10000 who were dependent upon chari-
ty; in Cork $4,000 and in County Glare
100000 The British Government placed
at the disposal of the authorities in Ire
land in 1923, 950O,OOO, and in Great
Britain and the city of Dublin as much
more was raised by private subscription.
IN 1881 another failure of the potato
crop reduced thousands TO the point of
starvation, as many as 100000 being
wholly dependent upon charity, besides
numterless to whom temporary aid was
granted. The winter was extremely
severe, sickness followed in the wake of
the famine, and lack of clothing
at once added to the pop
ular distress. Parliament gave ESQ.,
900, and a great deal was raised
by private subscription. VIM. Cobbett
about this time denounced the policy of
depending upon the potato solely for
food, and declared that 5000, 900 of un-
cultivated acres of land in the country
should be drained and sown in grain, OF
the people of Ireland would awake to
find themselves inside of twenty year.
without anything to rely upon in the
emergency that was sure to come. At
that time the tenant holdings in Ireland
numbered 1,O16,338, of which 5O0,3S7
were under 500 per annum, and 332, Ill
were over $40.
In 1S46 the awful famine that Cobbett
had foreseen fell upon the unhappy island
when over 100000 persons were fur.
nished aid either from the public authori.
ties or from private charity. The potato
disease began its fatal ravages two years
before, but its total destruction did moi
occur until 1857. Pestilence, as usual
born of suffering aud want, followed ir
the wake of gaunt-eyed famine in the
island, and the story of brave people
reduced to despair went out to the ma
tions of the earth. And the nations
with generosity unparalleled in modern
times, came forward to share of theil
abundance with their brethren who
were starving in the Emerald Isle
vessels were freighted in this country
and dispatched to the starving people
The Irish citizens of the United State;
raised money and forwarded it to theil
friends. The British Parliament nd
vanced at different lines something lik,
| 35,0O0,0 900 for the relief of the suffering
while upwards of S5,00O,OO0 were raised
by private subscriptions in England, ant
distributed in the island. The suffering
was so frightful that much of the money
raised was given indiscriminatingly, and
no doubt, great deal fell into hand
that were unworthy; but, OF
the other hand, much sufferin,
that was worthy and deserving failec
to receive the aid it should hav,
had. The extent of the calamity
to the island can never be told. but thi
striking fact stands out, that of th,
1,016,33 tenant holdings that existed a
that time, but $4,000 of these remained
in 1870. ....s-. .
Since that disastrous year, in 1S47
other descriptions of food have beef
introduced and cultivated in Ireland
and something over 10000, 900 bushels o
wheat are annually imported by her peo
pie.
The present famine is owing to tn
fact that the unfavorable season las
year caused failure Of nearly ever,
, description of crops, and the potato, tha
since 1868 has been showing more or les
tendency to the blight that destroyed
it in 1916, has again proven tota
failure; and now once more are stretched
, to us beseechingly the hands of peopl
of whom the ties of consanguinity an,
the ties of interest and sympathy are in
tertwined with those of almost ever,
American citizen. Friends of humanity
while our granaries and storehouses ar
bursting with grain, while our herds ant
, focks are browsing upon millions o
fertile fields, and while the hum of trafi
is heard in thousand cities, shall th
appeal be made in vainf