Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-11
Funds for Relief Still Pouring ia From all
Parts Of the COuntry-hOvemenls
OF .Parnell and Dillon-where
the Funds are Going.


NV Ssau, tO 70 10 ireland 10 visit NV
mother, whom had not seen for eigh.
teen years. Ny brother and other rela-
tiyes are also living over there. ar.
rived in New York last Thursday and
came to Washington Friday. During
my visit visited the most destitute
sections, | suppose, in Ireland. These
were the counties Mayo and Galway. |
was born in the former county, and that
Is where my relatives live"
Are the newspaper accounts OF the
distress exaggerated2' was the pointed
question.
No, sir. II anything, they do not
portray the extent OF the destitution
which exists. The people now are liv-
my almost entirely on Indian meal.
This IL obtained on credit from store.
keepers, who are az poor, almost, rs the
people. This meal Is the last OF their
stock, and when it is gone lido not know
What they will do unless relief is sent
them"
From what you saw in Ireland, what
IS your opinion OF the cause Of this fam
ine2'
cone reason, and prominent one, is
the bad weather. The turf which forms
the fuel has been drowned out, and can
not be used for that purpose. Then the
crops have turned out bad. But back
Of all this is the landlord and tenant
system, which has lei AS much as any
thing to this distress"
"Will YOU tell the Post something
about that"
cit is simply this: The landlord owns
the land, which is sometimes a large
area. The tenant rents ii. But the an
CeSturs Of the tenant Tor years and years
have been paving rent to the ancestors
OF the landlord. The value of the rent
ell property has been paid over and over
again. The landlord will never sell any
portion OF his estate, because in 50 do
ing he loses Just so much OF his only
source of revenue. The land becomes
impoverished for its frequent turning
andithe raising Of many crops. The ten
ant grows poorer every year. At last he
~ lett with absolute nothing, except his
rent bill, and that staIeS him in the lace
like grim death. lie "a mot lay it, and
then comes the process Of eviction. Ii
has not yet got to this; generally in Ire
land
"And when it does1" interrupted the
Post.
when it does the trouble will come
Now il is only suffering. But when the
already crushed people are turned out
Of their houses they will resist. | can
see that plainly. How il will end can
not tell. But at present that seems to
be the only solution that the problem
will have. Why, sir even now when q
proccss-SeryeT, or person who serves the
eviction notice, goes To house, he 10 at
tended by one or two hundred Constab-
ulary to defend him from the people. |
have seen them going around in this
manner when was in Ireland
"What of the landlords
They are English, Scotch and Irish.
Very few of them are rich. You can see
very easily that when the tenants are
poor and cannot pay, the landlord must
necessarily be- poor too. lie is in the
same boat. But there il no system OF
hrness on the part Of the landlord.
When a tenant, by dint OF eXtraOrdina-
~ cxcrtiuns, makes his farm yield lit
tie more than usual, his rent is immc-
dlatrly raised aud out OF all proper
ZION, too Naturally the tenant next
wear il indifferent whether he raises
even enough for his own sustcnancc.
That is the feeling all over Ireland. The
people have got into an unconcerned
state that bodies no good.
lis not England taking notice OF this
distress Nd near homer
"What does England care 2 10 long "A
she gets her taxes and her soldiers are
cared for il is a matter Of no moment to
her. Ireland.is now looking to the Uni
tel States for relief. Everybody talked to
me Of what they expected from Amer
len. and am glad To- see, said Lieut.
Garyey, "that their expectations are
not To be disappointed. But they Will
need every cent they can get. can see
nothing ahead for Ireland but suffering
for the next six or seven months, until
the next crops are gathered. J say that
honestly aud sincerely, Judging from
what | have seen
lis the restitution apparent to a
stranger ,
eyes. sir. | know SO much Of IT that |
was actually ssTTy | male the VISIT.
You cannot realize here What ~ going
ON i'm Ireland. The women, married
women and young girls, are but scantlIy
clad. and bareiOOtcd from necessity.
The people are quiet and civilized, but
their condition il not 10 be compared
with the wild Indians on the rcserva-
ton, but the savagcs who 10 around
homeless, reckless and begging and llv-
inc on what they can get. They were
ALWAYS tO me the most destitute OF hui
man beings, but | believe they are bet.
ter of than the poor Irish to-day. l
told them so, too, over in Ireland.
"what will bring about better time
for your native country
II suppose legislation by parlimcnt
would effect some relief But there is
htilr chance Of this. The home rulers
and friends of Ireland are la such mn.
nority that they can do nothing but &C.
,asinnally obstruct legislation. Aud |
ans toIl IN England that IL was proba'
ble the parliamentary rules would be So
changed a. to prevent even thIs' anu
thus shut them out altogether. As
the present landlord and tenant sys-
tenn stands, Ireland's people must sui
fer. IL is nothing better now than sia-
cry The only difference Is that the
tenant can leave il he can get away.
That Is the only thing which keeps him
from being actually In bondage. The
Irish landlord il no better than the
English or Scotch. There is another
sourre OF complaint. II is this: The
nropl, used TO raise lew cattle and sell
them 10 the landlords or dealers and
inns help 10 pay rent. American beei
i now imported into Ireland 80 cheaply
ihat II really undersells that raised by
the Irish peasant. Hence he finds no
market for his cattle. One would
ibink that this chespness OF beci
would be- beneficial. Itwould II the Irish
man had any money TO buy meat with ;;